Religion and politics Books

Book SynopsisFrom one of the country’s most respected religion reporters, a paradigm-shifting discussion of how the Religious Left is actually the moral compass that has long steered America’s political debates, including today.Since the ascendancy of the Religious Right in the 1970s, common wisdom holds that it is a coalition of fundamentalist powerbrokers who are the “moral majority,” setting the standard for conservative Christian values and working to preserve the status quo.But, as national religion reporter Jack Jenkins contends, the country is also driven by a vibrant, long-standing moral force from the left. Constituting an amorphous group of interfaith activists that goes by many names and takes many forms, this coalition has operated since America’s founding — praying, protesting, and marching for common goals that have moved society forward. Throughout our history, the Religious Left has embodied and championed the progressive values at the heart of American democracy—abolition, labor reform, civil rights, environmental preservation.Drawing on his years of reporting, Jenkins examines the re-emergence of progressive faith-based activism, detailing its origins and contrasting its goals with those of the Religious Right. Today’s rapidly expanding interfaith coalition — which includes Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and other faiths — has become a force within the larger “resistance” movement. Jenkins profiles Washington political insiders—including former White House staffers and faith outreach directors for the campaigns of Barack Obama, John Kerry, and Hillary Clinton—as well as a new generation of progressive faith leaders at the forefront today, including: Rev. William Barber II, leader of North Carolina’s Moral Mondays and co-chair of the nationwide Poor People’s campaign Linda Sarsour, co-chair of the Women’s March Rev. Traci Blackmon, a pastor near Ferguson, Missouri who works to lift up black liberation efforts across the country Sister Simone Campbell, head of the Catholic social justice lobby and the “Nuns on the Bus” tour organizer Native American “water protectors” who demonstrated against the Dakota Access Pipeline in Standing Rock Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop An exciting reevaluation of America’s moral center and an inspiring portrait of progressive faith-in-action, American Prophets will change the way we think about the intersection of politics and religion.

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Book SynopsisThe revered Bible scholar and author of The Historical Jesus explores the Christian culture wars—the debates over church and state—from a biblical perspective, exploring the earliest tensions evident in the New Testament, and offering a way forward for Christians today.Leading Bible scholar John Dominic Crossan, the author of the pioneering work The Historical Jesus, provides new insight into the Christian culture wars which began in the New Testament and persist strongly today. For decades, Americans have been divided on how Christians should relate to government and lawmakers, a dispute that has impacted every area of society and grown more rancorous over the past forty years. But as Crossan makes clear, this debate isn’t new; it can be found in the New Testament itself, most notably in the tensions between Luke-Acts and Revelation.  In the texts of Luke-Acts, Rome is considered favorably. In the book

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Book SynopsisInstant New York Times BestsellerOne of Barack Obama''s Favorite Books of the YearAn Economist and Air Mail Best Book of the YearBrave and absorbing. -- New York Times?Alberta is not just a thorough and responsible reporter but a vibrant writer, capable of rendering a farcical scene in vivid hues.? -- Washington Post?An astonishingly clear-eyed look at a murky movement.? -- Los Angeles TimesEvangelical Christians are perhaps the most polarizing?and least understood?people living in Americatoday. In his seminal new book,The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, journalist Tim Alberta, himself a practicing Christian and the son of an evangelical pastor, paints an expansive and profoundly troubling portrait of the American evangelical movement. Through the eyes of televangelists and small-town preachers, celebrity revivalists and everyday churchgoers, Alberta tells the story of a faith cheapened by ephemeral fear, a promise corrupted by partisan subterfuge, and a reputation stained by perpetual scandal.For millions of conservative Christians, America is their kingdom?a land set apart, a nation uniquely blessed, a people in special covenant with God. This love of country, however, has given way to right-wing nationalist fervor, a reckless blood-and-soil idolatry thattrivializes the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Alberta retraces the arc of the modern evangelical movement, placing political and cultural inflection points in the context of church teachings and traditions, explaining how Donald Trump''s presidency and the COVID-19 pandemic only accelerated historical trends that long pointed toward disaster. Reporting from half-empty sanctuaries and standing-room-only convention halls across the country, the author documents a growing fracture inside American Christianity and journeys with readers through this strange new environment in which loving your enemies is woke and owning the libs is the answer to WWJD.Accessing the highest echelons of the American evangelical movement, Alberta investigates the ways in which conservative Christians have pursued, exercised, and often abused power in the name of securing this earthly kingdom. He highlights the battles evangelicals are fighting?and the weapons of their warfare?to demonstrate the disconnect from scripture: Contra the dictates of the New Testament, today''s believers are struggling mightily against flesh and blood, eyes fixed on the here and now, desperate for a power that is frivolous and fleeting. Lingering at the intersection of real cultural displacement and perceived religious persecution, Alberta portrays a rapidly secularizing America that has come to distrust the evangelical church, and weaves together present-day narratives of individual pastors and their churches as they confront the twin challenges of lost status and diminished standing.Sifting through the wreckage?pastors broken, congregations battered, believers losing their religion because of sex scandals and political schemes?Alberta asks: If the American evangelical movement has ceased to glorify God, what is its purpose?

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Book SynopsisThe story of Catholicism in Britain from the Reformation to the present day, from a master of popular history ''A first-class storyteller'' The TimesThroughout the three hundred years that followed the Act of Supremacy which, by making Henry VIII head of the Church, confirmed in law the breach with Rome English Catholics were prosecuted, persecuted and penalised for the public expression of their faith. Even after the passing of the emancipation acts Catholics were still the victims of institutionalised discrimination. The first book to tell the story of the Catholics in Britain in a single volume, The Catholics includes much previously unpublished information. It focuses on the lives, and sometimes deaths, of individual Catholics martyrs and apostates, priests and laymen, converts and recusants. It tells the story of the men and women who faced the dangers and difficulties of being what their enemies still call Papists'. It describes thTrade Review[Roy Hattersley] is very good: Catholics is a great read and spectacularly well-researched…. British Politics, especially the shipwrecked Labour Party, could do with a generation of Hattersleys – tough, committed, smart and cultivated. -- Bryan Appleyard * Sunday Times *[An] elegantly written, sweeping account of Catholics in these islands from the Reformation to the present day. It’s a tale of high drama and high stakes, by turns horrifying, romantic and ultimately hopeful. -- Peter Stanford * Observer *big-hearted, fair-minded, insightful...a joy to read -- Frank Cottrell-Boyce * New Statesman *Enjoyable… Perfectly solid, sensible and often astute. -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *Hattersley narrates… with his characteristic energy… His talent for invective remains strong. -- Gerard Degroot * Times *Hattersley offers a scholarly chronicle of heroism and holiness in post-Reformation Britain, when the age of Catholic saints and miracles was seen to survive against the odds. -- Ian Thomson * Financial Times *Thoroughly entertaining… I heartily recommend this volume, which is written with great brio, intelligence and charm; and with a wistful distance from his subjects’ faith which I found very appealing. -- A.N. Wilson * Catholic Herald *Hattersley… excels in describing political machinations… One must admire his courage, not to say his chutzpah, in undertaking a book of such enormous scope. -- Michael Walsh * Tablet *Thoughtful and thought provoking, minutely researched and well-written * Choice *The author writes with authority... He engages with his material and shares his enthusiasm with the reader. But equally he is detached: he has no interest in covering up scandals or selling a party line. The engaged outsider becomes a compelling biographer, at once intrigued and underwhelmed by his subject-matter -- Lavinia Byrne * Church Times *

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Book SynopsisEdward VI died a teenager in 1553, yet his brief reign would shape the future of the nation, unleashing a Protestant revolution that propelled England into the heart of the Reformation. This dramatic account takes a fresh look at one of the most significant and turbulent periods in English history. ''A challenging, elegant and persuasive biography of an unjustly neglected king'' Jerry Brotton, author of This Orient Isle''MacCulloch puts the young Edward at the centre of the action ... as this excellent and lively study shows, his ghost continues to haunt the history of Anglicanism'' Sunday Times ''This is Reformation history as it should be written, not least because it resembles its subject matter: learned, argumentative, and, even when mistaken, never dull'' Eamon Duffy, author of The Stripping of the Altars''One of the best historians writing in English today'' Sunday Telegraph

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Book Synopsis''Masterfully opens up a little explored realm: how the quest for religion and spirituality drives hundreds of millions of Chinese'' Pankaj Mishra''A fascinating odyssey ... a nuanced group portrait of Chinese citizens striving for non-material answers in an era of frenetic materialism'' Julia Lovell, Guardian ''The reappearance and flourishing of religion is perhaps the most surprising aspect of the dramatic changes in China in recent decades...this is a beautiful, moving and insightful book'' Michael SzonyiIn no society on Earth was there such a ferocious attempt to eradicate all trace of religion as in modern China. But now, following a century of violent antireligious campaigns, China is awash with new temples, churches, and mosques - as well as cults, sects, and politicians trying to harness religion for their own ends. Driving this explosion of faith is uncertainty - over what it means to be Chinese, and how to live aTrade ReviewIan Johnson has long been a resourceful and bracing guide to the biggest national transformation of modern history. In The Souls of China he masterfully opens up a little explored realm: how the quest for religion and spirituality drives hundreds of millions of Chinese -- Pankaj MishraJohnson succeeds in having produced a nuanced group portrait of Chinese citizens striving for non-material answers in an era of frenetic materialism. -- Julia Lovell * Guardian *Extraordinarily rich and intimate... This vividly written, deeply researched book will be the primary work about religious faith in China for years to come. -- Leslie T. ChangThis entrancing and engaging book challenges the modern assumption that religion is a thing of the past -- Karen ArmstrongIan Johnson breaks new ground with a brilliant approach, mixing theoretical explorations with real life vignettes from a convincing insider-outsider-combined perspective, making them commenting each other, illuminating in the same way as through the traditional Chinese criticism paradigm of 'I commentate the six classics which commentate me.' The Souls of China is a must read for an understanding of China -- Qiu Xiaolong * author of The Inspector Chen Novels *The great Chinese writer Lu Xun once wrote that when many men pass along the same way, a new road is made. The Souls of China shows us how the Chinese people, some with heroic steps and others with hesitant ones, are making a new road for Chinese religion in the twenty-first century. The reappearance and flourishing of religion is perhaps the most surprising aspect of the dramatic changes in China in recent decades. With great sensitivity Ian Johnson guides us on a tour of the rituals, festivals, and above all some of the remarkable characters who make up this new Chinese religious world. This is a beautiful, moving and insightful book -- Michael Szonyi * author of Cold War Island *The Souls of China is a rich, informative, and timely book, which explores a major aspect of Chinese life. Ian Johnson carries erudition lightly and describes the people and events with deep insights and personal involvement. Section by section, the writing shows long-term dedication and meticulous research. At heart this is also a personal book, full of feelings and exuberance. It's a tremendous accomplishment -- Ha JinHis tripartite masterpiece Wild Grass and his newest book, The Souls of China, are the most remarkable works to come from a western author in the past two decades. -- Liao Yiwu * exiled Chinese author of God is Red: The Secret Story of How Christianity Survived and Flourished in Communist China *Through interviews conducted with a wide variety of practitioners, Johnson paints a vivid picture of the diversity of Chinese religious life....He provides a fascinating account of how traditional activities recovered after enduring severe repression during China's Cultural Revolution (1966-76). An excellent work that is highly recommended for readers interested in Chinese culture or religion * Library Journal *

