Religion and American Politics

Abstract How do religion and politics interact in America? How has that relationship changed over time? Why have American religious and political thought sometimes developed along a parallel course while at other times they have moved in opposite directions? These are among the many questions addressed in this volume. Originally published in 1990 as Religion and American Politics: From The Colonial Period to the 1980s, this book offers a survey of the relationship between religion and politics in America. It features scholars including Richard Carwardine, Nathan Hatch, Daniel Walker Howe, George Marsden, Martin Marty, Harry Stout, John Wilson, Robert Wuthnow, and Bertram Wyatt-Brown. Since its publication, the influence of religion on American politics—and, therefore, interest in the topic—has grown exponentially. For this new edition, the editors offer a completely new introduction, and have also commissioned several new pieces, eliminating those that are now out of date. The resulting book offers a historically grounded approach to one of the most divisive issues of our time.