Disruptive religion : the force of faith in social-movement activism

Religion has long played a central role in many social and political movements. Solidarity in Poland, anti-apartheid in South Africa, Operation Rescue in the United States--each of these movements is driven by the energy and sustained by the commitment of many individuals and organizations whose ideologies are shaped and powered by religious faith. In many cases, religious resources and motives serve as crucial variables explaining the emergence of entire social movements. This book analyzes contemporary social movements which are driven by people and organizations of faith. The essays also address many theoretical issues arising in the study of social movements and disruptive politics. Read more... Abstract: Despite the crucial role of religion in most societies, religious activism remains largely uninvestigated. Based on empirical evidence, this book also addresses many theoretical issues arising in the study of social movements. Read more... Content: Correcting a curious neglect, or bringing religion back in / Christian Smith -- The black church in the civil rights movement : the SCLC as the decentralized, radical arm of the black church / Aldon Morris -- Radical islamic insurgency in the Iranian revolution of 1978-1979 / M.M. Salehi -- Pastoral mobilization and contention : the religious foundations of the solidarity movement in Poland / Maryjane Osa -- Religious rituals of resistance and class consciousness in Bolivian Tin-Mining communities / June Nash -- Popular religion, protest, and revolt : the emergence of political insurgency in the Nicaraguan and Salvadoran churches of the 1960's-80s / Sharon Erickson Nepstad -- Church leadership, state repression, and the "spiral of involvement" in the South African anti-apartheid movement, 1983-1990 / Tristan Anne Borer -- For God and the fatherland : protestant symbolic worlds and the rise of German national socialism / David Sikkink, Mark Regnerus -- Many are called but few obey : ideological commitment and activism in operation rescue / Rhys H. Williams, Jeffrey Blackburn -- Popular Christianity and political extremism in the United States / James Aho -- A comparison of the political behavior of faith-based and secular peace groups / Ron Pagnucco. The Black Church In The Civil Rights Movement / Aldon Morris -- Radical Islamic Insurgency In The Iranian Revolution Of 1978-1979 / M.m. Salehi -- Pastoral Mobilization And Contention / Maryjane Osa -- Religious Rituals Of Resistance And Class Consciousness In Bolivian Tin-mining Communities / June Nash -- Popular Religon, Protest, And Revolt / Sharon Erickson Nepstad -- Church Leadership, State Repression, And The Spiral Of Involvement In The South African Anti-apartheid Movement, 1983-1990 / Tristan Anne Borer -- For God And The Fatherland : Protestant Symbolic Worlds And The Rise Of German National Socialism / David Sikkink And Mark Regnerus -- Many Are Called But Few Obey / Rhys. H. Williams And Jeffrey Blackburn -- Popular Christianity And Political Extremism In The United States / James Aho -- A Comparison Of The Political Behavior Of Faith-based And Secular Peace Groups / Ron Pagnucco. Edited By Christian Smith. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Religion has long played a central role in many social and political movements. Solidarity in Poland, anti-apartheid in South Africa, Operation Rescue in the United States--each of these movements is driven by the energy and sustained by the commitment of many individuals and organizations whose ideologies are shaped and powered by religious faith. In many cases, religious resources and motives serve as crucial variables explaining the emergence of entire social movements. Despite the crucial role of religion in most societies, this religious activism remains largely uninvestigated. Disruptive Religion intends to fill this void by analyzing contemporary social movements which are driven by people and organizations of faith. Upon a firm base of empirical evidence, these essays also address many theoretical issues arising in the study of social movements and disruptive politics. The black church functioned as the institutional center of the modern civil rights movement.