San Antonio College Library

At once historically and theoretically informed, these essays invite the reader to think of religion dynamically, reconsidering American religious history in terms of practices that are linked to specific social contexts. The point of departure is the concept of "lived religion." Discussing such topics as gift exchange, cremation, hymn-singing, and women's spirituality, a group of leading sociologists and historians of religion explore the many facets...

The author examines the deeply hidden spiritual landscape in the United States, questioning whether our conventional views even begin to capture the strange diversity of religious life in America.

"The religion of Islam is now an American phenomenon. Once thought to be primarily a way of life of the Arabs and a faith alien to the Judeo-Christian heritage of this country, it has grown to be one of the most prominent and rapidly-growing religious movements in America. This ethnography of immigrant Muslims considers five Northeastern communities in detail. Including numerous interviews with members of these communities, this investigation provides...

A series of fifty black-and-white photographs, complemented by interviews with the subjects, explores the role of the church hat as a reflection of both personal style and a cherished African American tradition.

From the pulpits to the op-ed pages, several messages about religion in the U.S. are heard again and again: It's said that Americans are flocking to churches and other religious institutions in greater numbers than ever before, that non-Christian faiths are growing rapidly, and that a new religious fervor among the young is filling up the pews. All of these frequently heard messages are incorrect, according to this book. The book, by professors Barry...

Muslims are neither new nor foreign to the United States. They have been a vital presence in North America since the 16th century. This book unearths their history, documenting the lives of African, Middle Eastern, South Asian, European, black, white, Hispanic and other Americans who have been followers of Islam. It begins with the tale of Job Ben Solomon, a 18th century African American Muslim slave, and goes on to chart the stories of sodbusters...

This sourcebook describes the biblical presence in American culture from the period of the first European settler to the present day. It also discusses publication and distribution of the Bible, the use of the Bible in debates over slavery, homosexuality, feminism, and civil rights, and biblical sources in works of art, music, poetry, and fiction.