Religion in American Life A Short History

by Butler, Jon; Wacker, Grant; Balmer, Randall

• ISBN13: 9780195158243
• ISBN10: 0195158245
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-02-13
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Accessible and wide-ranging, A Short History of Religion in Americailluminates the rich spiritual heritage central to nearly every event inAmerican history. Jon Butler begins by describing the state of religious affairsin both the Old and New Worlds on the eve of colonization. He traces theprogress of religion in the colonies through the time of the AmericanRevolution, covering all the religious groups in the colonies: Protestants,Jews, Catholics, as well as the unique religious experiences of Native Americansand African Americans.Grant Wacker continues the story with a fascinating look at the ever-shiftingreligious landscape of 19th-century America. He focuses on the rapid growth ofevangelical Protestants-Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, and others-andtheir competition for dominance over religions such as Catholicism and Judaism,which continued to increase with large immigrant arrivals from Ireland, EasternEurope, and other countries.The 20th century saw massive cultural changes. Randall Balmer discusses theeffects industrialization, modernization, and secularization had on new andestablished religions. He examines Protestants, Hindus, Jews, New Age believers,Mormons, Buddhists, Roman Catholics, and many more, providing a clear look intothe kaleidoscope of religious belief in modern-day America.

Author Biography

John Butler is William Robertson Coe Professor of American Studies and History and Professor of Religious Studies at Yale University.

Table of Contents

Preface
Religion in Colonial America
Worlds Old and New	p. 1
Religion and Missions in New Spain and New France	p. 23
Religion in England's First Colonies	p. 51
The Flowering of Religious Diversity	p. 76
African and American Indian Religion	p. 98
Reviving Colonial Religion	p. 118
Religion and the American Revolution	p. 142
Religion in Nineteenth-Century America
Prophets for a New Nation	p. 165
Awakeners of the Heart	p. 182
Reformers and Visionaries	p. 197
Restorers of Ancient Ways	p. 213
Sojourners at Home	p. 227
Warriors for God and Region	p. 247
Fashioners of Immigrant Faiths	p. 263
Innovators in a World of New Ideas	p. 279
Conservers of Tradition	p. 292
Adventurers of the Spirit	p. 311
Religion in Twentieth-Century America
A New Century	p. 331
The Age of Militancy	p. 346
In God We Trust	p. 364
Religion in the New Frontier	p. 385
Religion in an Age of Upheaval	p. 407
Preachers, Politicians, and Prodigals	p. 424
Religion for the New Millennium	p. 438
Epilogue	p. 457
Chronology	p. 461
Further Reading	p. 481
Index	p. 505
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