Public confessions : the religious conversions that changed American politics / Rebecca L. Davis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Davis, Rebecca L. (Rebecca Louise), 1975- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religion and politics--United States--History--20th century.

Religion and politics.

Conversion--History--20th century.

Conversion.

United States--Politics and government--20th century.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (257 pages)

Place of Publication:

Chapel Hill, North Carolina : The University of North Carolina Press, [2021]

Summary:

"Why, asks Rebecca Davis, did conversions seem so prevalent between the mid-1940s and the late 1990s, and why did people care? Examining the highly-publicized and controversial conversions of individuals include Clare Boothe Luce (Protestantism to Catholicism), Whittaker Chambers ("godless Communist" to Christianity), Sammy Davis, Jr., (Christianity to Judaism), and Muhammad Ali (Christianity to Islam), Davis roots this dynamic in Cold War culture, society, and politics. She reveals how the twin and often contradictory pressures to conform to a specific vision of Americanism while simultaneously celebrating the freedom of religion as a particularly American asset made conversions both attractive and threatening to Americans. Thanks to Davis's compelling case studies, we learn that the act of breaking from the religion of one's upbringing could be seen as a selfish, reckless, and nonconformist act, but conversion also accomplished significant political work, whether fighting communism in the case of ex-spy Chambers or battling racism in the case of Ali"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Cover

Half Title

Title

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

Figures

PROLOGUE: Faith in Democracy

CHAPTER 1: A Catholic Message for America

CHAPTER 2: Cold War Disclosures

CHAPTER 3: The Fear of False Belief

CHAPTER 4: A Kind of Oneness with the Jewish People

CHAPTER 5: I Know the Truth

CHAPTER 6: Redemption

EPILOGUE: Authentic Politics, Passing Faiths

Acknowledgments

Notes

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [211]-242) and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

979-88-908620-8-2

1-4696-6489-5

OCLC:

1268361365