Protestants have been the dominant religious group since the colonial period, and they remain a vibrant and influential cultural force in the United States. But the term Protestant encompasses people with a vast range of beliefs, backgrounds, politics, and experiences, and this books provides an accessible introduction to this complex situation. The Protestant Experience in America lays out the history of Protestants in America, the core beliefs and common practices that they mostly share, the major events and controversies, and long-term trends for the future of Protestants in the United States.
Foreword by Philip Goff Introduction: Praotestanism as a Political concept A Holy Commonwealth Evangelicalism and the Pursuit of Evidence Romantic Responses to Modernity and Religious Loss Religious Expectations for Science Equality and the End of Parotestanism Bibliography Index
Amanda Porterfield is the Robert A. Spivey Professor of Religion at Florida State University. She has written books on New England Puritans, Protestant women missionaries in the 19th century, and the transformation of American religion after 1960.
"Amanda Potterfield's intelligent survey of American Protestant history is a worthy addition to the Greenwood series. . . The book offers illuminating, brief treatment of many aspects of internal Protestant life. . . the book makes informative reading for veterans and a good general survey for beginners." - The Journal of Religion