Moral Ambition: Mobilization and Social Outreach in Evangelical Megachurches

by Omri Elisha

Overview

In this evocative ethnography, Omri Elisha examines the hopes, frustrations, and activist strategies of American evangelical Christians as they engage socially with local communities. Focusing on two Tennessee megachurches, Moral Ambition reaches beyond political controversies over issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, and public prayer to highlight the ways that evangelicals at the grassroots of the Christian Right promote faith-based causes intended to improve the state of social welfare. The book shows how these ministries both help churchgoers embody religious virtues and create provocative new opportunities for evangelism on a public scale. Elisha challenges conventional views of U.S. evangelicalism as narrowly individualistic, elucidating instead the inherent contradictions that activists face in their efforts to reconcile religious conservatism with a renewed interest in compassion, poverty, racial justice, and urban revivalism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780520267503
Publisher:	University of California Press
Publication date:	07/15/2011
Series:	The Anthropology of Christianity , #12
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	276
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Omri Elisha is Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Queens College, City University of New York.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction
2. Awaking Sleeping Giants
3. A Region in Spite of Itself
4. The Names of Action
5. The Spiritual Injuries of Class
6. Compassion Accounts
7. Taking the (Inner) City for God

Epilogue Notes References Index

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This book is a gem. Elisha has crafted a memorable portrait of evangelical activism, rife with hopes, strivings, failures, confusions, and predicaments."—Current Anthropology

"A fascinating window into the tensions animating conservative Protestantism in America today."—Sociology of Religion

"Excellent."—Jssr: Journal For Sci Stdy Religion

Editorial Reviews

This book is a gem. Elisha has crafted a memorable portrait of evangelical activism, rife with hopes, strivings, failures, confusions, and predicaments.

Current Anthropology

"I have not come across, nor do I expect to (at least for a while), a concept as productive, as provocative, as inspiring as his concept of 'moral ambition.'"

Kevin O'Neilln Anthropologist

A substantive and insightful work. It provides a rich picture of evangelical belief and practice while also clarifying the tensions and ambiguities many evangelical congregations face as they attempt to seek the peace of their earthly city in the name and hope of Christ.

Missiology - Scott J. Hagley

"I have not come across, nor do I expect to (at least for a while), a concept as productive, as provocative, as inspiring as his concept of 'moral ambition.'"

American Anthropologist - Kevin O'Neill

A fascinating window into the tensions animating conservative Protestantism in America today.

Sociology Of Religion - Peter Mundey

Excellent.

Jssr: Journal For Sci Stdy Religion

"This book is a gem. Elisha has crafted a memorable portrait of evangelical activism, rife with hopes, strivings, failures, confusions, and predicaments."—Current Anthropology

"A fascinating window into the tensions animating conservative Protestantism in America today."—Sociology of Religion

"Excellent."—Jssr: Journal For Sci Stdy Religion

"A substantive and insightful work. It provides a rich picture of evangelical belief and practice while also clarifying the tensions and ambiguities many evangelical congregations face as they attempt to seek the peace of their earthly city in the name and hope of Christ."—Missiology

From the Publisher