Religion and Politics in America

Abstract

* Introduction 1. Religion and Political Culture in America: The Historical Legacy * The Puritan Temper * Religious Freedom and Pluralism * The Evangelical Dimension * The Populist Dimension of American Religion 2. Christianity and Its Major Branches * The Status of Religion in the United States * The Major Christian Traditions and Politics 3. Judaism, Islam, and Other Expressions of Religious Pluralism * Major Alternative Religions * Separatist Religions and Politics * Other Small Religions * Case Study: Mormons and Jehovahs Witnesses * Political Assessments Further Reading 4. Voting and Religion in American Politics * A Historical Review * Continuity and Change in the Postindustrial Era * Roman Catholics: Bellwether Group * Evangelical Protestants: A Pietistic Revival for the GOP * Mainline Protestants: No Longer Solidly Republican * The Secular Vote: A Growing Democratic Stronghold * Jews, Liberalism, and Democratic Loyalty * African American and Latino Christian 5. The Politics of Organized Religious Groups * The Evolution of National Religious Lobbies * Strategies for Effective Advocacy * The Legislative Process and the Imperative of Compromise * A Model of Religious Group Effectiveness * Mainline Protestant Groups * Roman Catholic Groups * Jewish Groups * Evangelical Protestant Groups 6. Religion and Political Elites * Religion and the Presidency * Religion and Congress * Religion and Other Political Elites * Religion and Cultural Elites 7. Evangelicals in Domestic and International Politics: A Case Study * Evangelical Conservatives and Domestic Politics * New Evangelical Activism in American Foreign Policy * Assessments of Evangelical Success * Implications for Religion and Politics 8. Religious Politics and the Legal System * Judicial Politics * Key Players * Factors for Success * The Politics of Church and State 9. Church and State in the Courts * Religious Free Exercise * The Limits of Free Exercise * The Politics of Religious Establishment 10. Latino and African American Religion and Politics * The Changing Role of Latino Religion * Latinos, Religion, and Politics * African American Religion and Politics: Toward a Broader View * History and Black Political Attitudes * Connections Between Religion and Politics * The Muslim Challenge 11. Gender, Religion, and Politics * Women and Religion in American Life * Women, Religion, and Perspectives on American Politics * Women in the Pews 12. Theories of Religion, Culture, and American Politics * Culture Wars * The Secularization Thesis * Culture Shift Analysis * Civil Religion * Unconventional Partners * Thesis Populism * Market Theory, Religious Pluralism, and Politics * Toward the Future * List of Tables and Boxes * Appendix: Selected Web sites on Religion and Politics