The Restructuring of American Religion

by Robert Wuthnow

"[The Restructuring of American Religion] is the most expansive and one of the most profound inquiries into the condition of American religious structure since World War II. . . . To carry on debates about this structure now without reference to Wuthnow would be to attempt to track a landscape of near-chaos without using the best available road map and set of markers. It is likely that we will be citing "Wuthnow' as we have been referring eponymically to major interpretations of "Herberg' or "Berger' or "Bellah.'" --Martin Marty, Religious Studies Review "This book is the most significant interpretation of recent American religious history available". --John M. Mulder, Theology Today "An extremely penetrating, nuanced, and largely convincing account of what is really happening to American religion--an account worthy of comparison with, say, Herberg's Protestant-Catholic-Jew, or H. Richard Niebuhr's The Social Sources of Denominationalism, although Wuthnow's argument ultimately supersedes both". --Wilfred M. McClay, Commentary

Genres: Sociology, History, Religion, Nonfiction, Church History, American History, Academic

392 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1988

Reviews

[Jess Carr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sociology of religion is not entirely my thing; this book is useful for theory - he suggests after having been structured by denominationalism since its founding, after WW2 American religion shifted dramatically to being structured along conservative-liberal (rather than fundamentalist-modernist, which became anachronistic) lines. I'm as yet undecided: it seems at times easy or impossible to dismiss. It is a quick read that at least provokes further thought. My greatest complaint is the way he flattens all of American religious history prior to 1930, and uses the idea of a Judeo-Christian tradition completely uncritically - it is not conceived or accepted til the very time he locates the restructuring of American religion, having very probable implications for his argument.

[Stephen Cranney · Rating 2 out of 5]

He just parrots the conventional wisdom while providing very little empirical support for his statements.

[Andrew Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic in the sociology of religion, Wuthnow explores shifts in American religion from after WW2 to about 1980. Many of Wuthnow’s findings (particularly, those findings related to the divide between religious conservatives and liberals, and about the creation of a religious right) seem especially relevant to contemporary religion in the US. While Wuthnow’s intended audience is primarily academic, those interested in American religious history would find this volume helpful.

[Hélène Lou]

Brilliant! I can see why everyone cites this . . .

[Susie Meister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here Wuthnow follows up on Herberg's long-accepted thesis of American religious life as being defined by tensions among Protestants, Catholics, and Jews. He acknowledges the relevancy of Herberg's argument, and shows how the post-WWII era brought the dissolution of denominationalism which he characterizes as being defined by a conservative/liberal schism. Much of this shift came from a move away from individual focus towards a social activism after 1950 among churches. The changes were spurred by the political activism and changes in the 1960s and 70s. Civil rights inspired congregations to focus on social issues rather than individual needs. Denominational commitment dissolved as people began to seek out congregations that they aligned with. Special organizations began to take the place of denominations. In many studies on these periods, there seems to be mixed emotions among Americans of fear and optimism. Wuthnow describes this as well. Christian split between evangelism and social justice.

[Ariane · Rating 1 out of 5]

well, I'm embarrassed to admit that this book makes me feel like I'm developing alzheimers. I'm having a very difficult time understanding it and often read whole paragraphs and saying, "now what did I just read?" The opening story about the Brooklyn Sunday School Parade was fascinating but it all went down hill after that. I guess I need this book in the "for dummies" section or someone like Janice Allred to explain it to me.

I could not finish this book. I'm sorry. I'm sure it has value for the scholar but unreadable for the general public I would say.

[Ian Divertie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked it, was balanced and helpful.

[Cimuchowski]

Suggested by Roy Terry.