Description
Book SynopsisHuge mountain ranges and vast uninhabited areas characterize the Mountain West. The region is home to several dense urban centers, but there is enough space between cities for three very distinct religious cultures to develop.
Trade ReviewThis volume contains five essays that present not only demographics but also analyses and overviews that highlight the religious uniqueness of the Mountain West and invite comparisons with other regions of America. A chapter on demographics by Walter Nugent describing the Mountain West as an oasis culture is complemented by Ferenc Szasz's essay on the role of religion in creating a social infrastructure in the region. A wise editorial decision then breaks the region into three subregions that are examined in the remaining essays. Randi Walker discusses Catholicism in Arizona and New Meexico, alerting readers to some unexpected ways that religion finds expression in public life. In a carefully nuanced essay, Kathleen Flake argues that theological uniqueness and the recollection of persecution in the past almost insure the continued tension between the Latter Day Saints and other religious groups in the region. The interesting aspects of Philip Deloria's essay include his comparison of the religious ambiance of Boulder with Colorado Springs, and his treament of religion among Native Americans. The introduction and conclusion by Jan Shipps sound high notes at the beginn and end of the collection. Recommended. Undergraduate and graduate students; general re * CHOICE *
This volume contains five essays that present not only demographics but also analyses and overviews that highlight the religious uniqueness of the Mountain West and invite comparisons with other regions of America. A chapter on demographics by Walter Nugent describing the Mountain West as an "oasis culture" is complemented by Ferenc Szasz's essay on the role of religion in creating a social infrastructure in the region. A wise editorial decision then breaks the region into three subregions that are examined in the remaining essays. Randi Walker discusses Catholicism in Arizona and New Meexico, alerting readers to some unexpected ways that religion finds expression in public life. In a carefully nuanced essay, Kathleen Flake argues that theological uniqueness and the recollection of persecution in the past almost insure the continued tension between the Latter Day Saints and other religious groups in the region. The interesting aspects of Philip Deloria's essay include his comparison of the religious ambiance of Boulder with Colorado Springs, and his treament of religion among Native Americans. The introduction and conclusion by Jan Shipps sound high notes at the beginn and end of the collection. Recommended. Undergraduate and graduate students; general readers. * CHOICE *
Table of Contents1 Introduction—Religion in the Mountain West:Geography as Destiny 2 The Religious Demography of an Oasis Culture 3 How Religion Created an Infrastructure for the Mountain West 4 The Mormon Corridor:Utah and Idaho 5 Catholic Heartland in Transition: Arizona and New Mexico 6 Polarized Tribes: Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana 7 Conclusion—Sacred Landscapes in Tension
