Sacred Circles, Public Squares: The Multicentering Of American Religion (Polis Center Series on Religion and Urban Culture)

This study of the religious landscape of Indianapolis -- the summative volume of the Lilly Endowment's Project on Religion and Urban Culture conducted by the Polis Center at IUPUI -- aims to understand religion's changing role in public life. The book examines the shaping of religious traditions by the changing city. It sheds light on issues such as social capital and faith-based welfare reform and explores the countervailing pressures of "decentering" -- the creation of multiple (sub)urban centers -- and civil religion's role in binding these centers into one metropolis.Polis Center Series on Religion and Urban Culture -- David J. Bodenhamer and Arthur E. Farnsley II, editors This detailed study of the religious landscape of the city of Indianapolis is the summative volume of the Lilly Endowment's Project on Religion and Urban Culture conducted by The Polis Center at IUPUI. The goal of the project-and of this book-was to understand religion's changing role in public life, to identify religion's public role, and to raise public awareness of it. The book examines the shaping of religious traditions by the changing city. It sheds light on issues such as social capital and faith-based welfare reform. One primary narrative is the countervailing pressures of "decentering"-the creation of multiple (sub)urban centers-and repeated attempts to reassert a city center. In Indianapolis, civil religion helps to bind these centers into one metropolis. This Study Of The Religious Landscape Of Indianapolis -- The Summative Volume Of The Lilly Endowment's Project On Religion And Urban Culture Conducted By The Polis Center At Iupui -- Aims To Understand Religion's Changing Role In Public Life. The Book Examines The Shaping Of Religious Traditions By The Changing City. It Sheds Light On Issues Such As Social Capital And Faith-based Welfare Reform And Explores The Countervailing Pressures Of Decentering -- The Creation Of Multiple (sub)urban Centers -- And Civil Religion's Role In Binding These Centers Into One Metropolis. Polis Center Series On Religion And Urban Culture -- David J. Bodenhamer And Arthur E. Farnsley Ii, Editors Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Preface and Acknowledgments......Page 8 1. Introduction......Page 14 2. The Circle City on the Plains......Page 28 3. Religious Civility, Civil Religion......Page 59 4. Religious Traditions Diversified and Domesticated......Page 89 5. Types and Tensions of Congregational Life......Page 126 6. Back Home Again: Religion in the Neighborhoods......Page 163 7. Conclusion: Religion and Urban Culture......Page 201 Notes......Page 224 Bibliography......Page 234 Contributors......Page 240 Index......Page 242 Introduction -- The Circle City On The Plains -- Religious Civility, Civil Religion -- Religious Traditions Diversified And Domesticated -- Types And Tensions Of Congregational Life -- Back Home Again : Religion In The Neighborhoods -- Conclusion: Religion And Urban Culture. Arthur E. Farnsley Ii ... [et Al.]. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 221-226) And Index. A detailed study of the religious landscape of Indianapolis, Indiana