Boundless faith : the global outreach of American churches / Robert Wuthnow.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wuthnow, Robert.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Missions, American.

Protestant churches--United States--Missions.

Protestant churches.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (359 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Berkeley : University of California Press, c2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In Boundless Faith, the first book to look systematically at American Christianity in relation to globalization, Robert Wuthnow shows that American Christianity is increasingly influenced by globalization and is, in turn, playing a larger role in other countries and in U.S. policies and programs abroad. These changes, he argues, can be seen in the growth of support at home for missionaries and churches in other countries and in the large number of Americans who participate in short-term volunteer efforts abroad. These outreaches include building orphanages, starting microbusinesses, and setting up computer networks. Drawing on a comprehensive survey that was conducted for this book, as well as several hundred in-depth interviews with church leaders, Wuthnow refutes several prevailing stereotypes: that U.S. churches have turned away from the global church and overseas missions, that congregations only look inward, and that the growing voice of religion in areas of foreign policy is primarily evangelical. This fresh and revealing book encourages Americans to pay attention to the grass-roots mechanisms by which global ties are created and sustained.

Contents:

Front matter

Contents

Preface

Introduction

1. At Home and Abroad The Changing Contours of American Religion

2. The Global Christianity Paradigm From Cultural Connection to Demographic Distance

3. Four Faces of Globalization Debating Heterogeneity and Inequality

4. The Evolution of Transnational Ties Changing Patterns of Social Organization

5. The Global Role of Congregations Bridging Borders through Direct Engagement

6. Faith and Foreign Policy Does Religious Advocacy Matter?

7. The Challenges Ahead Good for America, Good for the World?

Appendix

Notes

Selected Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 303-324) and index.

ISBN:

9780520943063

0520943066

OCLC:

794663675