Considers the ways Americans understand the relationship between their religious beliefs and the political arena. This work covers such topics as: how religious diversity affects American democracy, how religion is implicated in America's partisan battles, and how religion affects ideas about race, ethnicity, and gender.

Contributors vii Acknowledgments ix Introduction by Rosa DeLauro 1 Part I: Religious Pluralism and American Democracy Chapter 1: Political Science, Democracy, and Religion by Alan Wolfe 19 Chapter 2: Religious Diversity and American Democracy: A View from the Polls by John C. Green 46 Chapter 3: Muslim Americans: Enriching or Depleting American Democracy? by Amaney Jamal 89 Chapter 4: The Constitutions of Religious Pluralism in the United States by Bette Novit Evans 114 Part II: Religion and Democratic Values Chapter 5: The Political Consequences of Religiosity: Does Religion Always Cause Political Intolerance? by James L. Gibson 147 Chapter 6: The Christian Right and Civic Virtue byClyde Wilcox 176 Chapter 7: Religion and Party Activists: A "Perfect Storm" of Polarization or a Recipe for Pragmatism? by Geoffrey C. Layman 212 Part III: Political Diversity and American Religion Chapter 8: Entering the Promised Land? The Rise of Prosperity Gospel and Post-Civil Rights Black Politics by Fredrick C. Harris 255 Chapter 9: This Far by Faith? Religion, Gender, and Efficacy by Allison Calhoun-Brown 279 Chapter 10: Religion and the Political and Civic Lives of Latinos by David L. Leal 308 Part IV: Religion and Cultural Conflict Chapter 11: Mobilizing Religious Differences in American Politics by Kenneth D. Wald and David C. Leege 355 Chapter 12: Faith in America: Political Theory's Logic of Autonomy and Logic of Congruence by Nancy L. Rosenblum 382 Conclusion: Reflections on Religion, Democracy, and the Politics of Good and Evil by Ira Katznelson 411 Index 431

"I am highly enthusiastic about this book's engaged, yet rigorous, political science, as well as its examination of the ways in which religion and politics are intertwined. This is a rich and substantive book."—David Campbell, University of Notre Dame

"The book's target audience should be scholars and students of American politics who are either unaware or skeptical of religion's relevance to their enterprise. In this regard, the book is a remarkable contribution. It brings together a fine sampling of the work that's being done today by scholars of religion and American politics all in one volume."—Laura R. Olson, Clemson University

I am highly enthusiastic about this book's engaged, yet rigorous, political science, as well as its examination of the ways in which religion and politics are intertwined. This is a rich and substantive book. -- David Campbell, University of Notre Dame The book's target audience should be scholars and students of American politics who are either unaware or skeptical of religion's relevance to their enterprise. In this regard, the book is a remarkable contribution. It brings together a fine sampling of the work that's being done today by scholars of religion and American politics all in one volume. -- Laura R. Olson, Clemson University