Religion in American Life

Three of the country's most eminent historians of religion offer here a superb overview that spans four centuries, illuminating the rich spiritual heritage central to nearly every event in our nation's history. Jon Butler traces the progress of religion in the colonies through the time of the American Revolution, covering all the religious groups, including Native Americans and African Americans. Grant Wacker continues the story with a fascinating look at the religious landscape of 19th-century America. He focuses on the rapid growth of evangelical Protestants and their competition with Catholicism and Judaism. Randall Balmer discusses the effects industrialization, modernization, and secularization had on new and established religions, providing a clear look into the kaleidoscope of religious belief in modern-day America.

• Author: Jon Butler, Grant Wacker, Randall Balmer
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Published: 2008
• Pages: 538