About the book
Between 1901 and 1907, a broad coalition of Protestant churches sought to expel newly elected Reed Smoot from the Senate, arguing that as an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Smoot was a lawbreaker and therefore unfit to be a lawmaker. The resulting Senate investigative hearing featured testimony on every peculiarity of Mormonism, especially its polygamous family structure. The Smoot hearing ultimately mediated a compromise between Progressive Era Protestantism and Mormonism and resolved the nation’s long-standing “Mormon Problem.” On a broader scale, Kathleen Flake shows how this landmark hearing provided the occasion for the country — through its elected representatives, the daily press, citizen petitions, and social reform activism — to reconsider the scope of religious free exercise in the new century.
Flake contends that the Smoot hearing was the forge in which the Latter-day Saints, the Protestants, and the Senate hammered out a model for church-state relations, shaping for a new generation of non-Protestant and non-Christian Americans what it meant to be free and religious. In addition, she discusses the Latter-day Saints' use of narrative and collective memory to retain their religious identity even as they changed to meet the nation’s demands.
Editions of The Politics of American Religious Identity
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807828311
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807855010
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807863541
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890877130
Read an Excerpt
Between 1901 and 1907, a broad coalition of Protestant churches sought to expel newly elected Reed Smoot from the Senate, arguing that as an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Smoot was a lawbreaker and therefore unfit to be a lawmaker. The resulting Senate investigative hearing featured testimony on every peculiarity of Mormonism, especially its polygamous family structure. The Smoot hearing ultimately mediated a compromise between Progressive Era Protestantism and Mormonism and resolved the nation’s long-standing “Mormon Problem.” On a broader scale, Kathleen Flake shows how this landmark hearing provided the occasion for the country — through its elected representatives, the daily press, citizen petitions, and social reform activism — to reconsider the scope of religious free exercise in the new century.
Flake contends that the Smoot hearing was the forge in which the Latter-day Saints, the Protestants, and the Senate hammered out a model for church-state relations, shaping for a new generation of non-Protestant and non-Christian Americans what it meant to be free and religious. In addition, she discusses the Latter-day Saints' use of narrative and collective memory to retain their religious identity even as they changed to meet the nation’s demands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Politics of American Religious Identity about?
Between 1901 and 1907, a broad coalition of Protestant churches sought to expel newly elected Reed Smoot from the Senate, arguing that as an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Smoot was a lawbreaker and therefore unfit to be a lawmaker. The resulting Senate investigative hearing featured testimony on every peculiarity of Mormonism, especially its polygamous family structure. The Smoot hearing ultimately mediated a compromise between Progressive Era Protestantism and Mormonism and resolved the nation’s long-standing “Mormon Problem.” On a broader scale, Kathleen Flake shows how this landmark hearing provided the occasion for the country — through its elected representatives, the daily press, citizen petitions, and social reform activism — to reconsider the scope of religious free exercise in the new century.
Flake contends that the Smoot hearing was the forge in which the Latter-day Saints, the Protestants, and the Senate hammered out a model for church-state relations, shaping for a new generation of non-Protestant and non-Christian Americans what it meant to be free and religious. In addition, she discusses the Latter-day Saints' use of narrative and collective memory to retain their religious identity even as they changed to meet the nation’s demands.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Politics of American Religious Identity?
Law > Laws of specific jurisdictions and specific areas of law > Constitutional and administrative law: general > Constitution
Where can I read a sample of The Politics of American Religious Identity?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807828311
How long is The Politics of American Religious Identity and how many pages does it have?
The Politics of American Religious Identity has 256 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Politics of American Religious Identity?
Kathleen Flake
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Politics of American Religious Identity is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807828311) and paperback(ISBN 9780807855010) and ebook(ISBN 9780807863541) and pdf(ISBN 9798890877130)
Where can I buy The Politics of American Religious Identity online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Politics of American Religious Identity from below
Where can I buy The Politics of American Religious Identity?