Religion and Politics in America: Faith, Culture, and Strategic Choices

Religion and politics are never far from the headlines, but their relationship in American politics remains complex and often confusing. This book offers an engaging, accessible, balanced treatment of this topic, exploring the contexts that motivate religious political engagement and assessing the political realities that religious organizations and people face.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 378 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2018
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Inc

Religion and politics are intertwined forces that consistently capture the attention of the media and public alike. While their relationship is complex and often enigmatic, this book provides an engaging, accessible, and balanced exploration of religion's role in American politics. It delves into the historical, cultural, and legal contexts that drive religious political engagement, while also assessing the pragmatic and strategic challenges faced by religious organizations and individuals. Drawing upon the latest scholarship, the authors examine the evolving dynamics of various religious movements in America, including Roman Catholics, evangelical and mainline Protestants, African-American and Latino traditions, Jews, Muslims, and other religious minorities. Additionally, the book explores the experiences of recent immigrants and religious nones, as well as unconventional religious movements that have emerged in recent years.

In the Sixth Edition of this text, readers will find a wealth of new material to enhance their understanding of the complex relationship between religion and politics. The election of Donald Trump in 2016 has brought renewed attention to the role of religion in American politics, and this edition provides a comprehensive assessment of the impact of religion from Obama to Trump. The book has been extensively revised to expand its coverage of the relationship between religion and gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, and class. It also includes a new chapter on the role of social media in religious mobilization, reflecting the increasing importance of digital platforms in shaping religious discourse and activism.

To further facilitate student learning, each chapter now includes discussion questions at the end, designed to encourage critical thinking and deeper engagement with the material. These questions will help students apply the concepts discussed in the chapter to real-world situations and develop a more nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics of religious political engagement.

In conclusion, this book offers a comprehensive and up-to-date exploration of religion's role in American politics. It provides a balanced treatment of the historical, cultural, and legal factors that shape religious political engagement, while also examining the pragmatic and strategic challenges faced by religious organizations and individuals. With its engaging writing style, extensive scholarship, and thoughtful discussion questions, this text is an invaluable resource for students, scholars, and anyone interested in understanding the complex relationship between religion and politics in contemporary America.

Weight: 598g
Dimension: 152 x 227 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813350578
Edition number: 6 New edition