A Nation of Religions : The Politics of Pluralism in Multireligious America

The United States has long been described as a nation of immigrants, but it is also a nation of religions in which Muslims and Methodists, Buddhists and Baptists live and work side by side. This book explores that nation of religions, focusing on how four religious communities—Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Sikhs—are shaping and, in turn, shaped by American values. For a generation, scholars have been documenting how the landmark legislation that loosened immigration restrictions in 1965 catalyzed the development of the United States as ''a nation of Buddhists, Confucianists, and Taoists, as well as Christians,'' as Supreme Court Justice Tom Clark put it. The contributors to this volume take U.S. religious diversity not as a proposition to be proved but as the truism it has become. Essays address not whether the United States is a Christian or a multireligious nation—clearly, it is both—but how religious diversity is changing the public values, rites, and institutions of the nation and how those values, rites, and institutions are affecting religions centuries old yet relatively new in America. This conversation makes an important contribution to the intensifying public debate about the appropriate role of religion in American politics and society. Contributors: Ihsan Bagby, University of Kentucky Courtney Bender, Columbia University Stephen Dawson, Forest, Virginia David Franz, University of Virginia Hien Duc Do, San Jose State University James Davison Hunter, University of Virginia Prema A. Kurien, Syracuse University Gurinder Singh Mann, University of California, Santa Barbara Vasudha Narayanan, University of Florida Stephen Prothero, Boston University Omid Safi, Colgate University Jennifer Snow, Pasadena, California Robert A. F. Thurman, Columbia University R. Stephen Warner, University of Illinois at Chicago Duncan RyÅ3⁄4ken Williams, University of California, Berkeley The United States Has Long Been Described As A Nation Of Immigrants, But It Is Also A Nation Of Religions In Which Muslims And Methodists, Buddhists And Baptists Live And Work Side By Side. This Book Explores That Nation Of Religions, Focusing On How Four Religious Communities -- Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, And Sikhs -- Are Shaping And, In Turn, Shaped By American Values. For A Generation, Scholars Have Been Documenting How The Landmark Legislation That Loosened Immigration Restrictions In 1965 Catalyzed The Development Of The United States As A Nation Of Buddhists, Confucianists, And Taoists, As Well As Christians, As Supreme Court Justice Tom Clark Put It. The Contributors To This Volume Take U.s. Religious Diversity Not As A Proposition To Be Proved But As The Truism It Has Become. Essays Address Not Whether The United States Is A Christian Or A Multireligious Nation -- Clearly, It Is Both -- But How Religious Diversity Is Changing The Public Values, Rites, And Institutions Of The Nation And How Those Values, Rites, And Institutions Are Affecting Religions Centuries Old Yet Relatively New In America. This Conversation Makes An Important Contribution To The Intensifying Public Debate About The Appropriate Role Of Religion In American Politics And Society. - Publisher. Introduction / Stephen Prothero -- Isolate, Insulate, Assimilate : Attitudes Of Mosque Leaders Toward America / Ihsan Bagby -- Progressive Islam In America / Omid Safi -- From Pearl Harbor To 9/11 : Lessons From The Internment Of Japanese American Buddhists / Duncan Ryûken Williams -- Reproducing Vietnam In America : San Jose's Perfect Harmony Temple / Hien Duc Do -- Tibetan Buddhism In America : Reinforcing The Pluralism Of The Sacred Canopy / Robert A. F. Thurman -- Mr. President, Why Do You Exclude Us From Your Prayers? : Hindus Challenge American Pluralism / Prema A. Kurien -- Sacred Land, Sacred Service : Hindu Adaptations To The American Landscape / Vasudha Narayanan -- Making Home Abroad : Sikhs In The United States / Gurinder Singh Mann -- From Alleged Buddhists To Unreasonable Hindus : First Amendment Jurisprudence After 1965 / Courtney Bender And Jennifer Snow -- Agonistic Federalism : The Alabama Ten Commandments Controversy / Stephen Dawson -- The De-europeanization Of American Christianity / R. Stephen Warner -- Religious Pluralism And Civil Society / James Davison Hunter And David Franz. Edited By Stephen Prothero. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 277-281) And Index. The United States has long been described as a nation of immigrants, but it is also a nation of religions in which Muslims and Methodists, Buddhists and Baptists live and work side by side. This book explores that nation of religions, focusing on how four recently arrived religious communities--Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Sikhs--are shaping and, in turn, shaped by American values.

For a generation, scholars have been documenting how the landmark legislation that loosened immigration restrictions in 1965 catalyzed the development of the United States as "a nation of Buddhists, Confucianists, and Taoists, as well as Christians," as Supreme Court Justice Tom Clark put it. The contributors to this volume take U.S. religious diversity not as a proposition to be proved but as the truism it has become. Essays address not whether the United States is a Christian or a multireligious nation--clearly, it is both--but how religious diversity is changing the public values, rites, and institutions of the nation and how those values, rites, and institutions are affecting religions centuries old yet relatively new in America. This conversation makes an important contribution to the intensifying public debate about the appropriate role of religion in American politics and society.


Contributors:
Ihsan Bagby, University of Kentucky
Courtney Bender, Columbia University
Stephen Dawson, Forest, Virginia
David Franz, University of Virginia
Hien Duc Do, San Jose State University
James Davison Hunter, University of Virginia
Prema A. Kurien, Syracuse University
Gurinder Singh Mann, University of California, Santa Barbara
Vasudha Narayanan, University of Florida
Stephen Prothero, Boston University
Omid Safi, Colgate University
Jennifer Snow, Pasadena, California
Robert A. F. Thurman, Columbia University
R. Stephen Warner, University of Illinois at Chicago
Duncan Ryuken Williams, University of California, Berkeley

The United States has long been described as a nation of immigrants, but it is also a nation of religions in which Muslims and Methodists, Buddhists and Baptists live and work side by side. This book explores that nation of religions, focusing on how four recently arrived religious communities—Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Sikhs—are shaping and, in turn, shaped by American values. For a generation, scholars have been documenting how the landmark legislation that loosened immigration restrictions in 1965 catalyzed the development of the United States as "a nation of Buddhists, Confucianists, and Taoists, as well as Christians," as Supreme Court Justice Tom Clark put it. The contributors to this volume take U.S. religious diversity not as a proposition to be proved but as the truism it has become. Essays address not whether the United States is a Christian or a multireligious nation—clearly, it is both—but how religious diversity is changing the public values, rites, and institutions of the nation and how those values, rites, and institutions are affecting religions centuries old yet relatively new in America. This conversation makes an important contribution to the intensifying public debate about the appropriate role of religion in American politics and society. Contributors: Ihsan Bagby, University of Kentucky Courtney Bender, Columbia University Stephen Dawson, Forest, Virginia David Franz, University of Virginia Hien Duc Do, San Jose State University James Davison Hunter, University of Virginia Prema A. Kurien, Syracuse University Gurinder Singh Mann, University of California, Santa Barbara Vasudha Narayanan, University of Florida Stephen Prothero, Boston University Omid Safi, Colgate University Jennifer Snow, Pasadena, California Robert A. F. Thurman, Columbia University R. Stephen Warner, University of Illinois at Chicago Duncan Ryuken Williams, University of California, Berkeley