| Opening with documents that reflect the close relationship of religion, especially mainline Protestantism, to essential ideas undergirding Cold War America, this anthology covers both the center and the margins of modern American religious life—particularly how issues of politics, race, gender, and sexuality have influenced the religious mainstream. Also in these manifestos, Supreme Court decisions, congressional testimonies, speeches, articles, book excerpts, pastoral letters, interviews, song lyrics, memoirs, and poems are comments on the role of religion and theology in the civil rights, feminist, and gay rights movements, as well as in conservative responses. Religion and contemporary American culture are explored in documents about the rise of the evangelical movement and the religious right; the impact of "new" (post-1965) immigrant communities on the religious landscape; the popularity of alternative, New Age, and non-Western beliefs; and the relationship between religion and popular culture.
"A usable documentary history of contemporary American religion has been long overdue. Goff and Harvey have provided us with a wonderful collection of relevant sources and insightful commentary. Thanks. It's already on my next syllabus."—Lawrence Snyder
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