Full Description
This book offers an analysis of religion in America from the 1600s to the present, blending rich historical case studies with sociological theory to illuminate the enduring influence of faith in public life.
Religion in America focuses on key moments in American history where religion served as both a catalyst for social change—such as during the anti-Vietnam War protests—and a force for resistance, as seen in opposition to the legalization of contraception. Abrahamson examines the role of religious engagement within a variety of American contexts, applying a wide range of sociological frameworks to draw generalizable insights. In doing so, the book provides readers with a substantive introduction to the sociology of religion and its application to American historical trajectories.
Contents
Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: The Trials of Ann Hutchinson
Chapter Three: Early Capitalism's Religious Underpinnings
Chapter Four: George Washington is deified
Chapter Five: Planned Religious Communities
Chapter Six: Bibles and Battles in the Civil War
Chapter Severn: The New Woman and the Bicycle
Chapter Eight: Birth Control, Immigration and Eugenics
Chapter Nine: Baseball Becomes a Religion
Chapter Ten: Anti-Vietnam War Protests and Campus Ministries
Chapter Eleven: Megachurches and Evangelicals
Chapter Twelve: The Growth of the "Nones"
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
