America Religions and Religion 5th by Catherine L. Albanese

America Religions and Religion 5th by Catherine L. AlbaneseISBN-13: 9781133050025ISBN-10: 1133050026Much has happened in the American religious world in just the five years since thefourth edition of America: Religions and Religion appeared in print. The Mormonsnow constitute the fourth largest American denomination; the SouthernBaptistshave declined in membership for the third year in a row; the ?Nones? (not Catholicsisters but people declaring no religious affiliation) have grown steadily and, formany observers, astonishingly; there is one Shaker less in the last survivingShakercommunity in Maine; ?holy unions? have become ?same-sex marriages?; and ageneration is now half-grown that does not personally remember September 11,2001. Meanwhile, American civil religion has taken a new turn with the electionof the nation?s first African American president; Oprah Winfrey has been anational presence as she teaches new spirituality; an ?emerging church? has grownstronger as it engages with postmodernity; and Protestants, according to some pollsters,have dipped below half of the church-going public.This new edition pays attention to the changes. Throughout the text, materialhas been updated and new information supplied as relevant. An expanded sectionexamines Islam and its presence in the twenty-first century against the frameof Islam?s global reach and, thus, Islamic pluralism here in the United States.Material on developments as different as the growth of Protestant megachurches,Roman Catholic Womenpriests, and Jewish movements that take their inspirationfrom the Kabbalah has been added. Although Oprah Winfrey is not to be found inthe chapters that follow, the previous edition?s section on new spirituality has beenenlarged and systematized to a greater extent. It has also been coordinated with anew section on the emerging church. Even as new spirituality moves out from theNew Age movement, the emerging church takes a significant point of departurefrom conservative Protestant ranks. Both movements?new spirituality and theemerging church?soften the boundaries of earlier movements and combine withaspects of general American culture in interesting and instructive ways.