Description
Lavishly illustrated with over 100 color photographs, Places of Faith takes readers on a fascinating religious road trip. Christopher Scheitle and Roger Finke have crisscrossed America, visiting churches in small towns and rural areas, as well as the mega-churches, storefronts, synagogues, Islamic centers, Eastern temples, and other places of faith in major cities. Each stop on their tour provides an opportunity to introduce a particular current of American religion. Memphis serves as a window into the Black Church, a visit to Colorado Springs provides insight into evangelicalism, and a stop in Detroit sheds light on American Muslims. Readers visit Hare Krishnas in San Francisco, the Amish in central Pennsylvania, and a "cowboy church" in Amarillo, Texas. As the authors journey across the country, they retell unique religious histories and touch on local religious profiles and trends. They draw from conversations they had with pastors, imams, bishops, priests, and monks, along with ordinary believers of all kinds. Most of all, they tell the reader what they saw and heard, putting a human face on America's astounding religious diversity.
Table of Contents
IntroductionView from the Road: Underground RailroadChapter 1: MemphisView from the Road: Hispanic InfluencesChapter 2: HoustonView from the Road: Cowboy ChurchChapter 3: Colorado SpringsView from the Road: Signs from the RoadChapter 4: San FranciscoView from the Road: Hare KrishnasChapter 5: Salt Lake CityView from the Road: Our Lady of Peace ShrineChapter 6: Central NebraskaView from the Road: Raised ReligiousChapter 7: DetroitView from the Road: Monastery of the TransfigurationChapter 8: BrooklynView from the Road: The AmishConclusion: Central Pennsylvania