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Book Synopsis''This acutely argued book will engender a thousand conversations'' Cynthia OzickThe prescient New York Times writer delivers an urgent wake-up call exposing the alarming rise of anti-semitism -- and explains what we can do to defeat itOn 27 October 2018 Bari Weiss''s childhood synagogue in Pittsburgh became the site of the deadliest attack on Jews in American history. For most of us, the massacre came as a total shock. But to those who have been paying attention, it was only a more violent, extreme expression of the broader trend that has been sweeping Europe and the United States for the past two decades.No longer the exclusive province of the far right and far left, anti-Semitism finds a home in identity politics, in the renewal of ''America first'' isolationism and in the rise of one-world socialism. An ancient hatred increasingly allowed into modern political discussion, anti-Semitism has been migrating toward the mainstream in dangeTrade ReviewHer childhood synagogue in Pittsburgh was the site of last year's Shabbat morning massacre. This passionate, vividly written, regularly insightful book is her pained, fighting * Guardian *A brave book. . . . a praiseworthy and concise brief against modern-day anti-Semitism * The New York Times *This acutely argued book will engender a thousand conversations -- Cynthia OzickThey said 'Never Again', yet here we are again. Bari Weiss' neat exposition of modern anti-Semitism traces this hate to what I call 'the triple threat': the far-left, the far-right, and Islamist theocrats. Jews are the canary in the coal mine. And if our Jewish friends are raising the alarm, we'd all better hear them, before it's too late -- Maajid NawazThis is the most important book you will read this year. Concise, morally certain, it's a bullet train from the first sentence to the last. There needs to be a copy in every classroom in the country. If you think something dark is rising, you're right. What can you do? This is what you do -- Caitlin Flanagan, author of To Hell With All ThatWhile European anti-Semitism has put Jews in mortal danger for too long, the 'shining city upon a hill' -- America -- has descended into this same toxic darkness. Bari Weiss's book is a powerful wake-up call against complacency and should push all free-thinkers on both sides of the Atlantic to take a stand against new guises of the oldest form of hate in the world -- Bernard-Henri Lévy, author of The Empire and the Five KingsHow to Fight Anti-Semitism is violently stunning. It broke my heart-and then made me want to repair someone else's. In these pages and everywhere else, Bari Weiss is heroic, fearless, brilliant and great-hearted. Most importantly, she is right -- Lisa Taddeo, author of Three WomenUrgent, frank and fearless. There is something here to offend everyone - because there is something here to awaken everyone -- Rabbi David Wolpe, author of David: The Divided HeartA liberal humanist whose guiding principle is free expression in art, love, and discourse. . . Weiss's work is heterodox, defying easy us/them, left/right categorization * Vanity Fair *Weiss's book feels like one long, soul-wrenching letter, written in a charmingly accessible style by a proud American reeling from the realization that the haters are on the rise * Jewish Chronicle *

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Book SynopsisOrientalism is the term applied to scholarship that reduces Islam and Muslims to stereotypes of ignorance and violence in need of foreign control. It has been used to rationalize Europe''s colonial domination of most of the Muslim world and continued American-led interventions in the post-colonial period. In the past 30 years it has been represented by claims that a monolithic Islam and equally monolithic West are distinct civilizations, sharing nothing in common and, indeed, involved in an inevitable clash from which only one can emerge the winner. Most recently, it has appeared in Alt Right rhetoric. Anti-Muslim sentiment, measured in public opinion polls, hate crime statistics, and legislation, is reaching record levels. Since John Esposito published his first book nearly 40 years ago, he has been guiding readers beyond such politically charged stereotypes. The essays in this volume highlight the contributions of scholars from a variety of disciplines who, like -- and often inspired by -- John Esposito, recognize the misleading and politically dangerous nature of Orientalist polarizations. They present Islam as a multi-faceted and dynamic tradition embraced by communities in globally interconnected but substantially diverse contexts over the centuries. The contributors follow Esposito''s lead, stressing the profound commonalities among religions and replacing Orientalist discourse with holistic analyses of the complex historical phenomena that affect developments in all societies. In addition to chapters focusing on diversity among Muslims and interfaith relations, this collection includes chapters assessing the secular bias at the root of Orientalist scholarship, and contemporary iterations of Orientalism in the form of Islamophobia.Trade ReviewFew scholars have so thoroughly contested the stereotyping of Islam and Muslims typical of the Orientalist tradition, so it is fitting that this volume celebrating his scholarly achievements should contain so many original perspectives on contemporary Muslim movements. The authors do not shy away from controversies, as with the brutality of the ISIS so-called Caliphate, but they carefully set such movements in social and historical context. This is an essential book for understanding the contemporary Muslim world, which interrogates the glib assumptions of so much writing about this key region. * Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History, University of Michigan *This volume is a worthy recognition of John Esposito's striking contributions over four decades to correcting the misperceptions and distortions in the public and policy apprehension, as well as the scholarly study, of Islam. Fittingly, it demystifies Islam by taking both the pull of first principles and the contestation over interpretations seriously. In so doing, it aptly highlights the possibilities of Scriptural manipulation and the variety of modern practice, but also the potential of religion to evolve and to elevate the human condition. * James Piscatori, Co-author of Islam Beyond Borders: The Umma in World Politics *Each of the authors applies Esposito's visionary identification of the flawed 'secular fundamentalist' approach of Western scholarship on political Islam to case studies that range from ISIS to interfaith dialogue and from Southeast Asia to Southside Chicago. This book brings into sharp relief the ways in which an awareness of the historic roots and contemporary shoots of Orientalism and Islamophobia are key to understanding culture and society on the level of the global, the local, and the individual. * Anne K. Rasmussen, author of Author, Women, the Recited Qur'an, and Islamic Music in Indonesia *Among his many academic accomplishments, John Esposito is especially esteemed for advancing the study of Islam as practiced and understood by Muslims the world over and for demonstrating its intrinsic importance as one of the three monotheistic faiths. In their articles, the contributors to this celebratory volume poignantly testify to Esposito's success in these endeavors. * Charles E. Butterworth, Emeritus Professor of Government & Politics, University of Maryland *Table of Contents1. Introduction Tamara Sonn SHAPING THE DISCOURSE: Countering the Secular Bias 2. 'After Enlightenment, Return to the Marketplace: The Scholar's Responsibility for a Broken World Karen Armstrong 3. The Secular Bias and the Study of Religious Politics: On John Esposito, Michael Walzer, and Political Islam Nader Hashemi DIVERSITY IN ISLAM: Whose Islam? 4. The Islamic Reformist Mosaic in Muslim Southeast Asia Khairudin Aljunied 5. Looking for the Caliphate in All the Wrong Places: ISIS and Its Reading of Scripture Asma Afsaruddin 6. How Islamic Is ISIS? Sohail H. Hashmi ISLAM AND PLURALISM: Interfaith Relations 7. Building Muslim-Buddhist Understanding: The Parallels of Taqwa/Allah Consciousness in the Qur'an and Satipatthana/Mindfulness in Anapanasati Sutta Imityaz Yusuf 8. Televangelizing Muslims: Christian Satellite Television and Its Impact on Muslim-Christian Relations in Jordan Jordan Denari Duffner ORIENTALISM 2.0: Islamophobia 9. The Social Construction of The Racial Muslim Sahar Aziz 10. Anti-Catholicism, Islamophobia, and White Supremacy in the United States Scott C. Alexander 11. Islam and Exceptionalism in the Western Policy Imagination Peter Mandaville 12. Pluralism, Authority, and Islamophobia: Shari`a and Its Discontents in North America Mohammad Fadel John L. Esposito: Select Bibliography Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisEvery year, there are several hundred attacks on India''s Christians. These attacks are carried out by violent anti-minority activists, many of them provoked by what they perceive to be Christians'' propensity for aggressive proselytization, and/or by rumored or real conversions to the faith. In this violence, Pentecostal Christians are disproportionately targeted.Bauman finds that the violence against Pentecostals and Pentecostalized Evangelicals in India is not just a matter of current social, cultural, political, and interreligious dynamics internal to India, but is rather related to identifiable historical trends, as well as to historical and contemporary transnational flows of people, power, and ideas.Based on extensive interviews and ethnographic work, and drawing upon the vast scholarly literature on interreligious violence, Hindu nationalism, and Christianity in India, this volume accounts for this disproportionate targeting through a detailed analysis of Indian Christian histoTrade ReviewWithin India's multi-faith and multi-cultural society, any conversion or change of faith is fraught with danger. This is especially so where any agency claims to represent a permanent and immutable 'majority' of all institutions, as is done by the forces of Hindutva. Chad Bauman is to be commended for having interrogated the intricacies of this extremely difficult subject. He adroitly challenges understandings of anti-Christian violence. * Robert Eric Frykenberg, Professor of History and South Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison *It presents deep insights into the complicated and controversial subjects of the anti-Christian violence in the contemporary India's political history ... I strongly recommend this scholarly book for the church personnel, social and human rights activists, politicians and public servants to know where the vibrant democratic India is heading in terms of anti-Christian violence. * P. R. John, S.J., Vidyajyoti Journal of Theological Reflection *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements ; Abbreviations ; Map ; Introduction ; 1. Who are India's Pentecostals?: History, Definitions, Deliberations ; 2. Pentecostalism in the Context of Indian History and Politics ; 3. Where the Spirit (of Violence) Leads: The Disproportionate Targeting of Indian Pentecostals ; 4. Force, Fraud, and Inducement?: Recuperative Conversions and the Growth of Indian Christianity ; 5. Missions and the Pentecostalization of Indian Christianity ; Conclusion ; Works Cited

