Religion and Politics in America: An Encyclopedia of Church and State in American Life [2 volumes]

by Frank J. Smith (Editor)

Overview

There has always been an intricate relationship between religion and politics. This encyclopedia provides a comprehensive overview of the interrelation of religion and politics from colonial days to the present.

Can a judge display the Ten Commandments outside of the courthouse? Can a town set up a nativity scene on the village green during Christmas? Should U.S. currency bear the "In God We Trust" motto? Should public school students be allowed to form bible study groups? Controversies about the separation of church and state, the proper use of religious imagery in public space, and the role of religious beliefs in public education are constantly debated. This work offers insights into contemporary controversies regarding the uneasy intersections of religion and politics in America.

Organized alphabetically, the entries place each topic in its proper historical context to help readers fully grasp how religious beliefs have always existed side by side—and often clashed with—political ideals in the United States from the time of the colonies. The information is presented in an unbiased manner that favors no particular religious background or political inclination. This work shows that politics and religion have always had an impact on one another and have done so in many ways that will likely surprise modern students.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798216137894
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	07/11/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	968
File size:	9 MB
Age Range:	7 - 17 Years

About the Author

Frank J. Smith, PhD, DD, is president of Tyndale International University, Los Angeles, CA, and assistant professor at Georgia Gwinnett College, Lawrenceville, GA.
Frank J. Smith, PhD, DD, is president of Tyndale International University, Los Angeles, CA, and assistant professor at Georgia Gwinnett College, Lawrenceville, GA.

Table of Contents

Alphabetic List of Entries
Guide to Related Topics
Preface
Introduction
Chronology
Entries A–Z
Recommended Resources
About the Editor and Contributors
Index

Editorial Reviews

"It is a valuable resource for public and private libraries and homeschoolers, as well as churches and other houses of worship for their libraries." - ProtoView

"Recommended as a reference to survey and introductory courses on religion and politics in America and to general readers interested in how religious and civic groups engage in political activity." - Booklist

"This user-friendly compendium covers a wide array of topics. . . . [T]he work is an approachable and useful means to enrich one's understanding of the relationship between religion and politics. Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels." - Choice

"This encyclopedia is particularly appropriate for libraries and research centres serving religious communities, congregations, high school students, undergraduates and graduate students. It is suitable for large, comprehensive general collections, as well as collections focused on U.S. history, politics, and religion. Though the historical perspective is largely Euro-centric, the encyclopedia provides a manageable, one-stop resource on concepts of religion and politics in the USA and can serve as a springboard to further research on the mosaic of identities and intellectual traditions in that nation." - Reference Reviews

From the Publisher

09/15/2016
The separation of church and state, first mentioned in an 1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association, has long been an important U.S. concept. In reality, however, religion and politics have shared an intimate relationship throughout American history, as shown in this two-volume encyclopedia. Edited by Smith (Worship in the Presence of God), it covers church and state in America from the Mayflower Compact in the early Colonial era to the culture wars of modern times. Contributing to the work are 109 accomplished writers from a wide range of professions, including college professors, theologians, and independent scholars. The 360 summaries address topics such as church and state, education, political organizations, and religion and denominations. In addition, the resource features 20 primary source documents and photographs of prominent religious and political figures. This work recognizes the diversity of faith in the United States, but it acknowledges that Christianity has been the prevailing religious tradition in the nation by far. As a whole, this guide succeeds in showing that American politics cannot entirely be understood without the religious aspect, and it helps to make sense of some of the tense political conflicts facing the country today. VERDICT Recommended for academic libraries, church libraries, and other houses of worship.—Dave Pugl, Ela Area P.L., Lake Zurich, IL

Library Journal