Religion and Public Life in the Mountain West: Sacred Landscapes in Transition (Religion by Region) [Paperback]

Jan Shipps (Editor), Mark Silk (Editor), Walter Nugent (Contributor), Ferenc Morton Szasz (Contributor), Kathleen Flake (Contributor), Randi Jones Walker (Contributor), Philip A. Deloria (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0759106274 | ISBN-13: 978-0759106277 | Publication Date: May 19, 2004

Huge mountain ranges and vast uninhabited areas characterize the Mountain West. The region is home to several dense urban centers, but there is enough space between cities for three very distinct religious cultures to develop. Arizona and New Mexico's religious public life is still dominated by the Catholic church which was in place three centuries before these areas became U.S. states. Mormons came to Utah and Idaho in the 19th century to set up their own church-state and only later were admitted to the Union. Religious minorities from Native Americans to "mainstream" Protestants must contend with these religious establishments. In the third subregion of Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana no one religious body dominates and many inhabitants claim no religious affiliation at all. Religion and Public Life in the Mountain West explores these three distinct religious regions but then goes on to see how they work together and what they have in common.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This book, the second in a series of nine reports on religion in various regions of the United States, explores contemporary religious life in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. Although the region still features a spread-out population (22 people per square mile, compared to the national average of 80), it has the fastest-growing population of the nation. While Shipps and Silk concede that it is difficult to think of these seven states as a cohesive unit, they identify three religious traditions that dominate the area: Roman Catholicism, established by Spanish missionaries in the southwest in the 17th century; Mormonism, which dominates Utah and Idaho; and pluralism, the catch-all category which describes the more diverse states of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, with their mix of evangelical Christians, New Agers, Catholics and "nones" (those who claim no affiliation). The authors of the various essays pay special attention to the ways in which religion has influenced public life in the Mountain West through politics, philanthropy and education.
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Review

This volume contains five essays that present not only demographics but also analyses and overviews that highlight the religious uniqueness of the Mountain West and invite comparisons with other regions of America. A chapter on demographics by Walter Nugent describing the Mountain West as an oasis culture is complemented by Ferenc Szasz's essay on the role of religion in creating a social infrastructure in the region. A wise editorial decision then breaks the region into three subregions that are examined in the remaining essays. Randi Walker discusses Catholicism in Arizona and New Meexico, alerting readers to some unexpected ways that religion finds expression in public life. In a carefully nuanced essay, Kathleen Flake argues that theological uniqueness and the recollection of persecution in the past almost insure the continued tension between the Latter Day Saints and other religious groups in the region. The interesting aspects of Philip Deloria's essay include his comparison of the religious ambiance of Boulder with Colorado Springs, and his treament of religion among Native Americans. The introduction and conclusion by Jan Shipps sound high notes at the beginn and end of the collection. Recommended. Undergraduate and graduate students; general re (Choice )

This volume contains five essays that present not only demographics but also analyses and overviews that highlight the religious uniqueness of the Mountain West and invite comparisons with other regions of America. A chapter on demographics by Walter Nugent describing the Mountain West as an "oasis culture" is complemented by Ferenc Szasz's essay on the role of religion in creating a social infrastructure in the region. A wise editorial decision then breaks the region into three subregions that are examined in the remaining essays. Randi Walker discusses Catholicism in Arizona and New Meexico, alerting readers to some unexpected ways that religion finds expression in public life. In a carefully nuanced essay, Kathleen Flake argues that theological uniqueness and the recollection of persecution in the past almost insure the continued tension between the Latter Day Saints and other religious groups in the region. The interesting aspects of Philip Deloria's essay include his comparison of the religious ambiance of Boulder with Colorado Springs, and his treament of religion among Native Americans. The introduction and conclusion by Jan Shipps sound high notes at the beginn and end of the collection. Recommended. Undergraduate and graduate students; general readers. (Choice )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Altamira Press (May 19, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0759106274
• ISBN-13: 978-0759106277
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,105,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)