CHAPTER AND VERSE

Thursday marks the 30th anniversary of when Elvis Presley left Graceland for a more-celestial mansion. And Joe Moscheo would like you to remember that the King of Rock 'n' Roll had a lot of gospel in him, too.

Moscheo, who used to sing backup vocals, is the author of “The Gospel Side of Elvis” (Center Street; $19.99).

Consider this factoid: Elvis won three Grammy Awards during his lifetime – all for gospel music. In 1967, he won a Grammy for his “How Great Thou Art” album; in 1972, for the “He Touched Me” album; and, in 1974 for a live recording of “How Great Thou Art.”

REEL SPIRITUALITY

The new “Simpsons” movie gets mixed reviews from people of faith.

When Christianet.com, a site that appeals to conservative evangelicals, asked if the film was OK for Christians to see, 51 percent said no. The next largest chunk – 32 percent – said they weren't sure.

20th Century Fox

On the other hand, Christianity Today, a magazine popular with evangelicals, gave it a passing grade. “Christianity is mocked a few times in the movie, but it's not a mean-spirited agenda, more an indictment of religion than faith,” Russ Breimeier wrote.

Part of the problem occurs at the beginning, when Homer Simpson tosses off the Bible as “no help” in a looming catastrophe.

“What the movie is poking fun at is how Christians behave sometimes, like when we are overly pious, or our responses to things in culture,” Breimeier told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

WORTHY OF NOTE

Norman Golb, who teaches Jewish history at the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute, plans to see the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition at the San Diego Natural History Museum. That's not news. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to pay a visit by the end of the show's run Dec. 31.

But Golb, who will lead a tour group here in October, doesn't just want to admire the ancient texts, which include remnants from the oldest known copies of the Hebrew Bible.

He also wants to do some debunking.

Golb is an outspoken critic of the popular theory that links the scrolls to an ascetic sect, known as the Essenes, who lived at Qumran, near the caves where the writings were found. He argues the scrolls came from Jerusalem and represent mainstream Judaism at the time – and not some fringe group. He and others who share his stand say dissenters have been snubbed from scholars invited to give lectures at the museum.

A spokeswoman says the Chicago group isn't looking for a confrontation. Participants just want a chance to see the exhibit, along with the explanations that accompany it, and then hear from Golb.

THE LAST WORD

Anti-Semitism: While “anti” means against and “Semite” applies to both Hebrews and Arabs, the term “Anti-Semitism” popularly is used to mean hatred of Jews and Judaism.

 Compiled with input from news services, Web sites, books, magazines and other sources. Write us at re@uniontrib.com or Religion & Ethics, The San Diego Union-Tribune, P.O. Box 120191, San Diego, CA 92112.