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American Judaism: A History, Second Edition
by Jonathan D. SarnaJonathan D. Sarna’s award-winning American Judaism is now available in an updated and revised edition that summarizes recent scholarship and takes into account important historical, cultural, and political developments in American Judaism over the past fifteen years. Praise for the first edition: “Sarna . . . has written the first systematic, comprehensive, and coherent history of Judaism in America; one so well executed, it is likely to set the standard for the next fifty years.”—Jacob Neusner, Jerusalem Post “A masterful overview.”—Jeffrey S. Gurock, American Historical Review “This book is destined to be the new classic of American Jewish history.”—Norman H. Finkelstein, Jewish Book World Winner of the 2004 National Jewish Book Award/Jewish Book of the Year
American Judaism: A History
by Jonathan D. SarnaSarna, a preeminent scholar of American Judaism (he's affiliated with Brandeis University), chronicles events, personalities, and attitudes pertaining to Jews, as well as attitudes held by Jews themselves, in the United States over a period of 350 years. He weaves the history of a people present in the United States since early colonial daysmarginalized in many ways and always worried about survivalinto the context of America's political, social, and religious life. Relevant to non-Jewish as well as Jewish communities, the themes of evolving cultural and personal identities, assimilation, and revitalization are core in both American history and contemporary American life. This thoughtful and engaging work will attract a wide scholarly and lay audience. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
The American Judaism of Mordecai M. Kaplan: Biography Of Mordecai M. Kaplan (Reappraisals in Jewish Social History)
by Emanuel S. Goldsmith Mel Scult Robert M. SeltzerMordecai M. Kaplan, a pioneering figure in the reinterpretation and redefinition of Judaism in the 20th century, embraced religious liberalism, naturalism, and empiricism, and gave expression to a unique American attitude in philosophy and theology. This volume, the first comprehensive treatment of Kaplan since his death in 1983 . . . illustrates Kaplan's links to traditional Jewish roots and demonstrates his evolutionary philosophy of Jewish culture, his Zionist orientation, and the vast range of his thought and action. The volume also features a complete bibliography of Kaplan's writings. -- ChoiceA must for every serious thinker probing American Jewish culture, history and theology.-- Alfred GottschalkPresident, Hebrew Union College--Jewish Institute of Religion These highly knowledgeable essays provide us with a new and more complex image of a central personality in 20th century American Jewish life. They are indispensable for understanding the influences that helped shape Mordecai Kaplan's thought and personality, the nature of his relationships with significant contemporaries, and the various aspects of his ideology and practical program for American Jewry.-- Professor Michael A. MeyerDepartment of Jewish HistoryHebrew Union College--Jewish Institute of Religion This leading American Jewish thinker of the pre-war period is still the point of departure for any attempt to construct a Judaism for this new age in the history of the Jewish people. The volume brings them an and this thought to life.-- Dr. Arthur GreenPresident, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
American Kairos: Washington National Cathedral and the New Civil Religion
by Richard Benjamin CrosbyA history of Washington National Cathedral and the theory of an American civil religion.In 1792, Pierre Charles L'Enfant, the first city planner of Washington, DC, introduced the idea of a "great church for national purposes." Unlike L'Enfant's plans for the White House, the US Capitol, and the National Mall, this grand temple to the republic never materialized. But in 1890, the Episcopal Church began planning what is known today as Washington National Cathedral. In American Kairos, Richard Benjamin Crosby chronicles the history of not only the building but also the idea that animates it, arguing that the cathedral is a touchstone site for the American civil religion—the idea that the United States functions much like a religion, with its own rituals, sacred texts, holy days, and so on. He shows that the National Cathedral can never be the church L'Enfant envisioned, but it can be a starting point for studying the conflicts over belonging, ideology, and America's place in the world that define the American civil religion. By examining correspondence between L'Enfant, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and others, and by diving into Washington National Cathedral's archives, Crosby uncovers a crucial gap in the formation of the nation's soul. While L'Enfant's original vision was never realized, Washington National Cathedral reminds us that perhaps it can be. The cathedral is one of the great rhetorical and architectural triumphs in the history of American religion. Without government mandate or public vote, it has claimed its role as America's de facto house of worship, a civil religious temple wherein Americans conduct some of their highest, holiest rituals, including state funerals and National Day of Prayer services.
