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One State Under God: A History of Religion in Texas
A broad and accessible history of religion in Texas, from prehistory to the present.
From sprawling megachurches to religious billboards and towering steel crosses, religion quite literally looms over Texas. Christian nationalism determines the state’s politics and, every school day, more than five million Texas children pledge allegiance to “one state under God.” But it wasn’t always this way.
In this wide-ranging chronicle, Joseph Locke uncovers the breadth of Texas’s religious history, from Indigenous painters of cosmological cave art and Spanish invaders who constructed missions, to irreligious Anglo colonists, freethinking frontiersmen, Tejano folk saints, evangelical culture warriors, and Muslim immigrants. Locke traces the state’s religious transformations across the centuries, bringing them to life through his depiction of compelling figures, like enslaved preacher Anderson Edwards, fighting fundamentalist J. Frank Norris, and celebrated humanitarian Sister Norma Pimentel, and gripping moments, such as the murder of atheist newspaperman William Cowper Brann and the siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco. Comprehensive, fast-paced, and highly readable, One State Under God reveals how the Lone Star State’s spiritual path was blazed.
From sprawling megachurches to religious billboards and towering steel crosses, religion quite literally looms over Texas. Christian nationalism determines the state’s politics and, every school day, more than five million Texas children pledge allegiance to “one state under God.” But it wasn’t always this way.
In this wide-ranging chronicle, Joseph Locke uncovers the breadth of Texas’s religious history, from Indigenous painters of cosmological cave art and Spanish invaders who constructed missions, to irreligious Anglo colonists, freethinking frontiersmen, Tejano folk saints, evangelical culture warriors, and Muslim immigrants. Locke traces the state’s religious transformations across the centuries, bringing them to life through his depiction of compelling figures, like enslaved preacher Anderson Edwards, fighting fundamentalist J. Frank Norris, and celebrated humanitarian Sister Norma Pimentel, and gripping moments, such as the murder of atheist newspaperman William Cowper Brann and the siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco. Comprehensive, fast-paced, and highly readable, One State Under God reveals how the Lone Star State’s spiritual path was blazed.
344 pages, Hardcover
Published July 14, 2026
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June 28, 2026One State Under God: A History of Religion in Texas by Joseph L. Locke offers a fascinating and comprehensive exploration of how faith, culture, and history have shaped the identity of Texas across generations.
What stands out is the book’s ability to present religion not only as a matter of belief but as a powerful force influencing communities, politics, traditions, and social change. Through its wide-ranging historical journey and compelling figures, the book provides readers with a deeper understanding of the many religious movements and experiences that have shaped the Lone Star State.
A valuable read for anyone interested in American history, religious studies, cultural identity, and the complex relationship between faith and society.
What stands out is the book’s ability to present religion not only as a matter of belief but as a powerful force influencing communities, politics, traditions, and social change. Through its wide-ranging historical journey and compelling figures, the book provides readers with a deeper understanding of the many religious movements and experiences that have shaped the Lone Star State.
A valuable read for anyone interested in American history, religious studies, cultural identity, and the complex relationship between faith and society.
August 31, 2026
A native Texan, I was very interested in learning about how religion has captured the state. Forays in to prohibition, Billy Graham, and so much more. Extremely informative.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews