Questions about civil society have been reopened in recent years with increasing urgency. How can we preserve and protect democracy? Is it possible to bring a moral dimension back into public life? How strong or weak do we want government to be? What can motivate us to be better, more responsibly engaged citizens? In this book, well-known author Robert Wuthnow presents an engaging and provocative exploration of the role of Christianity in civil society which, he says, “applies to other U.S. religions as will.” Professor Wuthnow considers three aspects of the relationship between Christianity and civil society: (1) whether civil society is in jeopardy and what effects the declining influence of Christianity has on civil society; (2) whether Christians can be civil, including an examination of the conflicts that have arisen among religious groups in the public arena and the so-called culture wars that many in the media have been discussing; and (3) the growing multiculturalism in the United States, how Christian groups are responding to the new diversity, and how Christianity can regain a critical voice for itself in these debates. Robert Wuthnow is the Gerhard R. Andlinger Professor of Social Sciences and Director of the Center for the Study of American Religion at Princeton University. He is the author of fifteen books, including Learning to Care: Elementary Kindness in an Age of Indifference and God Mammon in America.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Christianity and Civil Society is a thoughtful, informative book of great interest to anyone with an interest in contemporary American social, cultural and political trends, and the influence of the Christian communities." — The Midwest Book Review, February 1997 (Midwest Book Review, The )
" Robert Wuthnow represents a chastened liberalism with a strong empirical bent...he continues his remarkable ongoing work, combining in depth social science (including extensive first person interviews) with moral exhortation...Wuthnow calls for sophisticated dialogue and engagement between Christians and groups with different values and lifestyles." — Your Church (John Wilson Your Church )
"Wuthnow... fashions a compelling debate about the role of religion in civil society." —Publishers Weekly, November 1996 (Publishers Weekly )
"A short, straightforward, basic, and accessible guide to the Letter to the Hebrews. Discover the actual meaning of the text in the context of Robert Wuthnow, who teaches sociology and director the Center for the Study of American Religion at Princeton, cares deeply about the future of Christianity in the United States. He has been bringing his expertise to bear on its problems in a remarkable series of books over the last decade, and anyone who shares his concerns needs to listen to what he has to say. Christianity & Civil Society...provides a good introduction to his thinking. The book certainly beats the one-sided polemics of the culture wars..." —William C. Placher, reviewing for Religion & Values in Public Life, The Center for the Study of Values in Public Life at Harvard Divinity School, Summer 1997 (William C. Placher )
"One of the many virtues of Wuthnow's book is that he recognizes the obstacles to regaining (collective values and basic civility) yet remains hopeful about its possibility. This is a book of such moment and of such interest that it ought to be required reading for all religious and academic leaders." —Kevin Madigan, reviewing for Catholic Library World, September 1997 (Kevin Madigan Catholic Library World )
"[Wuthnow's] Rockwell lectures, given in 1996 at Rice University, ask 1) whether civil society itself is in jeopardy and whether the influence of Christianity on civil society is declining, 2) whether, in view of conflicts among religious groups and the culture wars, Christians can be civil, and 3) whether Christians are responding to the growing multiculturalism of civil society and how they can regain a critical voice in the debates over diversity." —Theology Digest, Fall 1997 (Theology Digest )
"In Christianity and Civil Society, one of today's most gifted sociologists brings the insight of his discipline to one of today's most important issues. Wuthnow masterfully summarizes his years of research (as well as that of others) to help us think more precisely about an area that almost all agree must be renewed if America is to thrive." —Ronald J. Sider, President, Evangelicals for Social Action (Ronald J. Sider )
"Wuthnow, an insightful student of contemporary society, details how in a churched society, Christianity shaped norms, fulfilled a prophetic role, and offered a humanizing influence in the culture." —John Throop, reviewing for The Living Church, January 4, 1998 (John Throop Living Church, The )
"This book is well-written and well documented. The topic is timely and the author makes sense..." —William W. Rankin, Episcopal Divinity School, reviewing for Anglican Theological Review (William W. Rankin, Episcopal Divinity School Anglican Theological Review )
"Wuthnow gives us a thoughtful approach to reclaiming civil society through small fellowship groups. He challenges Christians who do become involved in public affairs to conform to accepted norms of civility, instead of adopting the combative tactics of ‘current culture warriors' or those who would defraud the public trust by elevating themselves to the post of being morally above the law of the land." —William B. Hair, III, Baylor University, reviewing for Journal of Church & State, Winter 1998 (William B. Hair, III, Baylor University )
"Wuthnow’s book is a useful primer for someone interested in a quick read about the impact of Christianity on the civil society." "The two most interesting aspects of this book are Wuthnow’s reflections on the growing importance of small-group activity, and his chapter on multiculturalism and religious diversity." —Ed Wojcicki, University of Illinois, reviewing for St. Anthony Messenger, July 1998 (Ed Wojcicki, University of Illinois St. Anthony Messenger )