American Klezmer: Its Roots and Offshoots
by Mark SlobinKlezmer,the Yiddish word for a folk instrumental musician, today flourishes in the United States and abroad in the world music and accompany Jewish celebrations. The essays collected in this volume investigate American klezmer: its roots, its evolution, and its spirited revitalization. The contributors offer a wide range of perspectives on the musical, social, and cultural history of klezmer in American life.
American Koan: Imagining Zen and Self in Autobiographical Literature (Studies in Religion and Culture)
by Ben Van OvermeireHow American Buddhists use Zen riddles to imagine who they are The koan is one of the most recognizable East-Asian spiritual exercises—a thought experiment in the form of a riddle or puzzle that Zen Buddhists employ to become enlightened. Well-known examples include the question &“What is the sound of one hand clapping?,&” "Does a dog have Buddha-nature?," and the injunction &“If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him.&” In American Koan, Ben Van Overmeire examines the literary function of these ancient dialogues in autobiographies of modern Western writers such as Natalie Goldberg, Peter Matthiessen, Philip Kapleau, Ruth Ozeki, and others. Through his attentive analyses of these authors, Van Overmeire unveils the rich world of American Zen literature and delves into the meaning of success and failure in Zen; how women find a place in this patriarchal tradition; how to combine Zen insight with compassion; and the illusory nature of linear time. Critical yet empathetic, this is a scintillating study of how Americans become Buddhas.
American Literature (2nd edition)
by Raymond A. St. JohnAmerican Literature for Christian Schools tells the story of the writing done in the United States from its beginnings until the present. It covers key events, major literary movements, and principal players of a dynamic heritage that was born four centuries ago and remains today a vital expression of the heart and soul of the American people. Like other anthologies it showcases as fully as possible the rich variety and impressive appeal of the literature produced in this nation. But the book does more. It tells the story of a culture that has shifted from essential agreement with the truth of God’s Word to almost universal rejection of that truth. At times the change, as reflected in the literature, has been virtually glacial in its pace, hardly discernible to those of its day. At other times the change has been dramatic, apparent even to casual observers.
American Literature Classics for Christians (Fourth Edition)
by Pensacola Christian CollegeLaunch into literature with the exciting stories from Mark Twain, Washington Irving, Edgar Allen Poe, and many more. American Literature is a compilation of short stories, poems, and other selections that are organized by genre to exemplify the specific characteristics of the time period. Learn about the dialects in American legends, irony and satire in the short stories, local color writing during the Realistic period, and the rich imagery during the Romantic Era. With detailed information about the authors and their writing ability, literary terms and definitions, and many selections of American art, this text gives an excellent portrayal of American Literature.
American Literature Classics for Christians (Fourth Edition)
by The Editors at the Pensacola Christian CollegeThe book presents great works of American literature and evaluates them in the light of the truths of God's Word, in order that the student may further understand and articulate truth as God has established it.
American Literature for Christian Schools
by Raymond A. St. John"American Literature for Christian Schools tells the story of the writing done in the United States from its beginnings until the present. It covers key events, major literary movements and principal players of a dynamic heritage that was forn four centuries ago and remains today a vital expression of the heart and soul of the American people."
American Literature-Student
by James P. StobaughEnjoy beloved classics while developing vocabulary, reading, and critical thinking skills! Each literature book in the series is a one-year course Each chapter has five lessons with daily concept-building exercises, warm-up questions, and guided readings Easy-to-use with suggested reading schedules and daily calendar Equips students to think critically about philosophy and trends in culture, and articulate their views through writing A well-crafted presentation of whole-book or whole-work selections from the major genres of classic literature (prose, poetry, and drama), each course has 34 chapters representing 34 weeks of study, with an overview of narrative background material on the writers, their historical settings, and worldview. The rich curriculum's content is infused with critical thinking skills, and an easy-to-use teacher's guide outlines student objectives with each chapter, providing the answers to the assignments and weekly exercises. The final lesson of the week includes both the exam, covering insights on the week's chapter, as well as essays developed through the course of that week's study, chosen by the educator and student to personalize the coursework for the individual learner.
American Literature-Teacher
by James P. StobaughEnjoy beloved classics while developing vocabulary, reading, and critical thinking skills! Each literature book in the series is a one-year course Each chapter has five lessons with daily concept-building exercises, warm-up questions, and guided readings Easy-to-use with suggested reading schedules and daily calendar Equips students to think critically about philosophy and trends in culture, and articulate their views through writing A well-crafted presentation of whole-book or whole-work selections from the major genres of classic literature (prose, poetry, and drama), each course has 34 chapters representing 34 weeks of study, with an overview of narrative background material on the writers, their historical settings, and worldview. The rich curriculum's content is infused with critical thinking skills, and an easy-to-use teacher's guide outlines student objectives with each chapter, providing the answers to the assignments and weekly exercises. The final lesson of the week includes both the exam, covering insights on the week's chapter, as well as essays developed through the course of that week's study, chosen by the educator and student to personalize the coursework for the individual learner.
