Synopsis
Timely and unbiased, this edition updates and expands its examination of the religious right and its influence on our government, citizens, society, and politics. From the fight to outlaw the teaching of Darwin's theory of evolution to the struggle to outlaw abortion, the religious right is continually exerting an influence on public policy.
Reviews
The third edition of this resource has grown in pages from its original 298 to 383 to the present 503. Coauthors Utter and Storey chair, respectively, the political science and history departments at Lamar University, in Beaumont, Texas. They collaborated on the earlier editions (published by ABC-CLIO). The focus is primarily on Protestant individuals and organizations that have sought since World War II to influence public policy on personal morality and on behalf of candidates advocating for their concerns. Some earlier individuals and movements are brought into the mix as necessary. After an overview is a 40-page chronology from 1835 through December 2006, followed by a 67-page section containing 54 biographical profiles, several with black-and-white photos. This section is current, noting the fall of a minister in November 2006. The entries, 12 of which are new, capture relationships among the leaders, fund-raising strategies, political involvement, and scandals. Data and analysis from the National Opinion Research Center and a 2006 Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion survey comprise the next chapter. A selection of primary documents and quotations follows. A directory of organizations, either in favor of or critical of the Religious Right, conveys a diversity of viewpoints, for example, on the environment or Middle East. A suggested-readings chapter includes separate lists of books about and from the Religious Right, with balanced annotations. Periodicals published by Religious Right organizations are also listed. A list of multimedia resources is arranged by format, such as radio and television programs, and includes current Web sites. A concise glossary and accurate index complete the work. Although much of the information in this updated edition can be found on the Internet, it will be useful for general adult users and students in public and academic libraries. Meyers, Arthur
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