Religious Myths and Visions of America: How Minority Faiths Redefined America's World Role (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780313359590)

At the heart of American studies is the idea of America itself. Here, Buck looks at the religious significance of America by examining those religions that have attached some kind of spiritual meaning to America. The author explores how American Protestantism-and nine minority faiths-have projected America into the mainstream of world history by defining-and by redefining-America's world role. Surveying the religious myths and visions of America of ten religions, Buck shows how minority faiths have redefined America's sense of national purpose. This book invites serious reflection on what it means to be an American, particularly from a religious perspective.

Religious myths of America are thought-orienting narratives that serve as vehicles of spiritual and social truths about the United States itself. Religious visions of America are action-oriented agendas that articulate the goals to which America should aspire and the role it should play in the community of nations. Buck examines the distinctive perspectives held by ten religious traditions that inform and expand on the notion of America, and its place in the world. He covers Native American, Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Mormon, Christian Identity, Black Muslim, Islamic, Buddhist, and Baha'i beliefs and invites serious reflection on what it means to be an American, particularly from a religious perspective.

Author: Christopher Buck
ISBN-10: 0313359598
ISBN-13: 9780313359590
Publisher: Praeger
Language: English
Published: 04/30/2009
Pages: 336
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.47lbs
Size: 9.50h x 6.36w x 1.17d

Review Citation(s):
Multicultural Review 12/01/2009 pg. 66
Reference and Research Bk News 08/01/2009 pg. 11