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Book SynopsisIn The Middle Path of Moderation in Islam, leading Islamic law expert Mohammad Hashim Kamali examines the concept of wasatiyyah, or moderation, arguing that scholars, religious communities, and policy circles alike must have access to this governing principle that drives the silent majority of Muslims, rather than focusing on the extremist fringe. Kamali explores wasatiyyah in both historical/conceptual terms and in contemporary/practical terms. Tracing the definition and scope of the concept from the foundational sources of Islam, the Qu''ran and Hadith, he demonstrates that wasatiyyah has a long and well-developed history in Islamic law and applies the concept to contemporary issues of global policy, such as justice, women''s rights, environmental and financial balance, and globalization. Framing his work as an open dialogue against a now-decades long formulation of the arguably destructive Huntingtonian clash of civilizations thesis as well as the public rhetoric of fear of Muslim eTrade Reviewinvaluable ... Kamali makes a crucial set of observations about how moderate Islamic traditions go beyond just dealing tolerantly with other religions ... A culmination of his decades of scholarship on Islamic law and jurisprudence, this book should serve as an important reference for years to come. * I. Blumi, CHOICE *This scholarly book is a major addition to works that deal with 'moderate' Islam, still the Islam of the majority of Muslims, which is also traditional Islam. Drawing from a wide range of sources and many notable voices, Kamali presents an extensive range of issues from social justice to the environmental crisis, from spirituality to relation with other religions, all seen from the perspective of moderation or wasaIiyyah, which is the authentic Islamic perspective. Kamali is to be congratulated for writing a much needed work on normative and genuine Islam at a time when so many strident forces and voices, both the non-Islamic and nominally Islamic, are seeking to eclipse in the eyes of many the authentic image of the Islamic religion. * Seyyed Hossein Nasr, University Professor of Islamic Studies, The George Washington University *an essential addition to the body of knowledge after more than forty years of uninterrupted contribution to the study of Islamic studies. * Alhagi Manta Drammeh, The Islamic Quarterly *Table of ContentsForeword ; I. Introduction ; Part One: Conceptual Analysis ; II. Definition and Scope of Wasatiyyah ; III. Review of the Source Evidence ; IV. A Round-up of Modern Opinion ; V. Hallmarks of Extremism ; VI. Manifestations of Wasatiyyah ; VII. Identification of Wasatiyyah ; VIII. Institutional Developments ; Part Two: Thematic Perspectives ; IX. Moderation and Justice ; X. Moderation in Religiosity ; XI. The Moderating Role of Ikhtilaf (Reasoned Disagreement) ; XII. Between Spirituality and Legalism: The Moderating Influence of Sufism ; XIII. Harm (Darar) Must Be Eliminated ; XIV. Forbearance, Bringing Ease and Removing Hardship ; XV. Environmental Imbalance ; XVI. Financial Imbalance, Extravagance and Waste ; XVII. Moderation in Jihad ; XVIII. Character and Lifestyle ; XIX. Wasatiyyah and Women's Rights ; XX. Wasatiyyah and Globalisation ; XXI. Islam between Antiquity and the Modern World ; XXII. Continuity and Change: An Analysis of Tajdid and Islah (Renewal and Reform) in Islam ; XXIII. Conclusion and Recommendations ; Glossary ; Bibliography ; Index of Qur'anic Verses and Hadith ; General Index

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Book SynopsisA captivating look at the history of the pure females of Islamic paradise known as the houriThe fascination with the houri, the pure female of Islamic paradise, began long before September 11, 2001. Beauty of the Houri: Heavenly Virgins, Feminine Ideals demonstrates how the ambiguous reward of the houri, mentioned in the Qur?an and developed in Islamic theological writings, has gained a distinctive place in the cultural eye from the seventeenth to the twenty-first century.The houri had multiple functions in Islamic texts that ranged from caretaker, to pure companion, to personal entertainment. French, English, and American writers used the houri to critique Islam and Muslim societies, while also adopting the houri as a model of feminine beauty. Unlike earlier texts that presented different forms of the houri or universalized the houri for all women, writings about the houri after September 11th offer contradictory messages about Islam. In the twenty-first century, the image of the houri has come to symbolize a reward for violence and the possibility of gender parity.As a cosmic figure that inspires enduring questions about the promise of paradise and the idealized feminine form, the houri has a singular past and broad potential for future interpretation. The Beauty of the Houri narrates an intellectual history of the houri and offers a contemporary account of how theological ambiguity has led to different interpretations of this powerfully enduring Islamic concept.Trade ReviewThe Beauty of the Houri is a meticulously researched, elegantly written gem that offers much more than a survey of houris in the Muslim past. Drawing on sources from the Qur'an and Hadith, European poetry, and Islamist recruitment videos to US news items, Rustomji weaves analysis of texts with profound theoretical insights into gender constructions, changing eschatological expectations, text criticism, and contemporary US and Muslim politics. * J. Hammer, CHOICE *In this revealing history... the overall sweep convinces. This comprehensive work will help scholars of Islam understand the evolving history of a powerful image. * Publishers Weekly *In the Jesuit Spiritual Exercises, one reflects on the teaching that 'The profane is not divorced from the spiritual.' Rustomji has created a small masterpiece, meticulously researched and beautifully written, which helps us to understand both the spiritual and the profane elements of the Houri. * Amir Hussain, Chair and Professor of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles *In The Beauty of the Houri, a meticulously researched and elegantly written book, Rustomji offers us much more than a survey of houris in the Muslim past. Drawing on sources from the Qur'an and hadith, European poetry, and Islamist recruitment videos to US news items, the author weaves together analysis of texts with profound theoretical insights into gender constructions, changing eschatological expectations, text criticism, and contemporary US and Muslim politics. Highly recommended. * Juliane Hammer, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, UNC Chapel Hill *This vivid, enthralling study offers readers a unique point of entry into a fascinating global history of feminine ideals of beauty, imagined by men and women, for this world and the next. The author traces the fluidity of this image, not just among Muslims, but also as it once impacted European -- and American -- Christians. A rare treat for those intrigued by gender and religion within and beyond the Islamic world. * Denise A. Spellberg, author of Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an: Islam and the Founders *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1. The Letter Chapter 2. The Word Chapter 3. The Romance Chapter 4. A Reward Chapter 5. The Promise Chapter 6. The Question Conclusion

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Book SynopsisThe word "jihad" is ubiquitous in the global media. It generally appears in the context of violence waged against the West by militants in or from Muslim-majority societies. This usage overwhelmingly colors popular discourse about Islam and Muslims and it has resulted in a highly reductive, distorted, and ahistorical understanding of the concept of jihad. Asma Afsaruddin looks at the key questions about jihad and provides concise yet thorough answers. Jihad: WhatEveryone Needs to Know provides a historically-grounded, scholarly yet accessible treatment of jihad that explores its various dimensions from the formative period of Islam until the contemporary period.Trade ReviewAsma Afsaruddin's exciting, cogent and lucid exploration of the many spiritual meanings of 'jihad' for Muslim traditions should force a radical rethinking of this concept among journalists, officials, and thinking people in the North Atlantic world, where it has been misused and demonized in the service of a bigoted Islamophobia. * Juan Cole, author of Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires *A valuable addition to the ongoing discussions on jihad-thoughtfully crafted to benefit a broader readership that may be less acquainted with Islamic doctrines and ideas... Whether one is new to the subject or seeking a deeper scholarly analysis of the topic, this book is an indispensable resource. * Mohammad Amin Mansouri, Reading Religion *Table of ContentsAcknowledgment Introduction Chapter One: Jihad in the Quran and Commentary Literature Chapter Two: Jihad in the Hadith Literature Chapter Three: Jihad in the Legal Literature Chapter Four: Jihad in Morally Edifying, Ethical, and Mystical Literature Chapter Five: Jihad as Conceived by Modern Revolutionaries and Militants Chapter Six: Jihad in the Thought of Modern and Contemporary Mainstream Scholars Chapter Seven: Jihad as Non-Violent Struggle and Peacemaking Chapter Eight: Jihad and Its Perceptions in the West Bibliography Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisHow secular are the political and legal concepts that underpin liberal democracy? Carl Schmitt first coined the term political theology to show the dependency of modern western jurisprudence and political science on Christian theological discourse, and in so doing criticized the claim to religious neutrality of liberal institutions. In this book, Miguel Vatter reconstructs how and why the discourse of political theology was adopted and repurposed by anti-Schmittian thinkers, from Eric Voegelin through Jacques Maritain and Ernst Kantorowicz to Jürgen Habermas, to bolster the legitimacy of liberal democratic government. The book traces the way in which crucial political concepts for liberal democracy--including sovereignty, representation, government, constitutionalism, human rights, and public reason--are transformed when they become part of a discourse on political theology. Vatter''s aim is to provide an intellectual history of political theology in the 20th century. His study revealsTrade ReviewThe book shows Vatter's great knowledge of many different registers of political thought from the Middle Ages through the modern world to post-modernity. It is difficult to handle such a broad spectrum of knowledge without error, as he does. Moreover, the book's discussion includes all the relevant bibliography on the theological-political question from the twentieth century, so it is an excellent resource. This is undoubtedly a mature book, the fruit of years of work. * Montserrat Herrero, Theory & Event *Deeply learned and intelligent, Vatter's provocative work on political theology extends beyond the conventional Christian framework and links to predicaments of democracy today. Essential reading for democratic political and legal theorists of every stripe. * Wendy Brown, University of California, Berkeley *We cannot understand the genealogy of modern political thought without reflecting on the multiple ways in which it has been shaped by religious traditions. In this masterpiece of universal scholarship, Miguel Vatter shows in how far "political theology" is not, as is often assumed, inimical to democracy but conducive to it. A great invitation for further debate. * Rainer Forst, Goethe University Frankfurt/Main *Vatter offers a superb analysis of the fortunes of political theology in the twentieth century. Through close readings of Schmitt, Voegelin, Maritain, Kantorowicz, and Habermas, Vatter stakes out a counter-tradition of democratic political theology in which the people rather than the sovereign are the locus of political legitimacy. This book will be of interest not only to scholars of political theology but to all those concerned with democratic legitimation. * Victoria Kahn, University of California, Berkeley *In this learned and inspired book, Miguel Vatter brings new life into the contested idea of political theology. He re-orients our understanding of major twentieth century thinkers, showing them to be engaged in conceptualising a democratic political theology. The striking result is that political theology illuminates the theoretical foundations of cosmopolitanism, populism, human rights, radical democracy, and republican citizenship. Divine Democracy is a major intellectual achievement, a profound re-examination of the fraught relation between politics and religion. * Cécile Laborde, University of Oxford *With incomparable erudition and breathtaking sprezzatura, Miguel Vatter lays out the stakes of political theology for democratic legitimacy. Divine Democracy offers brilliant readings of Schmitt, Voegelin, Maritain, Kantorowicz and Habermas and shows why their views on religion and politics resonate today. * John P. McCormick, University of Chicago *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Political Theology and Democratic Legitimacy in the 20th Century Chapter 1: Carl Schmitt and Sovereignty Chapter 2: Eric Voegelin and Representation Chapter 3: Jacques Maritain and Human Rights Chapter 4: Ernst Kantorowicz and Government Chapter 5: Jürgen Habermas and Public Reason Conclusion: "Only a god can resist god." Gnosticism and Political Theology

