DAVID GREENE, HOST:
Good morning, I'm David Greene. For many fans, listening to Bruce Springsteen can be spiritual. That certainly includes a religion professor at Rutgers University. He's introduced a one-credit course exploring religious references in "The Boss's" songwriting.
The professor says it's important to understand the broader context of a writer's work. Some of the biblical references in the music, he says, are subtle; others, not.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: (Singing) Well, Jesus was an only son...
GREENE: It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.