A sociological study of the last four decades of American religion,
by Wuthnow (Sociology/Princeton), author of Meaning and Moral Order
(1987), etc. Here, Wuthnow is concerned with the changes in
religion in America since WW II, which he symbolizes by comparing
the 1946 Sunday School Union Parade in Brooklyn, in which over
90,000 youngsters participated (even the public schools closed
down), with our current situation in which such pomp would be
eerily out of place. What might have been strictly a pessimistic
book, though, outlining the secularization of America, is, in
Wuthnow's hands, turned into something different. He argues that
religions have not stood idly by, but have developed their
resources to the point where they hold a very strong hand. "The
capacity to adapt has, in fact, been one of the impressive features
of American religion." One of the forces behind religious
restructuring has been the increasing role of government in
American life. Thus, the boundary between church and state becomes
increasingly problematic, and issues that previously were internal
church matters are fought in public courtrooms and in the media.
Some of the restructuring centers around the declining significance
of denominationalism, as the split between church liberals and
conservatives has resulted in the growth of hundreds of more
narrowly defined special purpose groups. Adding fuel to the fire
have been the tensions between liberals and conservatives over
issues such as pornography, homosexuality, abortion, school prayer,
and the role of women in the clergy. The author describes how
churches, adapting to our affluent society, have adopted
"legitimating myths" oriented around the values of individual
freedom and material success. Overall, Wuthnow concludes that the
American political milieu has been much more dominant in forcing
internal changes upon our churches than vice-versa. Well-considered
history, with sometimes surprising conclusions, that takes on added
interest in the light of the recent Bakker/Swaggart debacles.
(Kirkus Reviews)
A study of developments in modern American religion examines the
interaction between religion and politics that has occurred in the
years since World War II, the polarization of religious dogma, and
the rise of special interest groups.
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