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Book SynopsisChanges in the American religious landscape enabled the rise of mass incarceration. Religious ideas and practices also offer a key for ending mass incarceration. These are the bold claims advanced by Break Every Yoke, the joint work of two activist-scholars of American religion. Once, in an era not too long past, Americans, both incarcerated and free, spoke a language of social liberation animated by religion. In the era of mass incarceration, we have largely forgotten how to dream-and organize-this way. To end mass incarceration we must reclaim this lost tradition. Properly conceived, the movement we need must demand not prison reform but prison abolition.Break Every Yoke weaves religion into the stories about race, politics, and economics that conventionally account for America''s grotesque prison expansion of the last half century, and in so doing it sheds new light on one of our era''s biggest human catastrophes. By foregrounding the role of religion in the way political elites, religious institutions, and incarcerated activists talk about incarceration, Break Every Yoke is an effort to stretch the American moral imagination and contribute resources toward envisioning alternative ways of doing justice. By looking back to nineteenth century abolitionism, and by turning to today''s grassroots activists, it argues for reclaiming the abolition spirit.Trade ReviewBreak Every Yoke's contribution to the current moment is hard to overstate ... this book provides the kind of intervention into the conversation that scholars from many disciplines studying the prison have needed for some time, crushing the secular approaches that so easily play handmaid to state carceralities; meanwhile they successfully bring religious language and theological concepts face-to-face with the failed theological social experiment of the modern prison. * Jason S Sexton, Punishment & Society *Break Every Yoke is groundbreaking in its call to unite religious and abolitionist resources against this system and for human dignity and repair. If readers approach it with an open mind and sincerely ask what components they can take into their work, the agenda the book envisions can begin to grow. * Cara Curtis, Journal of Law and Religion *The book is valuable for its passionate invitation to religious ethicists and citizens to open themselves to a radical reimagination of justice, and to risk disruptive activism to help transform our society. In the graduate or upper-level undergraduate classroom, the book, and especially the final chapters, could spur useful discussion about the definition of religion as well as the ways in which religious institutions, theologies, and practices shape/are shaped by other social structures. * Sandra Sullivan-Dunbar, Theological Studies Journal *Break Every Yoke makes important contributions by illuminating the religious dimensions of mass incarceration, by inviting especially its religious audiences to "riskier and more exacting, but also more comprehensive, movements toward justice", and by clarifying the possibilities of religion in the work of justice. It is a suitable text for university libraries as well as for classroom use, particularly in graduate or seminary settings. * Amy Levad, Horizons *Break Every Yoke unsparingly illustrates how religion has contributed to mass criminalization while also making a convincing case that religious people can be mobilized in the fight to transform the carceral state. The authors remind us that making a moral case against incarceration is essential to the struggle to abolish prisons. If you are new to the idea of prison abolition, the book offers a valuable primer. It pushed me beyond my comfort zone, agitated me in the best sense, and left me asking more questions. How much more effective could prison industrial complex abolition be if organizers more explicitly and intentionally incorporated religion and spirituality into our work? How should we do it? Im grateful for these provocations. I cant wait to talk to others about this book. Lets get the conversations going. * Mariame Kaba, founder of Project NIA *Spirituality without structure is not easily sustained in hostile, authoritarian environments. Although religions have historically been practitioners of organized predatory violence,Break Every Yokeillustrates how we can counter violence with religion that supports resilience and a healthy spirituality to resist: school to prison pipelines, foster care, residential homes for special needs children, detention centers, mental asylums, solitary confinement, death row, political imprisonment and mass incarceration. * Joy James, Ebenezer Fitch Professor of Humanities, Williams College *One of the critical moral and political issues facing Americans today is our system of mass incarceration. With this thoughtful and inspiring book, Joshua Dubler and Vincent Lloyd present a powerful indictment of this moral abomination and an inspiring mandate to create a new and radical abolitionist movement rooted in the Bible. * Susannah Heschel, Eli Black Professor of Jewish Studies, Dartmouth College *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Why Not Prison Abolition? Chapter 2: The Political Theology of Mass Incarceration Chapter 3: The Limits of Reformist Religion Chapter 4: Prison Religion and Prison Justice Chapter 5: The Spirit of Abolition Concluding Meditations Debts and Resources

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Book SynopsisUntil surprisingly recently the history of the Irish Catholic Church during the Northern Irish Troubles was written by Irish priests and bishops and was commemorative, rather than analytical. This study uses the Troubles as a case study to evaluate the role of the Catholic Church in mediating conflict.During the Troubles, these priests and bishops often worked behind the scenes, acting as go-betweens for the British government and republican paramilitaries, to bring about a peaceful solution. However, this study also looks more broadly at the actions of the American, Irish and English Catholic Churches, as well as that of the Vatican, to uncover the full impact of the Church on the conflict. This critical analysis of previously neglected state, Irish, and English Catholic Church archival material changes our perspective on the role of a religious institution in a modern conflict.Trade ReviewMargaret Scull's monograph offers an important contribution to the historical literature on Northern Ireland and, moreover, it is widely relevant to the study of organised Christianity in divided communities in times of civil unrest. * Eugenio F. Biagini, Sidney Sussex College, Journal of Contemporary History *The author has looked at a commendably wide range of material and has interviewed some key figures in Church and politics ... these interviews give real insight into the complementarities and antagonisms between the Church, nationalism and republicanism * Oliver P. Rafferty SJ, Journal of Ecclesiastical History *This is an important book and it should certainly be read carefully and mulled over by anyone interested in Northern Ireland specifically and in the intersections between politics and religion more generally, with all of the moral, ethical, and cultural considerations therein. * Margo Shea, H-Diplo *Margaret Scull's book The Catholic Church and the Northern Ireland Troubles, 1968-1998 transcends the parochial view on the Catholic Church during the Northern Ireland Conflict and instead situates it in a transnational framework. Thereby, she challenges established views and provides fresh insight...Scull's book hopefully will rekindle the interest of the Church's role in the conflict and will do away with the stereotype that the conflict was primarily the concern of the Irish Catholic Church with the English Catholic Church playing the part of a bystander. * Jan Freytag, British Catholic History *This volume is an important contribution to the scholarship of the 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland; it is painstakingly researched and engagingly written...Margaret Scull has made a very significant contribution to the literature of the Northern Irish conflict; it is to be hoped that the book will be widely read and made available in paperback. * Stephen Hopkins, University of Leicester, Cercles *Dr Scull has injected fresh impetus into chronicling the often secretive roles played by the Catholic and Protestant Churches in the Irish Troubles. * John Cooney, The Irish Times *A rich and carefully-researched new book, The Catholic Church and the Northern Ireland Troubles, 1968-1999, offers fresh insights on the changing role of the Catholic Church and the personalities that drove its interventions during that fraught period. * Gladys Ganiel, slugger o'toole *It has been some time since Catholicism has been the subject of such a focused academic study. * Gladys Ganiel, Queen's University Belfast, Slugger O'Toole *

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Book SynopsisWhether America was founded as a Christian nation or as a secular republic is one of the most fiercely debated questions in American history. Historians Matthew Harris and Thomas Kidd offer an authoritative examination of the essential documents needed to understand this debate. The texts included in this volume - writings and speeches from both well-known and obscure early American thinkers - show that religion played a prominent yet fractious role in the era of the American Revolution. In their personal beliefs, the Founders ranged from profound skeptics like Thomas Paine to traditional Christians like Patrick Henry. Nevertheless, most of the Founding Fathers rallied around certain crucial religious principles, including the idea that people were created equal, the belief that religious freedom required the disestablishment of state-backed denominations, the necessity of virtue in a republic, and the role of Providence in guiding the affairs of nations. Harris and Kidd show that thrTrade ReviewMatthew L. Harris and Thomas S. Kidd have assembled a fine collection of primary documents that will serve as a useful guide for scholars, teachers, and students interested in the Christian America debate. * John Fea, author of Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?: A Historical Introduction *Harris and Kidd have crafted a work that is at once readable and informative. Indeed, even non-specialists who read their book will be able to comprehend the key questions about the place of religion in American life without feeling overwhelmed. * Renewing Minds *This brief treatment illustrates complexities with which the US and its leaders continue to struggle. * CHOICE *Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Founding Fathers and Religion ; Chapter 1: Religion and the Continental Congress ; Chapter 2: Religion and State ; Chapter 3: Constitution and Ratification ; Chapter 4: Religion and the Federal Government ; Chapter 5: Disestablishment and the Separation of Church and State ; Chapter 6: The Founding Fathers' Own Views on Religion ; Select Bibliography

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Book SynopsisAre human rights universal or the product of specific cultures? Is democracy a necessary condition for the achievement of human rights in practice? And when, if ever, is it legitimate for external actors to impose their understandings of human rights upon particular countries? In the contemporary context of globalization, these questions have a salient religious dimension. Religion intersects with global human rights agendas in multiple ways, including: whether ''''universal'''' human rights are in fact an imposition of Christian understandings; whether democracy, the ''''rule of the people,'''' is compatible with God''s law; and whether international efforts to enforce human rights including religious freedom amount to an illicit imperialism. This book brings together leading specialists across disciplines for the first major survey of the religious politics of human rights across the world''s major regions, political systems, and faith traditions. The authors take a bottom-up approacTrade ReviewFor three decades, scholars have shown that religion and human rights need each other. The volume opens an important new chapter of scholarship by illustrating precisely how religion and human rights interact today. Judiciously edited and strikingly original, the volume combines case studies of local communities with broad surveys of major religions and regions of the world that illustrate the complex and diverse controversies that remain, especially over women's rights, religious freedom, and the rights to life and bodily integrity. * John Witte, Jr., Jonas Robitscher Professor of Law, Emory University *Table of ContentsTHOMAS BANCHOFF AND ROBERT WUTHNOW; THOMAS BANCHOFF; PART I: ISLAM AND THE GLOBAL POLITICS OF HUMAN RIGHTS; ROBERT W. HEFNER; YVONNE YAZBECK HADDAD; PART II: THREE REGIONS: LATIN AMERICA, SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, AND SOUTHEAST ASIA; PAUL FRESTON; ROGAIA MUSTAFA ABUSHARAF; CHARLES KEYES; PART III: FOUR KEY COUNTRIES: INDIA, CHINA, RUSSIA AND THE US; PRATAP BHANU MEHTA; DAVID OWNBY; MARJORIE MANDELSTAM BALZER; THOMAS BANCHOFF

