Religion and politics are never far from the headlines, but their relationship remains complex and often confusing. This book offers an engaging, accessible, and balanced treatment of religion in American politics. It explores the historical, cultural, and legal contexts that motivate religious political engagement and assesses the pragmatic and strategic political realities that religious organizations and people face. Incorporating the best and most current scholarship, the authors examine the evolving politics of Roman Catholics; evangelical and mainline Protestants; African-American and Latino traditions; Jews, Muslims, and other religious minorities; recent immigrants and religious "nones"; and other conventional and not-so-conventional American religious movements.

New to the Sixth Edition

? Covers the 2016 election and assesses the role of religion from Obama to Trump.

? Expands substantially on religion's relationship to gender and sexuality, race, ethnicity, and class, and features the role of social media in religious mobilization.

? Adds discussion questions at the end of every chapter, to help students gain deeper understanding of the subject.

? Adds a new concluding chapter on the normative issues raised by religious political engagement, to stimulate lively discussions.

Religion and politics are never far from the headlines, but their relationship in American politics remains complex and often confusing. This book offers an engaging, accessible, balanced treatment of this topic, exploring the contexts that motivate religious political engagement and assessing the political realities that religious organizations and people face.

Praise for the Sixth Edition The new edition of this essential text on religion and American politics includes terrific features to help students engage with the material. I am especially impressed with expanded coverage of religion and intersectionality, as well as of religion in the Trump era. Elizabeth A. Oldmixon, University of North Texas Religion and Politics in America continues to challenge students to understand how religion and culture interact and influence each other in American politics, including the impact of this dynamic on public policy. This insightful new edition introduces new information on race, gender, and sexual orientation in a manner that highlights change and stability across the political, legal, and cultural arenas. James D. Ward, Rutgers University-Newark Praise for Earlier Editions This thoughtful new edition closely tracks the current salience of religion to the political system, while carefully placing these developments in historical and theoretical context. It will promote discussion of the key issues in the field in both introductory and upper level courses-a real achievement. Paul A. Djupe, Denison University Carefully re-organized and updated, the new edition builds on the impressive 2nd edition. Fresh insights abound in this accessible text. Clarke E. Cochran, Texas Tech UniversityReligion and Politics in America is an invaluable primer on this increasing important topic. Well-written, well-researched and up-to-date, it combines a broad vision of the role of faith in American public life with sensitivity to the nuances of religious communities. John Green, University of Akron This outstanding book is must reading for anyone interested in religion and politics in the United States. The authors provide a current, comprehensive, and accessible examination of an exceedingly important subject. James M. Penning, Calvin College A thoughtful, well-balanced work? Few books provide as comprehensive a survey of religion and politics in America as this one? A valuable book for students and scholars of religion and politics in America. Journal of Church and State The authors do the field of religion and politics a great service with this introductory yet sophisticated text. Religion and Politics Newsletter An outstanding synthesis of historical, sociological, and cultural perspectives on religious activism and church-state issues in the U.S. Theological Studies This book delivers handsomely on its title? The authors provide an insightful guide to both contemporary religion and contemporary politics in America. It is essential reading for those who would understand the often confusing cultural churnings that are transforming our public life. Richard John Neuhaus, Author of The Naked Public Square; Editor in Chief of First Things