" Robert Wuthnow represents a chastened liberalism with a strong empirical bent...he continues his remarkable ongoing work, combining in depth social science (including extensive first person interviews) with moral exhortation...Wuthnow calls for sophisticated dialogue and engagement between Christians and groups with different values and lifestyles." — Your Church (, Your Church )
"A short, straightforward, basic, and accessible guide to the Letter to the Hebrews. Discover the actual meaning of the text in the context of Robert Wuthnow, who teaches sociology and director the Center for the Study of American Religion at Princeton, cares deeply about the future of Christianity in the United States. He has been bringing his expertise to bear on its problems in a remarkable series of books over the last decade, and anyone who shares his concerns needs to listen to what he has to say. Christianity & Civil Society...provides a good introduction to his thinking. The book certainly beats the one-sided polemics of the culture wars..." —William C. Placher, reviewing for Religion & Values in Public Life, The Center for the Study of Values in Public Life at Harvard Divinity School, Summer 1997 (, )
"One of the many virtues of Wuthnow's book is that he recognizes the obstacles to regaining (collective values and basic civility) yet remains hopeful about its possibility. This is a book of such moment and of such interest that it ought to be required reading for all religious and academic leaders." —Kevin Madigan, reviewing for Catholic Library World, September 1997 (, Catholic Library World )
"In Christianity and Civil Society, one of today's most gifted sociologists brings the insight of his discipline to one of today's most important issues. Wuthnow masterfully summarizes his years of research (as well as that of others) to help us think more precisely about an area that almost all agree must be renewed if America is to thrive." —Ronald J. Sider, President, Evangelicals for Social Action (, )
"Wuthnow, an insightful student of contemporary society, details how in a churched society, Christianity shaped norms, fulfilled a prophetic role, and offered a humanizing influence in the culture." —John Throop, reviewing for The Living Church, January 4, 1998 (, Living Church, The )
"This book is well-written and well documented. The topic is timely and the author makes sense..." —William W. Rankin, Episcopal Divinity School, reviewing for Anglican Theological Review (, Anglican Theological Review )
"Wuthnow gives us a thoughtful approach to reclaiming civil society through small fellowship groups. He challenges Christians who do become involved in public affairs to conform to accepted norms of civility, instead of adopting the combative tactics of ‘current culture warriors' or those who would defraud the public trust by elevating themselves to the post of being morally above the law of the land." —William B. Hair, III, Baylor University, reviewing for Journal of Church & State, Winter 1998 (, )
"Wuthnow’s book is a useful primer for someone interested in a quick read about the impact of Christianity on the civil society." "The two most interesting aspects of this book are Wuthnow’s reflections on the growing importance of small-group activity, and his chapter on multiculturalism and religious diversity." —Ed Wojcicki, University of Illinois, reviewing for St. Anthony Messenger, July 1998 (, St. Anthony Messenger )
" Robert Wuthnow represents a chastened liberalism with a strong empirical bent...he continues his remarkable ongoing work, combining in depth social science (including extensive first person interviews) with moral exhortation...Wuthnow calls for sophisticated dialogue and engagement between Christians and groups with different values and lifestyles." — Your Church (John Wilson Your Church )
"Wuthnow... fashions a compelling debate about the role of religion in civil society." —Publishers Weekly, November 1996 (Publishers Weekly )
"A short, straightforward, basic, and accessible guide to the Letter to the Hebrews. Discover the actual meaning of the text in the context of Robert Wuthnow, who teaches sociology and director the Center for the Study of American Religion at Princeton, cares deeply about the future of Christianity in the United States. He has been bringing his expertise to bear on its problems in a remarkable series of books over the last decade, and anyone who shares his concerns needs to listen to what he has to say. Christianity & Civil Society...provides a good introduction to his thinking. The book certainly beats the one-sided polemics of the culture wars..." —William C. Placher, reviewing for Religion & Values in Public Life, The Center for the Study of Values in Public Life at Harvard Divinity School, Summer 1997 (William C. Placher )
"One of the many virtues of Wuthnow's book is that he recognizes the obstacles to regaining (collective values and basic civility) yet remains hopeful about its possibility. This is a book of such moment and of such interest that it ought to be required reading for all religious and academic leaders." —Kevin Madigan, reviewing for Catholic Library World, September 1997 (Kevin Madigan Catholic Library World )
"[Wuthnow's] Rockwell lectures, given in 1996 at Rice University, ask 1) whether civil society itself is in jeopardy and whether the influence of Christianity on civil society is declining, 2) whether, in view of conflicts among religious groups and the culture wars, Christians can be civil, and 3) whether Christians are responding to the growing multiculturalism of civil society and how they can regain a critical voice in the debates over diversity." —Theology Digest, Fall 1997 (Theology Digest )