American Lutheranism
by Friedrich Bente"American Lutheranism Vol 1" is a religious text written by Friedrich Bente.
American Lutheranism
by Friedrich Bente"American Lutheranism Vol 2" is a religious text written by Friedrich Bente.
American Lutheranism Vindicated: or, Examination of the Lutheran Symbols, on Certain Disputed Topics
by Samuel Simon Schmucker"American Lutheranism Vindicated: or, Examination of the Lutheran Symbols, on Certain Disputed Topics" is a religious text written by Samuel Simon Schmucker.
An American Martyr in Persia: The Epic Life And Tragic Death Of Howard Baskerville
by Reza AslanIn this erudite and piercing biography, best-selling author Reza Aslan proves that one person’s actions can have revolutionary consequences that reverberate the world over. Little known in America but venerated as a martyr in Iran, Howard Baskerville was a twenty-two-year-old Christian missionary from South Dakota who traveled to Persia (modern-day Iran) in 1907 for a two-year stint teaching English and preaching the gospel. He arrived in the midst of a democratic revolution—the first of its kind in the Middle East—led by a group of brilliant young firebrands committed to transforming their country into a fully self-determining, constitutional monarchy, one with free elections and an independent parliament. The Persian students Baskerville educated in English in turn educated him about their struggle for democracy, ultimately inspiring him to leave his teaching post and join them in their fight against a tyrannical shah and his British and Russian backers. “The only difference between me and these people is the place of my birth," Baskerville declared, “and that is not a big difference.” In 1909, Baskerville was killed in battle alongside his students, but his martyrdom spurred on the revolutionaries who succeeded in removing the shah from power, signing a new constitution, and rebuilding parliament in Tehran. To this day, Baskerville’s tomb in the city of Tabriz remains a place of pilgrimage. Every year, thousands of Iranians visit his grave to honor the American who gave his life for Iran. In this rip-roaring tale of his life and death, Aslan gives us a powerful parable about the universal ideals of democracy—and to what degree Americans are willing to support those ideals in a foreign land. Woven throughout is an essential history of the nation we now know as Iran—frequently demonized and misunderstood in the West. Indeed, Baskerville’s life and death represent a “road not taken” in Iran. Baskerville’s story, like his life, is at the center of a whirlwind in which Americans must ask themselves: How seriously do we take our ideals of constitutional democracy and whose freedom do we support?
American Massacre: The Tragedy At Mountain Meadows, September 1857
by Sally DentonControversy has raged over identity of the organizers and participants of the "Mountain Meadows Massacre" ever since a California-bound wagon train was beset in Utah Territory in 1857 by local Mormons and Paiute Indians (as the story is conventionally told--Paiutes contest this version and are now supported by physical evidence), killing all but seven of the 140 emigrants over the course of four days. The only person ever held criminally responsible for the crime, John D. Lee, was executed 20 years later, condemning the Mormon Church Leaders as the real instigators of the crime. Investigative reporter Denton revisits those events, exploring the development and aftermath of the episode, concluding that Brigham Young and other church leaders were indeed responsible. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
American Messiah: The Surprisingly Simple Religious Views of Thomas Jefferson
by M. Andrew HolowchakUncover the truth of Jefferson’s widely mistaken religious views.Many have written about Thomas Jefferson’s religious views, especially given his views on freedom of religion. Yet with so much written, scholars have not come close to a historical consensus on his religious motivations, leaving literature on Jefferson in disarray. Conversely, American Messiah traces Jefferson’s views of God from his beliefs in early life to his later commitments to Unitarianism, explicating Jefferson’s observations on religion and the impact they had on his overall understanding of faith.In American Messiah, Holowchak delivers a cohesive account of Jefferson’s perception of religion, including these aspects of Jefferson’s surprisingly simple religious beliefs:• True religion, for Jefferson, was equivalent to the axial principles of morality, concerning our duties to God and to man.• Jefferson did not believe in an afterlife late in life, and likely never believed in it.• Jefferson’s commitment to Unitarianism was not a commitment to a particular religious sect, but merely a commitment to a meta- or naturalized religion—the principles of the moral sense.• Freedom of religion, for Jefferson, was not driven by respect for the various religious sects, but by disdain for the baneful consequences of the sham and artificial metaphysical squabbles of religious sectarianism.