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Book SynopsisThe idea that religion has a dangerous tendency to promote violence is part of the conventional wisdom of Western societies, and it underlies many of our institutions and policies, from limits on the public role of religion to efforts to promote liberal democracy in the Middle East. William T. Cavanaugh challenges this conventional wisdom by examining how the twin categories of religion and the secular are constructed. A growing body of scholarly work explores how the category ''religion'' has been constructed in the modern West and in colonial contexts according to specific configurations of political power. Cavanaugh draws on this scholarship to examine how timeless and transcultural categories of ''religion and ''the secular'' are used in arguments that religion causes violence. He argues three points: 1) There is no transhistorical and transcultural essence of religion. What counts as religious or secular in any given context is a function of political configurations of power; 2) Such a transhistorical and transcultural concept of religion as non-rational and prone to violence is one of the foundational legitimating myths of Western society; 3) This myth can be and is used to legitimate neo-colonial violence against non-Western others, particularly the Muslim world.Trade ReviewWilliam Cavanaugh is a radical theologian who engages in subtle cultural analysis. * David Martin, Times Literary Supplement *Transforming the widely accepted narrative of religious violence will not be accomplished in the span of reading Cavanaughs book alone. Yet he has contributed a helpfully bold book that should spur a multi-disciplinary and critical reexamination of the narrative of religion and violence and the origins of the liberal, secular state. * Michael Kessler, Journal of the American Academy of Religion *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION; NOTES

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Book SynopsisThe long-awaited follow-up to the groundbreaking Massacre at Mountain MeadowsPublished in 2008, Massacre at Mountain Meadows was a bombshell of a book, revealing the story of one of the grimmest episodes in Latter-day Saint history, when settlers in southwestern Utah slaughtered more than 100 members of a California-bound wagon train in 1857. In this much-anticipated sequel, Richard E. Turley Jr. and Barbara Jones Brown examine the aftermath of this atrocity.Vengeance Is Mine documents southern Utah leaders'' attempts to cover up their crime by silencing witnesses and spreading lies. Investigations by both governmental and church bodies were stymied by stonewalling and political wrangling. While nine men were eventually indicted, five were captured and only one, John D. Lee, was executed. The book examines the maneuvering of the defense and prosecution in Lee''s two trials, the second ending in Lee''s conviction. Turley and Brown explore the fraught relationship between Lee and church Trade ReviewThis haunting, exhaustively-researched account stands as the definitive study of the long afterlife of the Mountain Meadows massacre. * Laurie Maffly-Kipp, Washington University in St. Louis *Vengeance is Mine is a riveting account of how justice was pursued and evaded during an era of national transformation. With moving prose and a brisk narrative, Richard E. Turley Jr. and Barbara Jones Brown's tale reveals much about both nineteenth century Latter-day Saints as well as the American nation against whom they nearly waged war. * Benjamin E. Park, author of Kingdom of Nauvoo *A harsh, painful story of the tragic aftermath of the Mountain Meadows Massacre reconstructed from a decades-long investigation of the sources, Vengeance Is Mine is an unflinching account of investigation, cover up, and suffering. Turley and Brown have made startling discoveries that put the story in a new light without relieving the perpetrators of guilt. A complex, enthralling historical narrative. * Richard Lyman Bushman, author of Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling *This impeccably researched and eloquent book tells a story about crime and punishment in a western territory in the years immediately before and after the Civil War. It is a story about the entanglement of local and national politics, about religious zeal and bigotry, and about barriers to achieving justice in a bitterly polarized society. It is a story for today. * Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, author of A House Full of Females: Plural Marriage and Women's Rights in Early Mormonism, 1835-1870 *In Vengeance Is Mine, Brown and Turley clarify and fill in the narrative spaces in the aftermath of the infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre. Using legal transcripts and other primary documents, they unravel the tale of how American Indians were blamed and then used to deflect attention from the principal orchestrators of unimaginable violence. This story reflects events in Mormon history while contextualizing religious and systemic racial attitudes of the nineteenth-century American West. This is a book not to miss. * P. Jane Hafen (Taos Pueblo), co-editor of Essays on American Indian and Mormon History *Based upon years of extensive research, Vengeance is Mine: The Mountain Meadows Massacre and Its Aftermath is a masterpiece that examines not only the catalysts and culmination but also the consequences of one of the most infamous episodes of both Latter-day Saint and Western U.S. history-the Mountain Meadows Massacre...Learning the hard lessons of the past will help us make a better future for ourselves and others. To that end, I am pleased to highly recommend Vengeance is Mine. Who should read it? Everyone! If you are unsure whether you should buy it, do yourself a favor and do it. Read it, weep over it, wrestle with it, and I believe you will be a better person-one more genuine, merciful, tolerant, and thoughtful-by the end. * Sam Mitchell, Association of Mormon Letters *Turley and Brown have accomplished a remarkable feat in capturing so much primary source material and delivering a highly readable text that has lessons for all of us. If you end up finding yourself weeping or not being able to sleep, then the authors have accomplished what they set out to do, making you feel for this senseless tragedy. Vengeance is Mine is worthy of our concentrated attention. * Kevin Folkman, Association of Mormon Letters *Vengeance Is Mine does what any sequel does best: expands what is presented in the first iteration, deepens the audience's understanding of what is being presented, and concludes threads considered in the first text. Vengeance Is Mine connects readers more to one of the main figures in the massacre-John D. Lee-expanding his narrative and outlining the effect his trial had on not only him and his family but on American politics, the treatment of Latter-day Saints, and the Church that nestled itself in the Salt Lake Valley. Because it is both a good standalone and an excellent sequel, I recommend readers taking either path when reading: taking up the first book; if they are interested in a deep dive into the massacre, or reading this text on its own, since it provides the same main points that the first book does. * Adam McLain, Association for Mormon Letters *This is a book worth reading. * Amanda Ray, Association for Mormon Letters *I would say that anyone connected to Latter-day Saint studies should have this book on their bookshelf by the end of the year-it is no exaggeration to say that all historical studies of the Mountain Meadows Massacre converge in Vengeance is Mine. * Greg Seppi, Association for Mormon Letters *Vengeance is Mine: The Mountain Meadows Massacre and Its Aftermath is a stunning achievement… Brown and Turley's book is a phenomenal, breathtaking step toward communal learning. * Conor Hilton, Association for Mormon Letters *I would say that anyone connected to Latter-day Saint studies should have this book on their bookshelf by the end of the year-it is no exaggeration to say that all historical studies of the Mountain Meadows Massacre converge in Vengeance is Mine. * Greg Seppi, Association for Mormon Letters *Vengeance is Mine: The Mountain Meadows Massacre and Its Aftermath is a stunning achievement... Brown and Turley's book is a phenomenal, breathtaking step toward communal learning. * Conor Hilton, Association for Mormon Letters *In addition to providing the definitive narrative of the legal wrangling that followed the massacre and their useful demolition of several myths, the great work Turley and Brown do here is their contextualization of the massacre's investigation in the politics of the nation and the Utah territory. * Matthew Bowman, Nova Religio vol 27.2 *This is a superb treatment of a massacre that has unfairly blackened the Latter-day Saints for more than a century. Highly recommended. General readers through faculty; professionals. * Choice *Table of Contents1. The Angel of Peace Should Extend His Wings 2. Sermons Like Pitch Forks 3. Imposed Upon No More 4. Too Late 5. Forget Everything 6. The Sound of War 7. An Awful Tale of Blood 8. Indians Hostile to All Strangers 9. The Spirit of the Times 10. A Lion in the Path 11. Make the Mormons Pay 12. Fearful Calamities 13. Peacefully Submitting 14. The Moment Is Critical 15. Make All Inquiry 16. Join the Know Nothings 17. A Line of Policy 18. An Inquisition 19. Bring to Light the Perpetrators 20. Nothing But Evasive Replies 21. Make Diligent Inquiry 22. Approach of the Troops 23. Catching Is Before Hanging 24. Precious Legacies from the Departed Ones 25. Unwilling to Rest Under the Stigma 26. The Course Adopted Will Not Prove Successful 27. Vengeance is Mine 28. In the Midst of a Desolating War 29. Too Horrible to Contemplate 30. Cut Off 31. Boiling Conditions 32. Zeal O'erleaped Itself 33. The Time Has Come 34. Do You Plead Guilty 35. Open the Ball 36. Make a Clean Breast of It 37. A Lively Skirmish 38. The Curtain Has Fallen 39. Coerce Me to Make a Statement 40. Mr. Howard Gives Promise 41. The Responsibility Before You 42. Sufficient to Warrant a Verdict 43. The Demands of Justice 44. Allow the Law to Take Its Course 45. Under Sentence of Death 46. Failure to Arrest These Men 47. Haunted Notes

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Book SynopsisStorming Zion offers a compelling explanation for the growing trend of state raids on new and nontraditional religious communities. Stuart Wright and Susan Palmer base their study on a massive data set documenting 116 government raids over the last six decades, primarily in Western countries.Trade ReviewThe book's analysis of expanded government raiding of NRMs in France is a solid addition to ongoing discussions over religious pluralism, laïcité and French church–state relations, and European counter-extremism policy. * Brian Auten, Religious Studies Review *Table of ContentsPreface ; Chapter 1. Government Raids on Religious Communities ; Chapter 2. Countermovement Mobilization and Government Raids ; Chapter 3. The Twelve Tribes ; Chapter 4. The Family International/Children of God\ ; Chapter 5. Branch Davidians ; Chapter 6. The United Nuwaubian Nation ; Chapter 7. The Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints ; Chapter 8. The Church of Scientology ; Chapter 9. Raids in France ; Chapter 10. Exploring the Causes and Consequences of Raids on NRM Communities ; Notes ; References ; Index

