As the world embraces a new Pope, and arguably a new papal brand, the coincidence of religion, branding and social media have reached new heights.

The History Channel’s 10-part miniseries, "The Bible," garnered 14.1 million viewers last week, more than any other show on cable television in 2013. Produced by Mark Burnett, ("Survivor," "The Apprentice," "Shark Tank") and his wife Roma Downey (who portrays the Virgin Mary), the miniseries looks to target those with general knowledge of Scripture. 

"It’s also packaged with enough bloodlust to capture channel surfers," notes Business Week. "In that regard, the series resembles Mel Gibson’s 2004 film, The Passion of the Christ, a movie bloggers called The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre—and which raked in more than $600 million at the box office."Continue reading...

He staunchly defended and advanced the conservatism of the Roman Catholic Church, stood by its traditions on abortion and euthanasia and gay marriage and married clergy, and coped with the epochal tarnish of pedophilic priests. But none of that apparently prompted Pope Benedict XVI to announce his resignation on Monday.

Rather, the 85-year-old German cited a lack of physical strength and "advanced age" for deciding to step down from his post on February 28, becoming the first pope to resign in almost 600 years.

Benedict also proved his conservatism by championing the European roots of a religion that is growing most in emerging countries. Yet he embraced social media.

In any event, the departure of Benedict — whose given name was Joseph Ratzinger and Twitter handle is @pontifex — could suggest an opening for changes to the spiritual leadership of 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide and a wider conversation about the church's brand.Continue reading...

Carlos Ghosn, Renault Group's Chairman and CEO, has presented His Holiness Benedict XVI (better known as "the Pope") with the keys of a 100% electric vehicle "based on the Kangoo Maxi Z.E. and a second electric vehicle for use by the Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City for the Pope's security." A reminder to the Pontiff, whose digital corps at the Vatican just launched an Android app for Vatican Radio: don't tweet and drive.

There have always been Christian athletes in the ranks of professional sports. Guys would pray together in the end zone or in the locker room. Last year, some pro teams even started to add religion-themed promotional fan days.

The San Francisco Giants, for example, added days had game promotions for Christian, Jewish, and Mormon fans planned, according to USA Today, which didn’t sit well with Muslim fans of the team. Oakland A’s yarmulkes were handed out a Jewish Heritage Night that team held. The rise of new New York Jet Tim Tebow and the New York Knicks’ Jeremy Lin, two very devout Christians (and pals, apparently), has drawn attention to how religion and professional sports mix. 

Two pro basketball players — Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Tolliver and former NBA D-Leaguer Lanny Smith — have been capitalizing on all that interest, the Associated Press reports. The pair have started a company that produces sports apparel with Christian messages, called (punningly) Active Faith.

Lin, for one, wears the company’s wristbands during games with the IJNIP (“In Jesus’ Name I Play”) slogan on them, the AP notes. And other pro-ball players are getting into the act, too: Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry and San Diego Padres pitcher Micah Owings have invested in the brand.Continue reading...

As a branding campaign it seems rather hopeless. But at the same time, it really has nowhere to go but up.

At least that's what the Islamic Circle of North America must be thinking with its latest "education campaign to promote religious freedom and combat Islamophobia." Called "Understanding Shariah," it has its work cut out for it.Continue reading...

The low-budget, box office-topping exorcism horror flick is (almost) an annual rite of passage in Hollywood. Pun intended. This year's film came early in the form of The Devil Inside, the tale of a woman's trip to The Vatican to learn the truth about her (just maybe) demonically possessed mother.

The Devil Inside's deep focus on Catholicism comes at a particularly interesting time as the Catholic church itself pushes a major media campaign in the hopes of inspiring Catholics to "come home." Continue reading...

Lowe's controversial decision to pull its advertising from TLC's All-American Muslim reality series — already spoofed by Funny or Die — has been named one of the top PR disasters of 2011 by Business News Daily. Read more here.

As Tebowmania faces its biggest on-field test come Sunday, when the surging Denver Broncos host the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots, five myths have emerged about the Tim Tebow phenomenon. Brand marketers might want to pay attention.

There is no bigger marketing vehicle in America than the National Football League, and the Broncos' second-year quarterback is the biggest story in the NFL this fall. Consider the mileage that ESPN is getting today with a viral remix tribute to Tebow, "All He Does is Win," by DJ Steve Porter.

Myth No. 1: Tebow is doing it all alone. While the quarterback has emerged as a leader nonpareil of fourth-quarter comebacks this season, he's getting loads of help from the Broncos' defense, rushing game, offensive line and even special teams. They have all stepped up their games concomitant with Tebow's tenure as starting quarterback. They feed his success and vice versa. And at least for now, Broncos General Manager John Elway — who knows a thing or two about fourth-quarter comebacks — has warmed up to this winning formula.Continue reading...