The study of American religion: looming through the glim

The study of American religion has been expanding to include new perspectives, previously neglected characters, and new geographic insights, driven by critical reflection on the assumptions and ideologies that historically have shaped the field, such as its focus on institutions, doctrines, and text...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Religion (London. 1971) 2012-07, Vol.42 (3), p.425-437
Main Author: Callahan, Richard J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
19th century
American religions
Expansion
Geography
Ideology
lived religion
Methodology
oceanic studies
Popular culture
Protestantism
Racism
Religion
Religious studies
Social networks
Texts
U.S.A
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Summary:The study of American religion has been expanding to include new perspectives, previously neglected characters, and new geographic insights, driven by critical reflection on the assumptions and ideologies that historically have shaped the field, such as its focus on institutions, doctrines, and texts, its nationalistic westward-expansion historical narrative, and its Protestant biases. The past two decades have seen illuminating work emerge on race and gender, popular culture, class, and the marketplace. But we need to push beyond filling in gaps in the historical record to engage methodological and theoretical concerns in the academic study of religion. Exploring the development of theories of religion in the context of global networks of exchange shaped by 19 th -century seafarers is one example of how Tom Tweed's recent call in this journal for a geographic and temporal expansion of the study of religion in America might raise new questions and perspectives for the field.
ISSN:0048-721X
1096-1151
DOI:10.1080/0048721X.2012.681874