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Author:

Chaves, Mark.

Title:

Congregations in America / Mark Chaves.

Publisher:

Harvard University Press,

Copyright Date:

2004

Description:

xi, 291 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.

Subject:

Religious institutions--United States.
United States--Religion--20th century.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (p. [263]-287) and index.

Summary:

Publisher's description: More Americans belong to religious congregations than to any other kind of voluntary association. What these vast numbers amount to--what people are doing in the over 300,000 churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples in the United States--is a question that resonates through every quarter of American society, particularly in these times of "faith-based initiatives," "moral majorities," and militant fundamentalism. And it is a question answered in depth and in detail in Congregations in America. Drawing on the 1998 National Congregations Study--the first systematic study of its kind--as well as a broad range of quantitative, qualitative, and historical evidence, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the most significant form of collective religious expression in American society: local congregations. Among its more surprising findings, Congregations in America reveals that, despite the media focus on the political and social activities of religious groups, the arts are actually far more central to the workings of congregations. Here we see how, far from emphasizing the pursuit of charity or justice through social services or politics, congregations mainly traffic in ritual, knowledge, and beauty through the cultural activities of worship, religious education, and the arts. Along with clarifying--and debunking--arguments on both sides of the debate over faith-based initiatives, the information presented here comprises a unique and invaluable resource, answering previously unanswerable questions about the size, nature, make-up, finances, activities, and proclivities of these organizations at the very center of American life.

ISBN:

9780674012844 (alk. paper)
0674012844 (alk. paper)

LCCN:

2003068817

Locations:

USUX851 -- Iowa State University - Parks Library (Ames)

KSPG296 -- Burlington Public Library (Burlington)

UNUX074 -- University of Northern Iowa - Rod Library (Cedar Falls)

PLAX964 -- Luther College - Preus Library (Decorah)

OLAX314 -- Reu Memorial Library (Dubuque)

UPAX334 -- Upper Iowa University - Henderson-Wilder Library (Fayette)

OVUX522 -- University of Iowa Libraries (Iowa City)

RAPD371 -- Jefferson Public Library (Jefferson)

UUAX975 -- Briar Cliff University - Mueller Library (Sioux City)

PQAX094 -- Wartburg College - Vogel Library (Waverly)