At Home and Abroad: The Politics of American Religion

Ideas of religion, politics, and the interplay between them are essential to how Americans understand their country and themselves, and how the United States engages with the world beyond its borders. At Home and Abroad bridges the divide in the study of American religion, law, and politics between domestic and international, bringing together diverse and distinguished authors to explore interrelations across conceptual and political boundaries. It highlights the ideas, people, and institutions that provide links between domestic and foreign religious politics and policies and interrogates American religious exceptionalism and illuminates imperial dynamics beyond the United States.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 02 March 2021
Publisher: Columbia University Press

The notions of religion and religious freedom have played a fundamental role in shaping the understanding of many Americans about their country and themselves. Similarly, ideas related to religion, politics, and their interplay have been crucial in the way the United States engages with the world beyond its borders. However, despite the importance of these topics, scholarship on American religion often tends to separate the domestic and foreign, overlooking the profound impact that assumptions about differences between ourselves and others have on American religious categories and identities.

To address this gap, "At Home and Abroad: Bridging the Divide in the Study of American Religion, Law, and Politics" brings together a diverse group of authors from various fields, including religious studies, law, American studies, sociology, history, and political science. The book aims to bridge the divide between domestic and international perspectives on American religion, law, and politics, exploring the interrelationships and connections across conceptual and political boundaries.

One of the key themes of the book is the exploration of the ideas, people, and institutions that provide links between domestic and foreign religious politics and policies. Contributors challenge the categories of "domestic" and "foreign" and investigate how these taxonomies are related to other axes of discrimination. They raise important questions such as: What and who counts as "home" or "abroad," and how and by whom are these determinations made? The book also examines the consequences of these categorizations, exploring how they shape the experiences and rights of individuals and communities both within and outside the United States.

In addition to examining the interconnections between domestic and foreign religious politics, the book also interrogates American religious exceptionalism and sheds light on imperial dynamics beyond the United States. Contributors explore how American religious beliefs and practices have influenced the nation-state and its interactions with other countries, and how these dynamics have played out in global politics. The book offers a new approach to theorizing the politics of religion in the context of the American nation-state, challenging traditional understandings and highlighting the complexities and nuances of the relationship between religion, law, and politics.

Overall, "At Home and Abroad: Bridging the Divide in the Study of American Religion, Law, and Politics" is a valuable contribution to the field of religious studies, law, and politics. By bringing together diverse perspectives and challenging conventional boundaries, the book provides a deeper understanding of the complex interrelationships between domestic and foreign religious politics and policies. It offers insights into the ways in which assumptions about differences shape American religious categories and identities, and how these categories and identities are in turn shaped by global political dynamics. The book will be of interest to scholars, students, and policymakers alike, as well as anyone interested in exploring the intersections of religion, law, and politics in contemporary society.

Weight: 538g
Dimension: 157 x 236 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231198998