"In Christianity and Civil Society, one of today's most gifted sociologists brings the insight of his discipline to one of today's most important issues. Wuthnow masterfully summarizes his years of research (as well as that of others) to help us think more precisely about an area that almost all agree must be renewed if America is to thrive." —Ronald J. Sider, President, Evangelicals for Social Action (Ronald J. Sider )
"Wuthnow, an insightful student of contemporary society, details how in a churched society, Christianity shaped norms, fulfilled a prophetic role, and offered a humanizing influence in the culture." —John Throop, reviewing for The Living Church, January 4, 1998 (John Throop Living Church, The )
"This book is well-written and well documented. The topic is timely and the author makes sense..." —William W. Rankin, Episcopal Divinity School, reviewing for Anglican Theological Review (William W. Rankin, Episcopal Divinity School Anglican Theological Review )
"Wuthnow gives us a thoughtful approach to reclaiming civil society through small fellowship groups. He challenges Christians who do become involved in public affairs to conform to accepted norms of civility, instead of adopting the combative tactics of ‘current culture warriors' or those who would defraud the public trust by elevating themselves to the post of being morally above the law of the land." —William B. Hair, III, Baylor University, reviewing for Journal of Church & State, Winter 1998 (William B. Hair, III, Baylor University )
"Wuthnow’s book is a useful primer for someone interested in a quick read about the impact of Christianity on the civil society." "The two most interesting aspects of this book are Wuthnow’s reflections on the growing importance of small-group activity, and his chapter on multiculturalism and religious diversity." —Ed Wojcicki, University of Illinois, reviewing for St. Anthony Messenger, July 1998 (Ed Wojcicki, University of Illinois St. Anthony Messenger )
" Robert Wuthnow represents a chastened liberalism with a strong empirical bent...he continues his remarkable ongoing work, combining in depth social science (including extensive first person interviews) with moral exhortation...Wuthnow calls for sophisticated dialogue and engagement between Christians and groups with different values and lifestyles." — Your Church (, Your Church )
"A short, straightforward, basic, and accessible guide to the Letter to the Hebrews. Discover the actual meaning of the text in the context of Robert Wuthnow, who teaches sociology and director the Center for the Study of American Religion at Princeton, cares deeply about the future of Christianity in the United States. He has been bringing his expertise to bear on its problems in a remarkable series of books over the last decade, and anyone who shares his concerns needs to listen to what he has to say. Christianity & Civil Society...provides a good introduction to his thinking. The book certainly beats the one-sided polemics of the culture wars..." —William C. Placher, reviewing for Religion & Values in Public Life, The Center for the Study of Values in Public Life at Harvard Divinity School, Summer 1997 (, )
"One of the many virtues of Wuthnow's book is that he recognizes the obstacles to regaining (collective values and basic civility) yet remains hopeful about its possibility. This is a book of such moment and of such interest that it ought to be required reading for all religious and academic leaders." —Kevin Madigan, reviewing for Catholic Library World, September 1997 (, Catholic Library World )
"In Christianity and Civil Society, one of today's most gifted sociologists brings the insight of his discipline to one of today's most important issues. Wuthnow masterfully summarizes his years of research (as well as that of others) to help us think more precisely about an area that almost all agree must be renewed if America is to thrive." —Ronald J. Sider, President, Evangelicals for Social Action (, )
"Wuthnow, an insightful student of contemporary society, details how in a churched society, Christianity shaped norms, fulfilled a prophetic role, and offered a humanizing influence in the culture." —John Throop, reviewing for The Living Church, January 4, 1998 (, Living Church, The )
"This book is well-written and well documented. The topic is timely and the author makes sense..." —William W. Rankin, Episcopal Divinity School, reviewing for Anglican Theological Review (, Anglican Theological Review )
"Wuthnow gives us a thoughtful approach to reclaiming civil society through small fellowship groups. He challenges Christians who do become involved in public affairs to conform to accepted norms of civility, instead of adopting the combative tactics of ‘current culture warriors' or those who would defraud the public trust by elevating themselves to the post of being morally above the law of the land." —William B. Hair, III, Baylor University, reviewing for Journal of Church & State, Winter 1998 (, )
"Wuthnow’s book is a useful primer for someone interested in a quick read about the impact of Christianity on the civil society." "The two most interesting aspects of this book are Wuthnow’s reflections on the growing importance of small-group activity, and his chapter on multiculturalism and religious diversity." —Ed Wojcicki, University of Illinois, reviewing for St. Anthony Messenger, July 1998 (, St. Anthony Messenger )
About the Author
Robert Wuthnow is the Gerhard R. Andlinger Professor of Social Sciences and Director of the Center for the Study of American Religion at Princeton University. He is the author of fifteen books, including Learning to Care: Elementary Kindness in an Age of Indifference and God Mammon in America.
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