Dueling Identities

Book excerpt: Dueling Identities: The Christian Biker examines the emerging phenomena of Christian motorcycle ministries. Qualitative and exploratory in nature, Dueling Identities shines a spotlight onto a subculture that has thus far been un-researched by focusing on the Black Sheep Harley-Davidsons for Christ Motorcycle Ministry (BSHDFC). This research examines the contradictions facing the Christian biker in regard to the conflicting cultural norms and values within the "Christian" and "biker" communities. The Christian biker faces the contradiction of maintaining both the "bad boy" image and the "Christian" image. Seeking to unravel this contradiction, Doreen Anderson-Facile explores how the Christian biker identity is developed and maintained. This study is framed in identity theory which focuses on identity construction, commitment, salience and self -knowledge.