Rediscovering the Religious Factor in American Politics / Edition 1

by David C. Leege, Lyman A. Kellstedt

Overview

This text addresses whether and how religion and religious institutions affect American politics. For some time, analysts have argued that the conflicts of the New Deal era rendered cultural differences trivial and placed economic interests at the top of the political agenda. The authors and their collaborators - John C. Green, James L. Guth, Ted G. Jelen, Corwin E. Smidt, Kenneth D. Wald, Michael R. Welch, and Clyde Wilcox - disagree. They find that religious worldviews are still insinuated in American political institutions, and religious institutions still are points of reference. The book profits from the new religiosity measures employed in the 1990 National Election Studies. Part 1 discusses the study of religion in the context of politics. Part II examines religion as a source of group orientation. Part III takes up religious practices and their political ramifications. Part IV does the same for doctrinal and worldview considerations. Part V explores the sources of religious socialisation. In conclusion, Part VI reviews the research on religion and political behaviour and looks ahead to where work should proceed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781563241338
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/30/1993
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

David C. Leege, Lyman A. Kellstedt

Table of Contents

I: Why Study Religion in the Context of Politics; 1: Religion and Politics in Theoretical Perspective; 2: Measurement Strategies in the Study of Religion and Politics; II: Religion as an Orientation toward Group; 3: Knowing God's Many People: Denominational Preference and Political Behavior; 4: Religious Group Identifications: Toward a Cognitive Theory of Religious Mobilization; 5: From Lambs to Sheep: Denominational Change and Political Behavior; III: Religion as a Set of Public and Private Practices; 6: Church Involvement and Political Behavior; 7: The Public Dimension of Private Devotionalism; 8: Salience: The Core Concept?; IV: Doctrinal, Experiential, and Worldview Measures; 9: Doctrinal Beliefs and Political Behavior: Views of the Bible; 10: The Political Effects of the Born-Again Phenomenon; 11: Religious Worldviews and Political Philosophies: Capturing Theory in the Grand Manner through Empirical Data; V: Leadership Stimuli and Reference Groups; 12: Are the Sheep Hearing the Shepherds? Cue Perceptions, Congregational Responses, and Political Communication Processes; 13: Preaching to the Converted: The Causes and Consequences of Viewing Religious Television; VI: Does Religion Matter in Studies of Voting Behavior and Attitudes?; 14: Religion, the Neglected Variable: An Agenda for Future Research on Religion and Political Behavior

Editorial Reviews

This volume addresses whether and how religion and religious institutions affect American politics, and is addressed to readers not only among social scientists and political journalists but also among theologians, seminarians, and religious leaders. The volume is divided into six parts: why study religion in the context of politics; religion as an orientation toward group; religion as a set of public and private practices; doctrinal, experiential, and world view measures; leadership stimuli and reference groups; and does religion matter in studies of voting behavior and attitudes? Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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