Customer Reviews

The Promise Keepers: Essays on Masculinity and Christianity

5 star:		(1)
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3 star:		(1)
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This review was almost entirely favorable, so I gave it 5 stars; I hope the reviewer would agree--Dr. Dane S. Claussen

Sean F. Everton of Stanford University writes, in part, in the Sept. 2000 issue of the Review of Religious Research: "This book belongs on the shelf of anyone who is engaged in a serious study of the Promise Keepers (PK). Dane Claussen, an assistant professor of Mass Communication at Southwest Missouri State University, has brought together a series of essays that explore PK from a variety of theoretical and methodological perspectives. Contributors include scholars from the fields of journalism and mass communication, political science, sociology, religion, women's studies, American studies, history, speech, sports science and more. The book's greatest strength lies in this broad cross-section of scholarly research.... "The historical chapters provide valuable information concerning the historical and religious context lying behind PK.... "Readers will benefit from George Lundskow's, Don Deardorff's and Bryan Brickner's essays.... "I found the book's closing chapters on the relationship between PK and the media fascinating. Claussen's analysis of PK news coverage notes that, in contrast to previous coverage of evangelical Christianity, PK has received almost entirely positive coverage. Ken Waters' examination of PK's public relations strategy found that it not only helped PK avoid becoming a 'spokes-group' for the Christian Right, it has also helped increase the amount of favorable media coverage it has received. L. Dean Allen's analysis found that in spite of the fact that PK has received relatively positive or uncritical media coverage, men involved in PK continue to perceive the media's coverage of PK as unfavorable.... "[The book's] weaknesses, however, are mere quibbles. They are clearly overshadowed by the numerous insights provided by the book's contributors. Claussen has done an admirable job in bringing these essays together. His book not only enriches our understanding of the Promise Keepers but of evangelicalism as well."

I don't know how many stars the reviewer would give the book, so I split the difference and entered "three"--Dane S. Claussen

L.H. Mamiya of Vassar College writes in Choice magazine: "Claussen (Southwest Missouri State University) has edited a helpful collection of essays on the Promise Keepers that employs a diversity of analytical perspectives and methodologies, from historical to social scientific to phenomenological. With 22 articles, an introductory essay by Randall Balmer, and a concluding assessment by Robert Linder, there are strengths and weaknesses to the volume. The most interesting chapters are the historical, showing how the Promise Keepers are related to earlier evangelical movements of muscular Christianity in America or comparing the group to fraternal movements like the Masons. Balmer's emphasis on the "militarism and athleticism" of such movements is a keen insight. George Lundskow's social science interviews with followers of the movement and Tanya Erzen's study of evangelical women's movements modeled on the Promise Keepers provide useful information about the motivations and worldviews of those attracted to the group. The main weakness is a lack of coherence and sustained analysis, which results in the presentation of contradictory views. Essays on media coverage of the Promise Keepers by Claussen and Ken Waters could use some cultural analysis by comparing the Promise Keepers' 1997 "Stand in the Gap" rally in Washington, DC, with the Nation of Islam's 1995 "Million Man March." Recommended for upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, and specialists."

Claussen responds: because I and so many of the other authors work in the social sciences, we believe that the presentation of contradictory views is a strength, not a weakness. And although lacking from the volume, the comparison of media coverage of Stand in the Gap and the Million Man March can be found in my other book on PK.