Introducing American Religions

There have been many studies of American religious culture before this, admits Lippy (emeritus religious studies, U. of Tennessee-Chattanooga), and no doubt there will be plenty more to follow, but he offers a view inspired by his long service in the discipline, watching and taking part as the focus on white puritans divided and divided again to reflect the increasing diversity, or in many cases the emergence of divergent branches that had been obscured and suppressed for a good part of the country's history. He discusses such dimensions as religious diversity in the age of colonial conquest, religion in an age of revolution, evangelical America, Catholic and Jewish growth stretch diversity, the impact of the Civil War and regionalism, urbanizing America, modernity brings more change, quests for unity amid diversity, and the many faces of pluralism in postmodern America. Annotation 穢2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)