Pews, Prayers, and Participation: Religion and Civic Responsibility in America (Religion and Politics series) - Softcover

Smidt, Corwin E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1589012178 ISBN 13: 9781589012172

Publisher: Georgetown University Press, 2008

Synopsis

"Most debates about the place of religion in politics ultimately boil down to the question of whether religious values can improve the quality of civil society. Asking such a question poses a daunting challenge, but armed with an impressive array of survey data, this team of authors is more than up to the task. Rich, complex, and relevant, this book will be of interest to all who wonder whether religion's role in public life actually makes a difference in the world." Laura R. Olson, professor of political science, Clemson University "Pews, Prayers, and Participation is a comprehensive, clear-headed analysis of the relationship between religion and civic responsibility. Drawing on findings from multiple data sources and examining several aspects of civic responsibility, this volume provides a welcome synthesis of knowledge on this complex subject." Mark Chaves, professor of sociology, religion, and divinity, Duke University "A distinguished team of scholars provides compelling evidence for the pivotal contribution of religion to American civic life. Especially striking is the finding that the nature of religious commitment determines the degree of faith's public impact. This will be a major reference work for years to come." Allen Hertzke, professor of political science and director of religious studies, University of Oklahoma

About this title

Review:

A truly valuable (and in many ways definitive) treatment of this contentious subject. . . . A powerful and sophisticated endorsement of religion as a positive force in American civic life. . . . A splendidly researched volume that makes an important point within a unified and coherent theoretical framework. It is highly recommended.

--Political Science Quarterly

A solid book that brings new insights to bear on our knowledge of religion and civic life. It is a must-read for scholars and laypeople interested in this topic and is likely to be a particularly useful resource for undergraduate courses in the social science of religion given that it is highly accessible and contains a wealth of information and facts.

--Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly

Synopsis:

Is the 'private' experience of religion counterproductive to engagement in public life? Does the 'public' experience of religion contribute anything distinctive to civic engagement? "Pews, Prayers, and Participation: Religion and Civic Responsibility in America" offers a fresh approach to key questions about what role religion plays in fostering civic responsibility in contemporary American society. Written by five prominent scholars of religion and politics, led by Calvin College's Corwin Smidt, the book brilliantly articulates how religion shapes participation in a range of civic activities - from behaviors (such as membership in voluntary associations, volunteering, and charitable contributions) to capacities (e.g., civic skills and knowledge), to virtues (e.g., law-abidingness, tolerance, and work ethic).In the course of their study the authors examine whether an individual exhibits a diminished, a privatized, a public, or an integrated form of religious expression, based on the individual's level of participation in both the public (worship) or private (prayer) dimensions of religious life.

They question whether the privatization of religious life is counterproductive to engagement in public life, and they show that religion does indeed play a significant role in fostering civic responsibility across each of its particular facets."Pews, Prayers, and Participation" is a bold and provocative clarion call to the continuing importance and changing nature of religion in American public life. It will be of particular interest to students and scholars of religion and politics, and culture and politics, as well as general readers with an interest in the impact of religion in the public sphere.

About this edition

• Publisher: Georgetown University Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1589012178
• ISBN 13: 9781589012172
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 296