In this important study, Mark Toulouse maps the ambiguous landscape between American Christianity and American public life. Built on an extensive study of religious periodical literature since the mid-1950s and on an analysis of landmark events in American history, Toulouse develops an insightful typology for understanding how Americans have related their Christian faith to public life. For Toulouse, the relationship between American Christianity and American public life exists in four styles of interaction--iconic faith, priestly faith, the public Christian, and the public church--with each model appearing in various forms across the terrain of American history. Carefully examined and accessibly written, this study is sure to generate discussion and bring clarity to the many ambiguities and diversities that continue to mark American Christianity.

This important reference work presents critical, analytical, and interpretive essays on more than ninety figures who have been particularly important in shaping and influencing the development of Christian theology in America. The work is organized into four major sections: The Colonial Period (1607-1789); The National Period (1789-1865); The Post Civil War Period (1865-1918); and The Modern Period (1918-1970). Each section hasa separate introduction by the editors tracing major theological developments in that historical period. A substantial concludingarticle by Martin Marty traces theological developments, trends and movements in American theology since 1965.

Each essay includes: (1) basic biographical data regarding the life, career, and major writings of the figure (2) an analysis of the key theological issues and/or concepts to which the figure responded (3) a critical discussion of the major theological themes developed in the course of the figure's career (4) an assessment of the immediate influence of the figure's thought and its significance for subsequent theological developments. Brief bibliographies at the end of each essay point readers to the most important and useful primary and secondary literature for each figure.

"Makers of Christian Theology is a welcome and long-needed addition to reference and textbook possibilities for courses on Religion in North America. . . . It is dramatically more inclusive and even-handed in its selection of figures for an historical orientation to theological developments in North American Christianity than any previous attempt. . . . Both the design of the book and the content of the individual essays reflect the fruit of the best current work on Christian theology in America. I recommend it highly " --Randy L. Maddox, Professor of Religion and Philosophy"

While a large percentage of Americans claim religious identity, the number of Americans attending traditional worship services has significantly declined in recent decades. Where, then, are Americans finding meaning in their lives, if not in the context of traditional religion? In this provocative study, the authors argue that the objects of our attention have become our god and fulfilling our desires has become our religion. They examine the religious dimensions of six specific aspects of American culturebody and sex, big business, entertainment, politics, sports, and science and technologythat function as aEUROoealtarsaEURO where Americans gather to worship and produce meaning for their lives. The Altars Where We Worship shows how these secular altars provide resources for understanding the self, others, and the world itself. aEUROoeFor better or worse,aEURO the authors write, aEUROoewe are faced with the reality that human experiences before these altars contain religious characteristics in common with experiences before more traditional altars.aEURO Readers will come away with a clearer understanding of what religion is after exploring the thoroughly religious aspects of popular culture in the United States.

The Christian Realists investigates the contributions to practical and theoretical politics by a variety of mid-twentieth century thinkers such as Reinhold Niebuhr, John Foster Dulles, and Herbert Butterfield. In a period of international conflict and uncertainty caused by the rise of Nazism and Communism and the advent of nuclear weapons, these individuals argued for a "Christian" and a "realistic" approach to social and political problems. It is significant that for about a quarter century these men were listened to on Capitol Hill, in Westminster, on university campuses, in newspapers, as well as throughout the Western religious establishment. This volume provides chapters devoted to the thought of specific Christian realists: Niebuhr, Dulles, Martin Wight, John C. Bennett, and others. The book also includes a chapter on Niebuhr's influence on his secular disciples such as Hans Morgenthau and Arthur Schlesinger Jr. and a chapter on the Catholic social thinker John Courtney Murray.