The Religious Right, 2nd Ed.: A Reference Handbook

Utter, Glenn H.; Storey, John W.

ISBN 10: 1576072126 ISBN 13: 9781576072127

Publisher: Abc-Clio Inc

Synopsis

This second edition of an award winning reference work updates and expands its examination of the religious right and its influence on our government, citizens, society, and politics.

The "religious right" is a label that encompasses groups as diverse as mainline and evangelical Protestants, conservative Jews, and Catholics. What prompted these movements to begin? Although there has never been an absolute wall between church and state in the United States—a generation before the Civil War, churches already clashed over slavery—the movement has mostly developed since World War II. This book describes the developing intimacy between the current Religious Right and conservative Republicans.

This second edition of The Religious Right includes an up to date chronology, new biographical sketches, a survey of conservative Christian attitudes, directories of organizations both critical and supportive of the Religious Right, and a 150 page annotated bibliography including radio and TV programs.

• Biographies of the men and women who have advanced the cause and an up to date chronology illuminate the movement's goals

• Further research is aided by annotated listings of print and nonprint resources, websites, and organizations affiliated with the religious right, as well as those in opposition

About this title

About the Author

Glenn H. Utter is professor of political science and chair of the Department of Political Science at Lamar University, Beaumont, TX.

John W. Storey is professor of history and chair of the History Department at Lamar University, Beaumont, TX.

Reviews

Political scientist Utter and historian Storey, both of Lamar University, here update their 1995 reference work on the religious Right. The authors "treat the religious Right as an essentially political movement that courts voters" and lobbies for conservative causes. As such, the book's introduction and bibliographies necessarily shortchange the essential religious aspects of the religious Right. The battlegrounds of evolution and creation, school prayer, and moral and sexuality issues get adequate attention, but the role of the religious Right in U.S. policy toward Israel, for example, is virtually ignored. The book retains the format of the first edition, with chapters giving biographies of key figures, sociological survey data, a directory of organizations (both supporting and in opposition to the religious Right), and annotated bibliographies of print, video, audio, CD-ROM, and (new to this edition) Internet resources. The introduction and chronology give disproportionate space to the years since 1995. Given the large number of books cited, introductions to each section highlighting especially significant works would improve a third edition. Still, this is recommended for all public and academic libraries. Steve Young, McHenry Cty. Coll., Crystal Lake, IL
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Contemporary World Issues series, which the publisher intends as "a good starting point for research by high school and college students, scholars, and general readers, as well as by legislators, businesspeople, activists, and others." REVWR
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Abc-Clio Inc
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1576072126
• ISBN 13: 9781576072127
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 382