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Book SynopsisOne of the world''s leading scholars of religious trends shows how climate change has driven dramatic religious upheavals.Long before the current era of man-made climate change, the world has suffered repeated, severe climate-driven shocks. These shocks have resulted in famine, disease, violence, social upheaval, and mass migration. But these shocks were also religious events. Dramatic shifts in climate have often been understood in religious terms by the people who experienced them. They were described in the language of apocalypse, millennium, and Judgment. Often, too, the eras in which these shocks occurred have been marked by far-reaching changes in the nature of religion and spirituality. Those changes have varied widely - from growing religious fervor and commitment; to the stirring of mystical and apocalyptic expectations; to waves of religious scapegoating and persecution; or the spawning of new religious movements and revivals. In many cases, such responses have had lasting imTrade ReviewReading Climate, Catastrophe, and Faith can nevertheless be salutary. Jenkins is right in his premise that the book will seem innovative... * Willis Jenkins, Journal of the American Academy of Religion *Jenkins's important study is sobering and summoning. Given the past responses to such crises,he leaves little room for optimism. Jenkins reasons by way of analogue from those earlier crises to our own. Given the hard work to be done, we may be grateful to Jenkins for his helpful articulation * Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary Decatur, Georgia, Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology *This work compels us to consider how climate change matters for religious development and, consequently, for international peace and security. It is a worthy read for those working to build a safer and more sustainable world. * Anum Farhan, Chatham House, UK, International Affairs *Philip Jenkins provides a fascinating look into the historical relationship between faith and climate change... The book is a poignant reminder of the role that faith leaders can play in the face of the disruptive impacts of today's climate crisis. * Mariana Vieira, International Affairs Summer reading list 2022 *This masterpiece of historical scholarship should help policy makers and others transcend temporal myopia. Of special interest to students of climate, history, society, religion, and politics, this book can change the way one thinks about such matters. * L. E. Sponsel, CHOICE *Jenkins's bold new argument may change the way we think about the history of religion, but more important, it could remind us that we can imagine a new and better way as we prepare for the consequences of this impending climate crisis. * Rt. Rev. Mark Van Koevering, The Living Church *So many books on climate change focus on science and policy. This one offers a refreshing, if sobering, break as it charts the effect that past periods of climate stress have had on the evolution of the world's great faiths. * Pilita Clark, Financial Times, Best Climate and Environment Books of 2021 *a remarkable overview of climate change and its consequences for religious movements in world history... It is an important book for scholars of religion as well as for those interested in the consequences of climate change. * Mary Evelyn Tucker, Times Literary Supplement *This timely and meticulously researched book makes an important contribution to the growing body of literature engaging religion and history with ecology and climate change. * Ruby Guyat, Times Higher Education *A hugely ambitious work, such as only a historian of Philip Jenkins's great learning would dare undertake... magisterial study, at once probing and panoramic... The timeliness of this volume hardly needs emphasising. * John Pridmore, Church Times *It is fascinating and thought-provoking approach to the climate change which the world now faces. * Revd Dr Paul Beasley-Murray, Church Matters *Table of ContentsNote on Usage Acknowledgments Chapter One: From Disaster To Belief Chapter Two: Forcing Climate Chapter Three: Ages of Gold Chapter Four: God's Anger and the Demons Within Chapter Five: After Darkness, Light Chapter Six: A Faded Sun and A Wider World Chapter Seven: Who Can Stand Before His Cold? Chapter Eight: Darkening Heavens and a New World Chapter Nine: A Warming World Conclusion

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe debate about violence in Christian ethics has become repetitious, stale, boring, and something of a dead end. But then Christian Martyrdom and Christian Violence appears out of nowhere. What a refreshing angle from which to tackle a hackneyed set of issues. Lundberg opens up a whole new field of investigation and we are drawn into a clear, substantive discussion that gets us back on board. More still, he opens up a further set of issues related to sanctity that cries out for follow-up treatment. This is a volume rich in argument and in felicitous expression that is a delight to ponder. * William J. Abraham, D.Phil. (Oxon), Director of the Wesley House of Studies, Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University, Waco, Texas *Lundberg achieves an intelligent, careful, and honest probing of the core problem of Christian just war theory: justifying killing in the name of Jesus Christ. To analogize from martyrdom is ingenious and illuminating. Lundberg never avoids or dissembles regarding the realities and perplexities of war. Wherever you stand on the just war to pacifism spectrum, whatever your erudition on the subject, you will learn from Lundberg's fascinating tour de force. * Lisa Sowle Cahill, J. Donald Monan, S.J. Professor of Theology, Boston College *This is an important book. The author brings rigorous scholarship and profound insight to his analysis of Christian martyrdom, just war ethics, and the general problem of violence in the experience of people of faith. That this work was partly seeded in theological dialogue at the Faith and Order table should give readers confidence, not only in its comprehensive reading of historical and contemporary sources and examples, but also in its ecumenical sensitivities. For all of these reasons, the value of this book is undeniable. * Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, Associate General Secretary, National Council of Churches USA *Table of ContentsContents Preface Acknowledgments Introduction: Naming the Christian Martyrs 1. Identifying Martyrdom The Origins of "Martyrdom" Action and Passion in Christian Martyrdom Violent Action and Martyrdom? The Question of Violence in the Christian Life and the Criteria of Martyrdom (I) 2. Nonviolence as Criterion of Martyrdom? The Biblical Case for Pacifism Christian Pacifism in History Martyrdom in Anabaptist Perspective Nonviolence and the Imitatio Christi The Criteria of Martyrdom (II) 3. The Just War and the Horizon of Martyrdom The Rise of the "Just War" in Christian Ethics Christian Just War Teaching The Logic of Christian Just War Thinking Criticisms of Christian Just War Thinking 4. Soldiers and Saints, Magistrates and Martyrs Soldiers as Martyrs and Saints in the Early Church Saints, Martyrs, and the Institutions of Medieval Christendom Magistrate Martyrs in the Era of Reformation Martyr Claims in the European Wars of Religion Interlude: Colonialism, Mission, and Martyrdom Holy War and Just War 5. Violence, Jesus, and Just War Reasoning The Nature and Varieties of Violence Jesus and (Non)Violence Christian Violence, Jesus, and the Biblical God Weighing the Just War Ethic 6. Christian Calling and the Ideal of Martyrdom in the Real World Christian "Realism" Christian Calling in the Real World Interlude: Military Calling, Moral Injury, and Just War Teaching The Theology of Sainthood (I) The Criteria of Martyrdom (III) 7. Violence and the Christian Life in the Light of Martyrdom The Rhetorical Function of Martyrdom Restraining the "Necessities" of Realism Christian Soldiers and the Criteria of Martyrdom (IV) Soldiers, Society, and the Church The Theology of Sainthood (II) Epilogue: The Logic and Absurdity of Violence Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe most serious effort in years to rethink whether and how the United States should support democracy in the Middle East. Hamid's sharp challenges to both skeptics and supporters of conventional democracy policy will unsettle some readers. But his willingness to put forward a deeply felt set of genuinely new ideas—applicable not just in the Middle East but globally—makes the journey highly stimulating and worthwhile. * Thomas Carothers, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace *In this remarkable book, Hamid argues that US policymakers mustn't give up on democracy in the Middle East, but rather they must come to terms with how their inaccurate assumptions about Islam and politics alongside American geo-strategic priorities have hindered democratic progress in the region. Hamid convincingly argues for a 'democracy first' approach in the Middle East that is responsive to citizen democratic aspirations across the region. * Amaney A. Jamal, Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University *Impactful books make you rethink fundamental assumptions. The Problem of Democracy does exactly that. Before reading Hamid's new book, I embraced the conventional wisdom on the intertwined relationship between promoting liberalism and democracy as well as the US need to disengage from the Middle East. I now see the value of supporting 'democratic minimalism.' Anyone interested in new thinking about democracy promotion and the Middle East must read this terrific book. * Michael McFaul, Stanford University and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia *Shadi Hamid draws on the experiences of the Middle East to address the vexing question at the heart of the crisis of democracy in the West. Is democracy an absolute good, or is it good only when it produces good outcomes? Hamid goes beyond usual arguments about democratic values to make cogent and incisive observations, forcing the reader to rethink what we commonly expect of democracy. Hamid is an original thinker, and this book is an important and timely contribution. * Vali Nasr, Majid Khadduri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies, Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies *Table of ContentsPreface 1. Is Democracy Worth Supporting? 2. Democratic Minimalism in Theory and Practice 3. The Problem of Islam 4. Democratic Dilemmas: Egypt, Jordan, and Algeria 5. The American Veto 6. Culture versus Interests 7. Anti- Despotism or Democracy Promotion? 8. Islamists in Government 9. On Hypocrisy 10. On Power Notes Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIn Worldly Politics and Divine Institutions, Nahshon Perez explores multiple modes of entanglement of religion and the state in modern democracies, each with its own set of implications. The precision Perez brings to his analysis is impressive. Underlying his comparison of entanglement and separation models are fundamental concerns about the status of religious minorities. This book has much to offer not only to those who are interested in contemporary political theory on religion and the state, but also those interested in the treatment of religious minorities in other times and contexts. * Deeana Copeland Klepper, author of Pastoral Care and Community in Late Medieval Germany: Albert of Diessens Mirror of Priests *Nahshon Perez has written a book that greatly advances our ability to evaluate entanglements between religion and government. Moving beyond simplistic conceptions of separation between religion and state, it offers an empirically-informed framework for teasing out the different forms that interactions between religion and government can take. It breaks down the interests that are potentially threatened by church-state entanglements, including civic equality, nondiscrimination, and freedom of association, pushing us to consider the possibility that different regimes threaten these interests to various degrees and that some forms of interaction between religion and government are consistent with or supportive of these interests. This important book provides us with new tools to evaluate the merits of separationist claims. * Nomi Stolzenberg, Nathan and Lilly Shapell Chair in Law, USC Gould School of Law *In his Worldly Politics and Divine Institutions Nahshon Perez breaks new ground in the study of the entanglements of religion and the state in democracies. Perez does so by employing an approach that is innovative both normatively and methodologically. Unlike many for whom the separationist departure point for analysis - that separationist models of religion and state are normatively superior in democratic settings - is set in stone, Perez's novel casuistic bottom-up approach and analytic sharpness succeeds to originate nuanced lessons from real-life cases of entanglement. Worldly Politics and Divine Institutions will undoubtedly become an important reference point for students of religion and state. * Aviad Rubin, University of Haifa. Author of Bounded Integration: The Religion-State Relationship and Democratic Performance in Turkey and Israel *Using a selection of fascinating and telling case studies, Worldly Politics and Divine Institutions builds from the ground up to develop a practical method that can guide both political theorists and policymakers through the labyrinth of entanglement. Written with sharp clarity that nevertheless pays careful attention to the complexity of nuanced details, it is an essential intervention in the scholarship on religion and state in liberal democracy. * Lihi Ben Shitrit, University of Georgia. Author of Women and the Holy City: The Struggle over Jerusalem's Sacred Space *Is there anything new to say about the entanglement of religion and the state? On the evidence of Nahshon Perez's book , the answer is an emphatic "yes". What distinguishes this work is its remarkable methodological self-awareness. Perez defends a novel approach to doing political ethics, which combines casuistry and what he calls a "contextual" methodology, and which jointly yield rich and quite novel theoretical dividends. This book will be a "must-read" for both political theorists and for empirical researchers working on the relationship between the state and religion. * Daniel Weinstock, Katharine A. Pearson Chair in Civil Society and Public Policy, McGill University *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Method, Concepts, and Bottom-Up Research Chapter 2: Immunity, Government Funded Religious Associations, and Non-discrimination Rules: Examining the JFS and the Martinez Cases Chapter 3: Hegemonic Religions, Public Spaces, and Established churches Chapter 4: Entanglement of Faith and Government: Institutional Lessons from a Casuistic Research Conclusion

