Overview

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.

Full Product Details

9780313359590

Table of Contents

Reviews

An experiment on the idea of America with engaging results, this book examines the role of ten religions in redefining America's world role--a topic of importance given America's influence in world affairs. On the premise that America is both nation and notion, this project is a breath of methodological fresh air. Religious Myths and Visions of America is a novel, imaginative and rigorously scholarly contribution to comparative religion, worthy of serious attention and debate. Of general contemporary and historical interest to students, scholars, and thinking people everywhere. -Todd Lawson, Professor of Islamic Studies, Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto

"This interesting, thoroughly researched scholarly study examines how ten minor religions interpreted America's reality (""nation and notion"") and generated numerous religious myths and visions of America. . . . The author is a well-known university professor who published other books and articles on comparative religions, and this volume is certainly a welcome addition to the topic of racial, cultural, and ethnic studies. Copious footnotes accompany each chapter. There is also a very extensive bibliography and a good general index. Recommended for comparative ethnic and religion collections. * MultiCultural Review * Religious Myths and Visions of America has many strengths. The author has defended his thesis with solid research. He has also made an original contribution to American studies. * Journal of American History * This volume may be of interest to readers involved not only in Religious Studies, but also in Political Science, History, Intellectual History, American Studies, and Cultural Studies. . . . In the course of the detailed and well-documented analysis of individual religions, Buck reveals a highly elaborate and in-depth picture of the various beliefs, which is indeed impressive. . . He argues that the original myth and vision of America as a nation was captured by the Protestant notion of manifest destiny. This has been challenged by the other faiths . . . that have transformed the idea of manifest destiny into America's common destiny. . . The book is overall a fresh and stimulating cultural reading of some of America's religions and the complex ways in which their followers make sense of and act in the world. * Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions * The topic of America (i.e. the USA) and how it perceives itself is certainly of great current interest. In particular the rising awareness of the role played by religion, which makes this book an attractive read. The book is for the most part accessible for the non-specialist, with no background in Religious Studies, as well as specialists in fields such as American Studies or Political Science. There can be no doubt that Buck's book takes a novel look at America through the lenses of these religious traditions in a way that has not been done before. It provides a fascinating catalogue of religious traditions for inspection, which will be of interest to students of Comparative Religion as well as specialists in other fields. Non-specialists interested in religious views of America will also benefit from reading this to appreciate the diversity of views that populate the religious scenery of America. * Bahá'í Studies Review * Buck, an attorney and independent scholar who has taught at several universities, describes how minority religions have shaped America. He considers the myths and views of America in Protestantism and nine minority faiths—Native American religion (Iroquois), Catholicism, Judaism, Mormonism, Christian Identity (white nationalism), Black Muslim, Islam, Buddhism, and the Bahá'í Faith—particularly for what they have to say about America. He addresses specific myths, such as those about the 'promised land,' Manifest Destiny, race, and America's world role. * Reference & Research Book News *"

This interesting, thoroughly researched scholarly study examines how ten minor religions interpreted America's reality ( nation and notion ) and generated numerous religious myths and visions of America. . . . The author is a well-known university professor who published other books and articles on comparative religions, and this volume is certainly a welcome addition to the topic of racial, cultural, and ethnic studies. Copious footnotes accompany each chapter. There is also a very extensive bibliography and a good general index. Recommended for comparative ethnic and religion collections. - MultiCultural Review Religious Myths and Visions of America has many strengths. The author has defended his thesis with solid research. He has also made an original contribution to American studies. - Journal of American History This volume may be of interest to readers involved not only in Religious Studies, but also in Political Science, History, Intellectual History, American Studies, and Cultural Studies. . . . In the course of the detailed and well-documented analysis of individual religions, Buck reveals a highly elaborate and in-depth picture of the various beliefs, which is indeed impressive. . . He argues that the original myth and vision of America as a nation was captured by the Protestant notion of manifest destiny. This has been challenged by the other faiths . . . that have transformed the idea of manifest destiny into America's common destiny. . . The book is overall a fresh and stimulating cultural reading of some of America's religions and the complex ways in which their followers make sense of and act in the world. - Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions The topic of America (i.e. the USA) and how it perceives itself is certainly of great current interest. In particular the rising awareness of the role played by religion, which makes this book an attractive read. The book is for the most part accessible for the non-specialist, with no background in Religious Studies, as well as specialists in fields such as American Studies or Political Science. There can be no doubt that Buck's book takes a novel look at America through the lenses of these religious traditions in a way that has not been done before. It provides a fascinating catalogue of religious traditions for inspection, which will be of interest to students of Comparative Religion as well as specialists in other fields. Non-specialists interested in religious views of America will also benefit from reading this to appreciate the diversity of views that populate the religious scenery of America. - Baha'i Studies Review Buck, an attorney and independent scholar who has taught at several universities, describes how minority religions have shaped America. He considers the myths and views of America in Protestantism and nine minority faiths-Native American religion (Iroquois), Catholicism, Judaism, Mormonism, Christian Identity (white nationalism), Black Muslim, Islam, Buddhism, and the Baha'i Faith-particularly for what they have to say about America. He addresses specific myths, such as those about the 'promised land,' Manifest Destiny, race, and America's world role. - Reference & Research Book News

<p> Buck, an attorney and independent scholar who has taught at several universities, describes how minority religions have shaped America. He considers the myths and views of America in Protestantism and nine minority faiths--Native American religion (Iroquois), Catholicism, Judaism, Mormonism, Christian Identity (white nationalism), Black Muslim, Islam, Buddhism, and the Baha'i Faith--particularly for what they have to say about America. He addresses specific myths, such as those about the 'promised land, ' Manifest Destiny, race, and America's world role. - <p>Reference & Research Book News

Author Information

Christopher Buck is a Pennsylvania attorney and independent scholar, who has taught at Michigan State University, Quincy University, Millikin University, and Carleton University. His publications include Alain Locke: Faith and Philosophy, Paradise and Paradigm: Key Symbols in Persian Christianity and the Baha'i Faith, Symbol and Secret: Qur'an Commentary in Baha'u'llah's Kitab-i-Iqan, as well as a number of book chapters, journal articles, and encyclopedia articles.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available