Does anyone know a good article or book (or several) that explains why U.S. Americans are so religious/Christian (for instance, as compared to Europe which is so secular)? I’m sure I could find some, but I’m wondering if there are ones people know of that are actually good or accepted as pretty on-target. I know, I know. I’m in divinity school and should know this. But I don’t.
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Native of Kentucky and Ohio. Student of Christianity, religion, democracy, sexuality, suffering/healing, and gender. Lover of animals, my cats, books, my sweet babies, my family, and cozy, warm homes. Interested in how to make the world a more just and loving place, and in trying to be less serious and more fun. I am both amazed and intrigued by the ways that we journey through this life and make sense of it all and envision this (now occasional) blog as place to reflect on all of the above.
Hi Elizabeth, here are a few I’ve read about but not actually read:
American Theocracy : The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21stCentury
by Kevin Phillips
The Mighty and the Almighty : Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs
by Madeleine Albright
Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism
by Michelle Goldberg
God’s Politics : Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It (Hardcover)
by Jim Wallis
The europeans who came here were very religious. The europeans who stayed home weren’t so much. The nation that was founded was ideologically attached to a particular kind of Christian trimphalism.
The form of organization of the American religion was non conforming congregationalism. The form of organizationof European religion since the revolution has been establishment conformism.
American Theocracy is very, very good (and very depressing), but doesn’t address the question “why.” It just deals with relatively current things.
I haven’t delved into it yet, but I suspect that “American Gospel,” by Jon Meacham, might.
Indeed, there was a lot of immigration to America based on religion and seeking religious freedom (at least for those immigrating… not necessarily for anyone else). But it’s more complicated than that, because if it was just the effect of who moved here, you’d expect to find New England a hotbed of rabidly religious folk. Instead, it’s not. You find the aggressive devotion and intensely Christian (and Christianist) population is disproportionately in the South.
The books Valerie mentions have nothing to do with your question, unfortunately. The issue you’re asking about is usually discussed in the sociology of religion as the “secularization” question.
Two historians of American religion who probably have a good general thesis about why the U.S. remains relatively religious are Martin Marty (see Modern American Religion, 3 vols) and Peter Williams (America’s Religions). See also the Encyclopedia of Religion in America. One of these resources should get you started on a bibliography that helps you answer your question.
Thank you Mr Philocrites. My partner is also very involved in progressive politics and this is a constantly reoccuring question for his work too. I’ll be reading up this summer. Elizabeth :)