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Book SynopsisIn many low-income neighborhoods in El Salvador, two groups have significant influence over the public sphere: gangs and evangelical churches. Members of both groups often belong to the same families, use similar organizational strategies, and engage each other in local marketplaces. Pastors and gang leaders compete for power within communities while informally sharing community governance. Entanglements even occur within formal organizations: Gang members can be found in churches and faith-based organizations, while an evangelical presence exists within prisons and other gang-controlled spaces. Blood Entanglements shows the importance of religion in gang-controlled neighborhoods in El Salvador through extensive empirical data and the personal stories of people who live there. Stephen Offutt uses the notion of entanglement to explain how and why evangelicals have such frequent and often intimate interactions with gangs, which are groups that many evangelicals believe are evil. Entanglement, he shows, also sheds light on how evangelicals engage with Latin American society and social problems more generally. The book concludes with policy recommendations for reducing gang prevalence and violence in areas with a prominent evangelical presence.Trade ReviewIn El Salvador, the country with highest murder rate on the planet, criminal gangs and evangelicals, mostly pentecostals, are the two most influential groups in towns and cities across the violence-plagued nation. This book, on the complex relations between the MS-13 and 18th Street gangs on one hand and evangelical communities on the other, is the most nuanced and insightful study to date on the topic. It belongs on the top shelf of readers interested in global Christianity, gang violence, and Latin American studies. * R. Andrew Chesnut, author of Devoted to Death: Santa Muerte, the Skeleton Saint *Like street gangs, religious traditions have always adapted to changing surroundings. Stephen Offutt's fascinating account of the overlapping social worlds of gangs and churches in El Salvador sheds light on the dynamic relationships between evangelicals and violence on Central America's urban margins. A must read for anyone interested in the place of lived religion in the Global South. * Robert Brenneman, author of Homies and Hermanos: God and the Gangs in Central America *Table of ContentsIntroduction Ch 1 Evangelicals & Gangs: Inverted Images Ch 2 Shared Cosmologies Ch 3 Ties that Bind: Family Networks Ch 4 Competing for Local Authority Ch 5 Unusual Alliances in Community Governance Ch 6 Economic Engagements Ch 7 Infiltrated Organizations Conclusion Appendix I: Methodology Works Cited

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe chapters on individual nonverts are the most engaging in the book. Bullivant has an eye for good human interest stories and a talent for interviewing people. * Mark L. Movsesian, Law and Liberty *We have been hearing for a long time about the remarkable rise of the nones. Only more recently have scholars delved deeper into the life worlds of America's growing non-religious population. Bullivant provides an accessible guided tour of the growing number of ex-religious Americans that is easy reading and unburdened by heavy theory or complicated statistics. This is the book for those looking for a smooth on-ramp to understanding the big picture facts and issues involved in this major cultural change. * Christian Smith, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Sociology, University of Notre Dame *We cannot understand the explosive rise of religious "nones" without understanding the rise of "nonverts." With rigor and wit, Stephen Bullivant shows us nonverts matter because our past relationships profoundly shape our present and future lives,often in divergentways. Religious nonverts commonly share quite different identities and experiences from "Cradle Nones." Just as nonverts who grew up evangelical or Catholic are unique compared to former Muslims or Mainline Protestants. Weaving togethercompelling personal stories and sweeping quantitativeanalysis, Bullivant shows us both the brilliant diversity and undeniable commonality of the formerly-religious. * Samuel L. Perry, co-author of The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy *Nonverts brings America's stunning rise of secularization to life. Stephen Bullivant highlights the humanity of the growing secular population in America—with equal parts brio, rigor, and humor. Many of the stories told within these pages will no doubt resonate with nonreligious readers. Religious readers will benefit from learning why so many others are deciding that religion is not for them. People who are unsure about their religious beliefs will find that their experience is more common than they might think. No matter their background, everyone who reads this book will gain a deeper understanding of how America's 'new secularists' are reshaping the cultural landscape. * David Campbell, author of Secular Surge: A New Fault Line in American Politics *In Nonverts, Stephen Bullivant threads the difficult needle of being academically rigorous, while also being accessible to a general audience. The backbone of the book is a careful melding of the statistical evidence with very personal and engaging stories of how and why people have left religion behind. It should serve as a key text for anyone who is interested in understanding secularization and its many causes and consequences. * Ryan Burge, author of The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They are Going *Nonverts will serve as an indispensable guide to this shifting landscape, as well as the future of American life. * David True, Reading Religion *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Note on Sources and Referencing 1. None the Up and Up 2. When the Saints Go Marching Out 3. None Specifics 4. Flatline Protestants 5. Nothings Come from... Somethings? 6. Exvangelicals 7. The Ex Effect 8. Recovering Catholics 9. Nonvert Nation

