Religious Myths and Visions of America

How Minority Faiths Redefined America's World Role

Christopher Buck

• Publisher: Praeger
• Year: 2009
• Print ISBN: 9780313359590
• eBook ISBN: 9780313359606
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Comparative Religion

At the heart of American studies is the idea of America itself. Here, Buck looks at the religious significance of America by examining those religions that have attached some kind of spiritual meaning to America. The author explores how American Protestantism-and nine minority faiths-have projected America into the mainstream of world history by defining-and by redefining-America's world role. Surveying the religious myths and visions of America of ten religions, Buck shows how minority faiths have redefined America's sense of national purpose. This book invites serious reflection on what it means to be an American, particularly from a religious perspective. Religious myths of America are thought-orienting narratives that serve as vehicles of spiritual and social truths about the United States itself. Religious visions of America are action-oriented agendas that articulate the goals to which America should aspire and the role it should play in the community of nations. Buck examines the distinctive perspectives held by ten religious traditions that inform and expand on the notion of America, and its place in the world. He covers Native American, Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Mormon, Christian Identity, Black Muslim, Islamic, Buddhist, and Baha'i beliefs and invites serious reflection on what it means to be an American, particularly from a religious perspective.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Chapter 1: America: Nation and Notion
• Chapter 2: Native American Myths and Visions of America
• Chapter 3: Protestant Myths and Visions of America
• Chapter 4: Catholic Myths and Visions of America
• Chapter 5: Jewish Myths and Visions of America
• Chapter 6: Mormon Myths and Visions of America
• Chapter 7: Christian Identity Myths and Visions of America
• Chapter 8: Black Muslim Myths and Visions of America
• Chapter 9: Contemporary Muslim Myths and Visions of America
• Chapter 10: Buddhist Myths and Visions of America
• Chapter 11: Bahá ’í Myths and Visions of America
• Chapter 12: Conclusion: How Minority Faiths Redefined America’s World Role
• Notes
• References
• Index