Twentieth-century Shapers Of American Popular Religion

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Description

Those familiar with the uneven quality of existing biographies and autobiographies of modern American religious celebrities will be especially grateful for the critical comments and reliable information in this engaging volume. Choice Despite its pervasive influence, popular or non-official religion in twentieth-century America has been largely ignored by scholars.

This book is the first biographical reference to be published on the subject. It examines the lives and careers of more than sixty notable individuals who have helped to shape popular religious sentiment in this century, including radio and television preachers, inspirational writers, gospel songwriter-performers, mass revivalists, and leaders of religious movements that cut across denominational lines.

In his introduction, Lippy discusses the eclectic and individualistic character of popular religion, its impact on American attitudes and behavior, and critical approaches to interpreting and understanding it. Each essay offers a brief biography followed by a critical appraisal of the contribution of the subject and an assessment of relevant literature.

Entries conclude with a selective bibliography. Cross-referencing and a comprehensive index are supplied. Combining the efforts of more than forty scholars, Lippy's book is the first to give us a clear picture of the many different kinds of people who have left their mark on popular religious consciousness in the twentieth century.

A useful reference for American studies, American religious history, popular culture studies, and related areas, this volume will also be of interest to general readers. Review: ?The title Twentieth-Century Shapers of American Popular Religion indicates this text's distinctive temporal and topical scope.

The 69 people profiled by 25 contributors, most of them academics, were selected for their influence on audiences that cut across denominations and faith traditions to include ordinary men and women of every religious affiliation and no affiliation at all.' In nearly all cases, successful use of mass media was a key ingredient in their ability to reach these broad audiences.

Many of the subjects thrive today; a few, however, find themselves in discgrace following reveleation of their sexual peccadilloes (i.e., Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart). . . . The range of persons included is a testament to the pluralism of American religious expression. . . . Each of the profiles follows a four-part format consisting of biographical summary, appraisal of the subjects's contribution to popular religion, a survey of secondary literature, and a selected bibliography of primary and secondary works.

The entries run from five to eight pages. The result is a collection of insightful essays, each highlighting the most significant formative experiences in its subject's life and analyzing his or her influence on religious institutions and sentiments.?-Reference Books Bulletin