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Book SynopsisThis accessible and authoritative introduction tells the American story of religious liberty from its colonial beginnings to the latest Supreme Court cases. The authors analyze closely the formation of the First Amendment religion clauses and describe the unique and enduring principles of the American experiment in religious freedom - liberty of conscience, free exercise of religion, religious equality, religious pluralism, separation of church and state, and no establishment of religion. Successive chapters map all of the 240+ Supreme Court cases on religious freedom - covering the free exercise of religion; the roles of government and religion in education; the place of religion in public life; and the interaction of religious organizations and the state. The concluding reflections argue that protecting religious freedom is critical for democratic order and constitutional rule of law, even if it needs judicious balancing with other fundamental rights and state interests.Clear, compreTrade ReviewThis magisterial revision of Religion and the American Constitutional Experiment is an accessible and authoritative guide through the remarkable but tortuous history of America's unique approach to religious freedom. Clear without over-simplification, comprehensive without pedantry, it portrays a system that enabled the United States to become a society where members of all religions and no religion could not only live together in relative harmony but flourish. * Mary Ann Glendon, Learned Hand Professor of Law emerita, Harvard University *This book by John Witte and Joel Nichols is probably the best combination that exists of historical background, theoretical understanding, and legal doctrines of the religion clauses. It allows scholars, students, and other citizens to grasp the history behind the clauses without undertaking full-scale research on their own. The book is also a superb source to understand modern controversies and how courts are dealing with them. * Kent Greenawalt, University Professor, Columbia Law School *In evenhanded and clear prose, Witte and Nichols provide a clear and comprehensive history of religious liberty in the United States. Broad in scope, updated with the latest developments, and supplemented with impressive appendices that catalog state constitutional provisions and Supreme Court decisions, this text offers cogent analysis from leading scholars of law and religion. Already a trusted and valuable classroom resource, this book will also enlighten those seeking a deeper understanding of the contours of this important topic. * Amy E. Black, Professor of Political Science, Wheaton College *The authors provide clear description of complicated case law and public policy for students and citizens. They reveal patterns and principles on a subject often caricatured by wild generalizations and widespread confusion. Academics and experts across a range of fields and professions will appreciate their fine analysis and comprehensive scholarship. The authors refute a weak postmodernist critique of religious freedom and offer a provocative perspective on the history of liberty of conscience. * Reading Religion *In the inevitably contentious field of church-state constitutional issues in America, it is rare to find a volume that is as accessible, thoughtful, and measured as Religion and the American Constitutional Experiment by John Witte, Jr. and Joel A. Nichols. Their remarkable ability to create order in the midst of the chaos of the ever-changing constitutional law of religious liberty makes this an ideal volume for classroom use, and this new fourth edition updates the church-state story through the US Supreme Court s 2015 decisions. * Journal of Church and State *Table of ContentsList of Tables ix Preface xi Introduction 1 The American Experiment in Historical Context The First Millennium The Papal Revolution The Protestant Reformation Religious Establishment versus Religious Freedom in Europe Colonization and Experimentation 2 The Theology and Politics of the Religion Clauses Puritan Views Evangelical Views Enlightenment Views Civic Republican Views Summary and Conclusions 3 The Essential Rights and Liberties of Religion Liberty of Conscience Free Exercise of Religion Religious Pluralism Religious Equality Separation of Church and State Disestablishment of Religion Summary and Conclusions 4 Forging the First Amendment Religion Clauses Religion and the Continental Congress The 1787 Constitutional Convention Ratification and Proposed Amendments Drafting the First Amendment Religion Clauses "Original Intent": Interpreting the Final Text Summary and Conclusions 5 The Free Exercise of Religion: Mapping the Doctrinal Terrain Bringing a Free Exercise Case Factual Clusters of Free Exercise Cases Shifting Standards of Review in Free Exercise Cases vi Contents 6 First Amendment Religious Exercise, Expression, and Exemption Free Exercise and Polygamy (1879- 1890) Free Exercise and Conscientious Objection (1918- 1971) Freedom and Equality of Religious Expression (1940- 2015) Liberty of Conscience and Free Exercise Exemptions (1943- 1989) Summary and Conclusions 7 The Free Exercise of Religion: Neutrality, Nondiscrimination, and Statutory Rights Neutralizing the Free Exercise Clause (1982- 1990) Neutrality and No State Discrimination Against Religion (1993- ) Neutrality and Nondiscrimination in State Aid to Religious Education Neutrality and Nondiscrimination in the Time of Covid State Neutrality in Balancing Religious Liberty and Sexual Liberty Free Exercise of Religion as a Statutory Right (1993- ) RFRA Cases in the Supreme Court RLUIPA Cases in the Supreme Court Summary and Conclusions 8 Modern Establishment Law: Mapping the Doctrinal Terrain Bringing an Establishment Clause Case Mapping the Establishment Clause Cases Separationism Accommodationism Neutrality and the Lemon Test Endorsement No Coercion Equal Treatment/ Equal Access History and Tradition Summary and Conclusions 9 Religion and Public Education: No Establishment of Religion, But Equal Access for Religion Separationist Cases (1948- 2000) Equal Access Cases (1981- ) Limits on Equal Access? Summary and Conclusions 10 Government and Religious Education: From Accommodation to Separation to Equality Accommodationist Cases (1908- 1977) Separationist Cases (1971- 1985) Equal Treatment Cases (1983- 2002) Statutes, Free Exercise, and Equal Access Rights (2004- ) Summary and Conclusions 11 Religion and Public Life Sabbath Day Rules 282 Legislative Chaplains and Prayers Religious Symbols Patterns and Principles Summary and Conclusions 12 The Freedoms of Religious Organizations Religious Polity and Structures Religious Structures Legal Structures Religious Property Disputes Standard Legal Principles (1815- 1914) Deference (1872- 1976) Neutral Principles (1979- ) Labor and Employment Social Services and Taxation Social Services Taxation Summary and Conclusions Concluding Reflections Signs of Trouble Enduring Principles, New Applications Appendix 1: Drafts of Federal Religion Clauses (1787- 1789) Appendix 2: United States Supreme Court Decisions Relating to Religious Liberty (1815- 2021) Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis magisterial revision of Religion and the American Constitutional Experiment is an accessible and authoritative guide through the remarkable but tortuous history of America's unique approach to religious freedom. Clear without over-simplification, comprehensive without pedantry, it portrays a system that enabled the United States to become a society where members of all religions and no religion could not only live together in relative harmony but flourish. * Mary Ann Glendon, Learned Hand Professor of Law emerita, Harvard University *This book by John Witte and Joel Nichols is probably the best combination that exists of historical background, theoretical understanding, and legal doctrines of the religion clauses. It allows scholars, students, and other citizens to grasp the history behind the clauses without undertaking full-scale research on their own. The book is also a superb source to understand modern controversies and how courts are dealing with them. * Kent Greenawalt, University Professor, Columbia Law School *In evenhanded and clear prose, Witte and Nichols provide a clear and comprehensive history of religious liberty in the United States. Broad in scope, updated with the latest developments, and supplemented with impressive appendices that catalog state constitutional provisions and Supreme Court decisions, this text offers cogent analysis from leading scholars of law and religion. Already a trusted and valuable classroom resource, this book will also enlighten those seeking a deeper understanding of the contours of this important topic. * Amy E. Black, Professor of Political Science, Wheaton College *The authors provide clear description of complicated case law and public policy for students and citizens. They reveal patterns and principles on a subject often caricatured by wild generalizations and widespread confusion. Academics and experts across a range of fields and professions will appreciate their fine analysis and comprehensive scholarship. The authors refute a weak postmodernist critique of religious freedom and offer a provocative perspective on the history of liberty of conscience. * Reading Religion *In the inevitably contentious field of church-state constitutional issues in America, it is rare to find a volume that is as accessible, thoughtful, and measured as Religion and the American Constitutional Experiment by John Witte, Jr. and Joel A. Nichols. Their remarkable ability to create order in the midst of the chaos of the ever-changing constitutional law of religious liberty makes this an ideal volume for classroom use, and this new fourth edition updates the church-state story through the US Supreme Court s 2015 decisions. * Journal of Church and State *Table of ContentsList of Tables ix Preface xi Introduction 1 The American Experiment in Historical Context The First Millennium The Papal Revolution The Protestant Reformation Religious Establishment versus Religious Freedom in Europe Colonization and Experimentation 2 The Theology and Politics of the Religion Clauses Puritan Views Evangelical Views Enlightenment Views Civic Republican Views Summary and Conclusions 3 The Essential Rights and Liberties of Religion Liberty of Conscience Free Exercise of Religion Religious Pluralism Religious Equality Separation of Church and State Disestablishment of Religion Summary and Conclusions 4 Forging the First Amendment Religion Clauses Religion and the Continental Congress The 1787 Constitutional Convention Ratification and Proposed Amendments Drafting the First Amendment Religion Clauses "Original Intent": Interpreting the Final Text Summary and Conclusions 5 The Free Exercise of Religion: Mapping the Doctrinal Terrain Bringing a Free Exercise Case Factual Clusters of Free Exercise Cases Shifting Standards of Review in Free Exercise Cases vi Contents 6 First Amendment Religious Exercise, Expression, and Exemption Free Exercise and Polygamy (1879- 1890) Free Exercise and Conscientious Objection (1918- 1971) Freedom and Equality of Religious Expression (1940- 2015) Liberty of Conscience and Free Exercise Exemptions (1943- 1989) Summary and Conclusions 7 The Free Exercise of Religion: Neutrality, Nondiscrimination, and Statutory Rights Neutralizing the Free Exercise Clause (1982- 1990) Neutrality and No State Discrimination Against Religion (1993- ) Neutrality and Nondiscrimination in State Aid to Religious Education Neutrality and Nondiscrimination in the Time of Covid State Neutrality in Balancing Religious Liberty and Sexual Liberty Free Exercise of Religion as a Statutory Right (1993- ) RFRA Cases in the Supreme Court RLUIPA Cases in the Supreme Court Summary and Conclusions 8 Modern Establishment Law: Mapping the Doctrinal Terrain Bringing an Establishment Clause Case Mapping the Establishment Clause Cases Separationism Accommodationism Neutrality and the Lemon Test Endorsement No Coercion Equal Treatment/ Equal Access History and Tradition Summary and Conclusions 9 Religion and Public Education: No Establishment of Religion, But Equal Access for Religion Separationist Cases (1948- 2000) Equal Access Cases (1981- ) Limits on Equal Access? Summary and Conclusions 10 Government and Religious Education: From Accommodation to Separation to Equality Accommodationist Cases (1908- 1977) Separationist Cases (1971- 1985) Equal Treatment Cases (1983- 2002) Statutes, Free Exercise, and Equal Access Rights (2004- ) Summary and Conclusions 11 Religion and Public Life Sabbath Day Rules 282 Legislative Chaplains and Prayers Religious Symbols Patterns and Principles Summary and Conclusions 12 The Freedoms of Religious Organizations Religious Polity and Structures Religious Structures Legal Structures Religious Property Disputes Standard Legal Principles (1815- 1914) Deference (1872- 1976) Neutral Principles (1979- ) Labor and Employment Social Services and Taxation Social Services Taxation Summary and Conclusions Concluding Reflections Signs of Trouble Enduring Principles, New Applications Appendix 1: Drafts of Federal Religion Clauses (1787- 1789) Appendix 2: United States Supreme Court Decisions Relating to Religious Liberty (1815- 2021) Index

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Book SynopsisA fresh assessment of Catholic integralism and other new and radical religious alternatives to liberal democracy.According to a common narrative, the twentieth century spelled the end of faith-infused political movements. Their ideologies, like Catholic integralism, would soon be forgotten. Humans were finally learning to keep religion out of politics. Or were we? In the twenty-first century, nations as diverse as Russia, India, Poland, and Turkey have seen a revival of religious politics, and many religious movements in other countries have proved similarly resilient. A new generation of political theologians passionately reformulate ancient religious doctrines to revolutionize modern political life. They insist that states recognize the true religion, and they reject modern liberal ideals of universal religious freedom and church-state separation. In this book, philosopher Kevin Vallier explores these new doctrines, not as lurid oddities but as though they might be true. The anti-libTrade ReviewThis splendid book has something for everyone. For religious conservatives who question the separation of church and state, Vallier offers compelling arguments against their integration, drawing from Catholic theology, Church history, and considerations of social stability. For liberals, Vallier offers a bracing view of a powerful current stream of anti-liberal thought that should shatter any complacency about taking liberal political assumptions for granted. For people of all religious and political orientations, Vallier offers a rigorous method for assessing political proposals that does not presuppose liberal principles, but can serve as a basis for all to engage each other in serious discussion. In our politically polarized age, that is a major achievement." Elizabeth Anderson, Max Shaye Professor of Public Philosophy, University of MichiganKevin Vallier thoughtfully makes the case against post-liberal political doctrines, focusing on Catholic integralism. But he also pursues reconciliation with conservatives through his striking proposal for non-liberal charter cities within the framework of a liberal state. This book is a daring and original effort to adapt liberal political theory to a post-liberal era." Yoram Hazony, author of Conservatism: A RediscoveryIntegralism holds that state coercion is to be used to forward a religion's vision of the supernatural good. It is deeply statist and deeply illiberal; and, yet, it arguably follows from the teachings of Roman Catholicism. In All the Kingdoms of the World, Kevin Vallier does the great service of taking this position seriously-of presenting it with care, so that its attractions are plain. He also does the great service of showing why it nevertheless profoundly fails in its own terms as an account of a just, stable political order and how its failure provides lessons for the prospects of other emerging anti-liberal statisms. The book is intellectually invigorating, theoretically rigorous, and politically timely. I am grateful that it was written, and that it was Vallier who wrote it!" Mark C. Murphy, McDevitt Professor of Religious Philosophy, Georgetown UniversityThis is an excellent and important book, starting with its defense of classical liberalism over Catholic integralism and indeed illiberalism more generally...likely to be one of this year's books that turns out to really matter. * Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution *All the Kingdoms of the World: On Radical Religious Alternatives to Liberalism is a seminal and ground-breaking work of meticulous scholarship. Impressively exceptional in organization and presentation, All the Kingdoms of the World: On Radical Religious Alternatives to Liberalism will have a special relevance and value for readers with an interest in the history of religion and politics, as well as being especially recommended for Church/State curriculum studies lists. Highly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library collections. * John Taylor, MBR Bookwatch *A fantastic book - an intellectual feast. * Kaushik Basu, Carl Marks Professor of International Studies, Cornell University, and former Chief Economist of the World Bank *The book is a response to the unexpected return of integralism as a political option, but it is also a reflection on what kind of society enables goodness...Vallier's book succeeds in revealing the dangerous flaws of integralism, but he offers few reasons to believe that liberalism has the resources to address the major social challenges we face today. * Terence Sweeney, The Commonweal *

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