Mormonism and American Politics (Paperback)

When Joseph Smith ran for president as a radical protest candidate in 1844, Mormons were a deeply distrusted group in American society, and their efforts to enter public life were met with derision. When Mitt Romney ran for president as a Republican in 2008 and 2012, the public had come to regard Mormons as consummate Americans: patriotic, family-oriented, and conservative. How did this shift occur? In this collection, prominent scholars of Mormonism, including Claudia L. Bushman, Richard Lyman Bushman, Jan Shipps, and Philip L. Barlow, follow the religion's quest for legitimacy in the United States and its intersection with American politics. From Brigham Young's skirmishes with the federal government over polygamy to the Mormon involvement in California's Proposition 8, contributors combine sociology, political science, race and gender studies, and popular culture to track Mormonism's rapid integration into American life. The book takes a broad view of the religion's history, considering its treatment of women and African Americans and its portrayal in popular culture and the media. With essays from both Mormon and non-Mormon scholars, this anthology tells a big-picture story of a small sect that became a major player in American politics.

General

Imprint:	Columbia University Press
Country of origin:	United States
Series:	Religion, Culture, and Public Life, 18
Release date:	December 2015
Editors:	Randall Balmer • Jana Riess
Dimensions:	229 x 152 x 14mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - Trade
Pages:	264
ISBN-13:	978-0-231-16599-0
Categories:	Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > General > General Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political structure & processes > General Books > Religion & Spirituality > General > General
LSN:	0-231-16599-4
Barcode:	9780231165990

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