"Quite ambitious, tracing religion in the United States from European colonization up to the 21st century.... The writing is strong throughout."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)"One can hardly do better than Religion in American Life.... A good read, especially for the uninitiated. The initiated might also read it for its felicity of narrative and the moments of illumination that fine scholars can inject even into stories we have all heard before. Read it."--Church HistoryThis new edition of Religion in American Life, written by three of the country's most eminent historians of religion, offers a superb overview that spans four centuries, illuminating the rich spiritual heritage central to nearly every event in our nation's history. Beginning with the state of religious affairs in both the Old and New Worlds on the eve of colonization and continuing through to the present, the book covers all the major American religious groups, from Protestants, Jews, and Catholics to Muslims, Hindus, Mormons, Buddhists, and New Age believers. Revised and updated, the book includes expanded treatment of religion during the Great Depression, of the religious influences on the civil rights movement, and of utopian groups in the 19th century, and it now covers the role of religion during the 2008 presidential election, observing how completely religion has entered American politics.

PrefaceRELIGION IN COLONIAL AMERICAJon ButlerChapter 1: Worlds Old and NewChapter 2: Religion and Missions in New Spain and New FranceChapter 3: Religion in England's First ColoniesChapter 4: The Flowering of Religious DiversityChapter 5: African and American Indian ReligionChapter 6: Reviving Colonial ReligionChapter 7: Religion and the American RevolutionRELIGION IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY AMERICAGrant WackerChapter 8: Prophets for a New NationChapter 9: Awakeners of the HeartChapter 10: Reformers and VisionariesChapter 11: Restorers of Ancient WaysChapter 12: Sojourners at HomeChapter 13: Warriors for God and ReligionChapter 14: Fashioners of Immigrant FaithsChapter 15: Innovators in a World of New IdeasChapter 16: Conservers of TraditionChapter 17: Adventurers of the SpiritRELIGION IN TWENTIETH- AND TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY AMERICARandall BalmerChapter 18: A New CenturyChapter 19: The Age of MilitancyChapter 20: In God We TrustChapter 21: Religion in the New FrontierChapter 22: Religion in an Age of UpheavalChapter 23: Preachers, Politicians, and ProdigalsChapter 24: Coming to Terms with PluralismChapter 25: Religion in the New MillenniumEpilogueChronologyFurther ReadingText CreditsPicture CreditsIndex