"A major study of American cultural history, a book distinguished both for its careful research and for its innovative interpretations. . . . Professor Mathews's book is an explanation of what religion meant in the everyday lives of southern whites and blacks. It is indispensable reading not just for those who want to know more about the Old South but for anyone who wants to understand the South today."--David Herbert Donald, Harvard University

"A major achievement--a magnificently provocative contribution to the understanding of the history of religion in America."--William G....