American Sacred Space (Religion in North America)

In a series of pioneering studies, this book examines the creation -- and the conflict behind the creation -- of sacred space in America. The essays in this volume visit places in America where economic, political, and social forces clash over the sacred and the profane, from wilderness areas in the American West to the Mall in Washington, D.C., and they investigate visions of America as sacred space at home and abroad. Here are the beginnings of a new American religious history -- told as the story of the contested spaces it has inhabited. The contributors are David Chidester, Matthew Glass, Edward T. Linenthal, Colleen McDannell, Robert S. Michaelsen, Rowland A. Sherrill, and Bron Taylor Frontmatter Foreword by Catherine L. Albanese and Stephen J. Stein (page ix) Preface (page xiii) 1. Introduction (David Chidester and Edward T. Linenthal, page 1) 2. Dirt in the Court Room: Indian Land Claims and American Property Rights (Robert S. Michaelsen, page 43) 3. Resacralizing Earth: Pagan Environmentalism and the Restoration of Turtle Island (Bran Taylor, page 97) 4. "Alexanders All": Symbols of Conquest and Resistance at Mount Rushmore (Matthew Glass, page 152) 5. Creating the Christian Home: Home Schooling in Contemporary America (Colleen McDannell, page 187) 6. Locating Holocaust Memory: The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (Edward T. Linenthal, page 220) 7. "A Big Wind Blew Up During The Night": America as Sacred Space in South Africa (David Chidester, page 262) 8. American Sacred Space and the Contest of History (Rowland A. Sherrill, page 313) Contributors (page 341) Index (page 343) Foreword / Catherine L. Albanese And Stephen J. Stein -- Introduction / David Chidester And Edward T. Linenthal -- Dirt In The Court Room : Indian Land Claims And American Property Rights / Robert S. Michaelsen -- Resacralizing Earth : Pagan Environmentalism And The Restoration Of Turtle Island / Bron Taylor -- Alexanders All : Symbols Of Conquest And Resistance At Mount Rushmore / Matthew Glass -- Creating The Christian Home : Home Schooling In Contemporary America / Colleen Mcdannell -- Locating Holocaust Memory : The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum / Edward T. Linenthal -- A Big Wind Blew Up During The Night : America As Sacred Space In South Africa / David Chidester -- American Sacred Space And The Contest Of History / Rowland A. Sherrill. David Chidester And Edward T. Linenthal, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Explorations of the meaning and power of sacred space in America. These essays visit places in America where economic, political, and social forces clash over the sacred and the profane, from wilderness areas in the American West to the Mall in Washington, DC and they investigate visions of America as sacred space at home and abroad.