American Messiahs: False Prophets Of A Damned Nation
by Adam MorrisA history with sweeping implications, American Messiahs challenges our previous misconceptions about “cult” leaders and their messianic power. Mania surrounding messianic prophets has defined the national consciousness since the American Revolution. From Civil War veteran and virulent anticapitalist Cyrus Teed, to the dapper and overlooked civil rights pioneer Father Divine, to even the megalomaniacal Jim Jones, these figures have routinely been dismissed as dangerous and hysterical outliers. After years of studying these emblematic figures, Adam Morris demonstrates that messiahs are not just a classic trope of our national culture; their visions are essential for understanding American history. As Morris demonstrates, these charismatic, if flawed, would-be prophets sought to expose and ameliorate deep social ills—such as income inequality, gender conformity, and racial injustice. Provocative and long overdue, this is the story of those who tried to point the way toward an impossible “American Dream”: men and women who momentarily captured the imagination of a nation always searching for salvation.
American Metaphysical Religion: Esoteric and Mystical Traditions of the New World
by Ronnie PontiacAn in-depth exploration of four centuries of American occult and spiritual history, from colonial-era alchemists to 20th-century teachers• Details how, from the very beginning, America was a vibrant blend of beliefs from all four corners of the world• Looks at well-known figures such as Manly P. Hall and offers riveting portraits of many lesser known esoteric luminaries such as the Pagan Pilgrim, Tom Morton• Reveals the Rosicrucians among the first settlers from England, the spiritual influence of enslaved people, the work of mystical abolitionists, and how Native Americans and Latinx people helped shape contemporary spiritualityMost Americans believe the United States was founded by pious Christians. However, as Ronnie Pontiac reveals, from the very beginning America was a vibrant blend of beliefs from all four corners of the world. Based on the latest research, with the assistance of leading scholars, this in-depth exploration of four centuries of American occult and spiritual history looks at everything from colonial-era alchemists, astrologers, and early spiritual collectives to Edgar Cayce, the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor, and St. Germain on Mount Shasta. Pontiac shows that Rosicrucians were among the first settlers from England and explores how young women of the Shaker community fell into trances and gave messages from the dead. He details the spiritual influence of the African diaspora, the work of mystical abolitionists, and how Indigenous groups and Latinx people played a large role in the shaping of contemporary spirituality and healing practices. The author looks at well-known figures such as Manly P. Hall and lesser known esoteric luminaries such as the Pagan Pilgrim, Tom Morton. He examines the Aquarian Gospel, the Sekhmet Revival, A Course in Miracles, the School of Ageless Wisdom, and mediumship in the early 20th century. He explores the profound influence of the Bodhi Tree Bookstore in Los Angeles and looks at the evolution of female roles in spirituality across the centuries. He also examines the right wing of American metaphysics from the Silver Legion to QAnon. Revealing the diverse streams that run through America&’s metaphysical landscape, Pontiac offers an encyclopedic examination of occult teachers, esotericists, and spiritual collectives almost no one has heard of but who were profoundly influential.
American Methodism: A Compact History
by Russell E. Richey Kenneth E. Rowe Jeanne Miller SchmidtIn this engaging and artful overview, Russell Richey, Kenneth Rowe, and Jean Miller Schmidt, some of Methodism's most respected teachers, give readers a vivid picture of soulful terrain of the Methodist experience in America. The authors highlight key themes and events that continue to shape the Church. Knowing their history, Methodists are better positioned, prepared, and inspired for faithful witness and holy living.
American Methodism Revised and Updated
by Russell E. Richey Kenneth E. Rowe Jean Miller Schmidt Ashley Boggan D.The essential guide to American Methodism revised and updated through 2020.Four of Methodism’s most respected teachers give us a vivid picture of 260 years of Methodist experience in America. The revised edition updates the Methodist movement’s story through 2020, including the social, political, economic, technological, and global disruptions that cause faith communities and denominations to pull apart.American Methodism Revised and Updated begins with the explosion of evangelical Pietism and revolutionary Methodism, the First Great Awakening, as an independent nation was formed.It then highlights key 19th century themes and Methodist contributions, such as spreading scriptural holiness through missions and literature, planting tens of thousands of Sunday schools and churches by Circuit Riders, the pivotal Methodist schism between abolitionists and enslavers, the innovative building of schools and hospitals into the next century, and the revivalism of the Second Great Awakening.Finally it explores the movements of 20th century Methodism, including the expansion of home and foreign missions, the Methodist drive for Prohibition, the decision for nationwide reunification on the cusp of World War II, reunification with the United Brethren during the Vietnam War, the Methodist ordination of women during the 1950s, Black Methodist leadership in the 1960s Civil Rights movement, and the liturgical renewal or reformation of worship (ancient and future).
