In Pursuit of the Almighty's Dollar: A History of Money and American Protestantism (Caravan Book) [Hardcover]

James Hudnut-Beumler (Author)

Book Description

Series: Caravan Book | Publication Date: March 5, 2007

Every day of the week in contemporary America (and especially on Sundays) people raise money for their religious enterprises--for clergy, educators, buildings, charity, youth-oriented work, and more. In a fascinating look into the economics of American Protestantism, James Hudnut-Beumler examines how churches have raised and spent money from colonial times to the present and considers what these practices say about both religion and American culture.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A wonderful tour through the many ways that Protestants sought survival by stealing the advertising, selling, and buying tools found in the consumer market and business culture."
--The Journal of Religion

"A concise and lucid narrative of this neglected but important topic. . . . An important book for any pastor, church administrator, or student of American religion. It provides both a compelling, well-researched history and significant insight."
-Themelios

"Calls for the reassessment of long-held assumptions about the immateriality of faith and the immateriality of finance. . . . Exceptional. . . . Successfully demystifies the religious economy. . . . In shedding light on its important and overlooked topic, [the book] prepares us to hazard . . . provocative questions."
-H-Net Reviews

"Informative history."
-CHRISTIAN CENTURY

"A unique and valuable addition to the historiography of American religion."
-American Historical Review

"An overdue study of a neglected aspect of religion in America, of particular interest to theological and graduate students, and also to laypersons and church professionals. Recommended."
-CHOICE

"Readers seeking a history of church fundraising will find the volume extremely helpful. . . . We can certainly profit from the numerous insights that are provided."
-Journal of American History

"Recommend[ed] this book to anyone interested in church organization and finances. It is an excellent book for ministers and churches wanting historial context for giving and tithing, and is valuable reading for seminary ministry classes by framing a conversation about a subject that all ministers face regularly."
-Stone-Campbell Journal

This is an extraordinarily useful, informative, and imaginative book.

E. Brooks Holifield, Emory University

James Hudnut-Beumler's elegant and insightful book makes a significant contribution to scholarship in American religious history.

Diane H. Winston, University of Southern California

From the Inside Flap

In a fascinating look into the economics of American Protestantism, Hudnut-Beumler examines how churches have raised and spent money from colonial times to the present and considers what these practices say about both religion and American culture. He contends that paying for earthly good works done in the name of God has proved highly compatible with American ideas of enterprise, materialism, and individualism. The financial choices Protestants have made throughout history—how money was given, expended, or even withheld—have reflected changing conceptions of what the religious enterprise is all about.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press; First Edition edition (March 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807830798
• ISBN-13: 978-0807830796
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,093,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book on a little discussed matter, April 6, 2008

By 

Bob "Bob" (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Pursuit of the Almighty's Dollar: A History of Money and American Protestantism (Caravan Book) (Hardcover)

I read this book after reading Russell Kelly's book about tithing. Local church support in the US was once funded locally as a collective responsibility via taxes. The local denomination depended on the colony. Pew rental and the all member canvass followed. It was interesting to me that into the 20th century some churches kept non-members waiting outside until all paid up members were seated. Tithing was discovered later but even in denominations that teach a version of tithing a minority of members contribute 10% of their income. Overall, support for activities outside the local church has been falling in recent decades with a growing proportion of spending allocated toward local church activities. An interesting book. I hadn't realized that the current funding crisis is nothing new at all. This book doesn't discuss the scriptural basis for or against tithing in any detail.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Almighty's Dollar, December 24, 2009

By 

Robert E. Fogal "Bob Fogal" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In Pursuit of the Almighty's Dollar: A History of Money and American Protestantism (Caravan Book) (Hardcover)

Highly recommended reading for anyone interested in American religious history. The author is a premier historian and an excellent writer. He blends a strong institutional sensitivity with his study of primary sources, making this a unique and extremely valuable documentation of North American Protestantism.In Pursuit of the Almighty's Dollar: A History of Money and American Protestantism (Caravan Book)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly and Informative look at the creation of tithes in America, December 22, 2009

By 

doc (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In Pursuit of the Almighty's Dollar: A History of Money and American Protestantism (Caravan Book) (Hardcover)

When I encountered Professor Hudnut-Beumler's book, I had just finished a popular book that critiques the legitmacy of tithes as a mandatory Christian practice (See "Shakedown: A Critique of Church & Money Written In Love"). Even though the author is a distinguished historian of American Religion, he has written an accessible book that traces the origins and motivations for Christian clergy building a "tithe theology" in America. I will let you read his book to understand the creation of this practice in American church traditions, but let me add this fact to help you understand the book's importance: I ordered a used copy of the book last year. It was published in 2007 and my copy was first purchased by Great Neck Library in Great Neck, NY in September 2007. But by March of 2008, Great Neck Library had withdrawn the book from circulation and whomever they sold it to resold it to me in April 2008. Now, why would a library purchase a book in September 2007 and withdraw it from circulation by March 2008? Answer: Because it contains information that they did not want to be seen by their patrons. Information about the manufacturing of a tradition of tithing that has very little to do with stewardship, but more to do with capitalist expansion and pastors as successful salary and fund rasiers. I am a Professor of Philosophy at Tuskegee University and, in my professional opinion, it is a carefully and well written book. Get it if you desire an informed historical perspective.