Using an evidenced-based, social-scientific approach to religion Kenneth D. Wald and Allison Calhoun-Brown challenge the perception that religious influence in American politics is a problem to be solved. Contending that religion is a form of social-identification that shapes the ideas about politics we entertain, the behavior of political elites and ordinary citizens, the interpretation of public laws, and the development of government programs the authors show how religion plays a fascinating and crucial part in our nation's political process and in our culture at large. Now in its eighth...

Using an evidenced-based, social-scientific approach to religion Kenneth D. Wald and Allison Calhoun-Brown challenge the perception that religious influence in American politics is a problem to be solved. Contending that religion is a form of social-identification that shapes the ideas about politics we entertain, the behavior of political elites and ordinary citizens, the interpretation of public laws, and the development of government programs the authors show how religion plays a fascinating and crucial part in our nation's political process and in our culture at large. Now in its eighth...