The American Miracle: Divine Providence in the Rise of the Republic
by Michael MedvedLUCKY . . .OR BLESSED?The history of the United States displays an uncanny pattern: At moments of crisis, when the odds against success seem overwhelming and disaster looks imminent, fate intervenes to provide deliverance and progress. Historians may categorize these incidents as happy accidents, callous crimes, or the product of brilliant leadership, but the most notable leaders of the past four hundred years have identified this good fortune as something else--a reflection of divine providence. In The American Miracle, bestselling author and radio host Michael Medved recounts some of the most significant events in America's rise to prosperity and power, from the writing of the Constitution to the Civil War. He reveals a record of improbabilities and amazements that demonstrate what the Founders always believed: that events unfolded according to a master plan, with destiny playing an unmistakable role in lifting the nation to greatness. Among the stirring, illogical episodes described here:* A band of desperate religious refugees find themselves blown hopelessly off course, only to be deposited at the one spot on a wild continent best suited for their survival* George Washington's beaten army, surrounded by a ruthless foe and on the verge of annihilation, manages an impossible escape due to a freakish change in the weather* A famous conqueror known for seizing territory, frustrated by a slave rebellion and a frozen harbor, impulsively hands Thomas Jefferson a tract of land that doubles the size of the United States* A weary soldier picks up three cigars left behind in an open field and notices the stogies have been wrapped in a handwritten description of the enemy's secret battle plans--a revelation that gives Lincoln the supernatural sign he's awaited in order to free the slavesWhen millions worry over the nation losing its way, Medved's sweeping narrative, bursting with dramatic events and lively portraits of unforgettable, occasionally little-known characters, affirms America as "fortune's favorite," shaped by a distinctive destiny from our beginnings to the present day.From the Hardcover edition.
American Misfits and the Making of Middle-Class Respectability
by Robert WuthnowHow American respectability has been built by maligning those who don't make the gradeHow did Americans come to think of themselves as respectable members of the middle class? Was it just by earning a decent living? Or did it require something more? And if it did, what can we learn that may still apply?The quest for middle-class respectability in nineteenth-century America is usually described as a process of inculcating positive values such as honesty, hard work, independence, and cultural refinement. But clergy, educators, and community leaders also defined respectability negatively, by maligning individuals and groups—“misfits”—who deviated from accepted norms.Robert Wuthnow argues that respectability is constructed by “othering” people who do not fit into easily recognizable, socially approved categories. He demonstrates this through an in-depth examination of a wide variety of individuals and groups that became objects of derision. We meet a disabled Civil War veteran who worked as a huckster on the edges of the frontier, the wife of a lunatic who raised her family while her husband was institutionalized, an immigrant religious community accused of sedition, and a wealthy scion charged with profiteering.Unlike respected Americans who marched confidently toward worldly and heavenly success, such misfits were usually ignored in paeans about the nation. But they played an important part in the cultural work that made America, and their story is essential for understanding the “othering” that remains so much a part of American culture and politics today.
American Missionaries in Iran during the 1960s and 1970s
by Philip O. HopkinsThis work explores the interaction of American Protestant missionaries with Iranians during the 1960s and 1970s. It focuses on the missionary activities of four American Protestant groups: Presbyterians, Assemblies of God, International Missions, and Southern Baptists. It argues that American missionaries’ predisposition toward their own culture confused their message of the gospel and added to the negative perception of Christianity among Iranians. This bias was seen primarily in the American missionaries’ desire to modernize Iran through education and healthcare, and between the missionaries’ relationship with Iranian Christians. Iranian attitudes towards missionary involvement in these areas are investigated, as is the changing American missionary strategy from a traditional method where missionaries had the final say on most matters related to American and Iranian Christian interaction, to the beginnings of an indigenous system where a partnership developed between the missionary and the Iranian Christian.