Religious Leaders of America: A Biographical Guide to Founders and Leaders of Religious Bodies, Churches, and Spiritual Groups in North America

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0810349213 ISBN 13: 9780810349216

Publisher: Gale / Cengage Learning, 1991

A biographical guide to 1,044 men and women who have shaped American religious life since 1865. For each individual, it provides birth date and place; death date and place (if applicable); affiliation/occupation; a discussion of the individual's education, training, beliefs, and influence; and a bibliography of sources for further information. It covers both Christian and non-Christian traditions, historical figures as well as current newsmakers like Jesse Jackson and Elizabeth Clare Prophet, and goes beyond leaders and founders of groups to include televangelists, songwriters, artists, poets, and writers. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

From Library Journal:

Melton, author of the esteemed Encyclopedia of American Religions ( LJ 9/1/79), here provides 1,044 biographical profiles of post-Civil War religious leaders in America. In addition to entries for the Judeo-Christian mainstream, he includes coverage of fringe groups. He lists many representatives of Eastern, Muslim, New Age/psychic, neo-pagan/witchcraft, and humanist/atheist movements as well. Data includes birth and death information and bibliographic references. The entries are briefer than in his Biographical Dictionary of American Cult and Sect Leaders ( LJ 2/1/86), though both works employ similar formats in other aspects. The work includes a key to religious affiliations and an author/title index. A useful collection of hard-to-find information.
- Richard S. Watts, San Bernardino Cty. Lib., Cal.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.