Religious Outsiders and the Making of Americans

by R. Laurence Moore

In light of the curious compulsion to stress Protestant dominance in America's past, this book takes an unorthodox look at religious history in America. Rather than focusing on the usual mainstream Protestant churches--Episcopal, Congregationalist, Methodist, Baptist, and Lutheran--Moore instead turns his attention to the equally important "outsiders" in the American religious experience and tests the realities of American religious pluralism against their history in America. Through separate but interrelated chapters on seven influential groups of "outsiders"--the Mormons, Catholics, Jews, Christian Scientists, Millennialists, 20th-century Protestant Fundamentalists, and the African-American churches--Moore shows that what was going on in mainstream churches may not have been the "normal" religious experience at all, and that many of these "outside" groups embodied values that were, in fact, quintessentially American.

Genres: Religion, History, Nonfiction, American History, Grad School

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 23, 1986

About the author

R. Laurence Moore is professor emeritus of history and American studies at Cornell University.

Reviews

[Adam Sweatman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well crafted and well researched. Though written in the mid-80's, doesn't feel dated. Though I might quibble with his central premise, this series of linked essays ultimately provides an excellent review of outsider religious groups, both their history and the scholarly discourse surrounding them.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

A highly, highly academic text, but that did not make it any less interesting. It was published in 1986, but many of the observations made by Moore are still as relevant today. For better or worse. His postscript on American religious pluralism was mostly optimistic, though. It would be interesting to see an edition published in the current religious and political climate, and if any of his observations or thoughts have changed or evolved since original publication.

[Van Til · Rating 1 out of 5]

just not good, a rambling disconnected series of loosely related essays, each one without a thesis besides "some members of this non-majority religious group did stuff"

[Lydia]

I enjoyed the writing.

[Brian McGovern · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good look at how religious groups have dealt with being the "other" in America, that at least argues well that fringe religious groups 'matter'. Some of his arguments can be easily contested because of a lack of expertise in the various traditions he looks at.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read the essay on Mormonism in here. It was good -- gave me more of a "religious studies" perspective on the expansion/success/evolution of Mormonism.

[Kevin Powers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched, well written. But not a book to read for any enjoyment.

[Jonathan]

None