From Pews to Polling Places: Faith and Politics in the American Religious Mosaic / Edition 2

by J. Matthew Wilson, Clyde Wilcox, Carin Robinson, Corwin E. Smidt, Laura R. Olson

Overview

Does religion promote political mobilization? Are individuals motivated by their faith to focus on issues of social justice, personal morality, or both? What is the relationship between religious conviction and partisanship? Does religious identity reinforce or undermine other political identifications like race, ethnicity, and class?

The answers to these questions are hardly monolithic, varying between and within major American religious groups. With an electoral climate increasingly shaped by issues of faith, values, and competing moral visions, it is both fascinating and essential to examine the religious and political currents within America's major religious traditions.

J. Matthew Wilson and a group of prominent religion and politics scholars examine these topics and assess one question central to these issues: How does faith shape political action in America's diverse religious communities? From Pews to Polling Places seeks to cover a rich mosaic of religious and ethnic perspectives with considerable breadth by examining evangelical Christians, the religious left, Catholics, Mormons, African Americans, Latinos, Jews, and Muslims. Along with these groups, the book takes a unique look at the role of secular and antifundamentalist positions, adding an even wider outlook to these critical concerns.

The contributors demonstrate how different theologies, histories, and social situations drive distinct conceptualizations of the relationship between religious and political life. At the same time, however, the book points to important commonalities across traditions that can inform our discussions on the impact of religion on political life. In emphasizing these similarities, the authors explore the challenges of political mobilization, partisanship, and the intersections of religion and ethnicity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781589011724
Publisher:	Georgetown University Press
Publication date:	10/22/2007
Series:	Religion and Politics Series
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	338
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.76(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

J. Matthew Wilson is associate professor of political science at Southern Methodist University.

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables Preface ONE Parties, Prayers, and Preachers: The Evolving Nature of Political and Religious MobilizationClyde Wilcox and Carin Robinson

TWO Evangelical and Mainline Protestants at the Turn of the Millenium: Taking Stock and Looking ForwardCorwin E. Smidt

THREE Whither the Religious Left? Religiopolitical Progressivism in Twenty-First-Century AmericaLaura R. Olson

FOUR The Political Behavior of American Catholics: Change and ContinuityStephen T. Mockabee

FIVE Dry Kindling: A Political Profile of American MormonsDavid E. Campbell and J. Quin Monson

SIX From Liberation to Mutual Fund: Political Consequences of Differing Conceptions of Christ in the African American ChurchMelissa Harris-Lacewell

SEVEN Power in the Pews? Religious Diversity and Latino Political Attitudes and BehaviorsLouis DeSipio

EIGHT The Evolution of Jewish Pluralism: Public Opinion and the Political Preferences of American JewsPaul A. Djupe

NINE The Politics of American MuslimsPaul A. Djupe and John C. Green

TEN Secularists, Antifundamentalists, and the New Religious Divide in the American ElectorateLouis Bolce and Gerald De Maio

ELEVENReligion and American Political Life: A Look ForwardJ. Matthew Wilson

ReferencesContributorsIndex

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This is a timely and enlightening volume. Bringing together an impressive roster of leading scholars, From Pews to Polling Places brings readers up to date on the politics of religious belonging in America. In addition to building on longstanding scholarship . . .it offers glimpses into new and emerging areas of research in religion and American politics."—Andrew Murphy, associate professor of humanities and political philosophy, Valparaiso University

"From Pews to Polling Places is an impressive volume that brings together some of the best scholars doing work in this area. This well executed volume makes an outstanding contribution. It provides empirically and theoretically rich chapters, and is accessible to students and professionals of all levels."—Elizabeth A. Oldmixon, assistant professor of political science, University of North Texas

Andrew Murphy

This is a timely and enlightening volume. Bringing together an impressive roster of leading scholars, From Pews to Polling Places brings readers up to date on the politics of religious belonging in America. In addition to building on longstanding scholarship . . .it offers glimpses into new and emerging areas of research in religion and American politics.

Elizabeth A. Oldmixon

From Pews to Polling Places is an impressive volume that brings together some of the best scholars doing work in this area. This well executed volume makes an outstanding contribution. It provides empirically and theoretically rich chapters, and is accessible to students and professionals of all levels.

Editorial Reviews

Georgetown University Press has published another superb volume in its religion and politics series.

Voice of Reason

From Pews to Polling Places is an impressive volume that brings together some of the best scholars doing work in this area. This well executed volume makes an outstanding contribution. It provides empirically and theoretically rich chapters, and is accessible to students and professionals of all levels.

Elizabeth A. Oldmixon

This is a timely and enlightening volume. Bringing together an impressive roster of leading scholars, From Pews to Polling Places brings readers up to date on the politics of religious belonging in America. In addition to building on longstanding scholarship . . .it offers glimpses into new and emerging areas of research in religion and American politics.

Andrew Murphy

"Georgetown University Press has published another superb volume in its religion and politics series."—Voice of Reason

From the Publisher