Religion and Public Life in the Mountain West

Sacred Landscapes in Transition

Contributions by Walter Nugent professor emeritus, Unive, Ferenc Morton Szasz, Kathleen Flake, Randi Jones Walker, Philip A. Deloria Edited by Jan Shipps, Mark Silk

Publication date:

19 May 2004

Length of book:

176 pages

Publisher

AltaMira Press

Dimensions:

221x154mm
6x9"

Huge mountain ranges and vast uninhabited areas characterize the Mountain West. The region is home to several dense urban centers, but there is enough space between cities for three very distinct religious cultures to develop. Arizona and New Mexico's religious public life is still dominated by the Catholic church which was in place three centuries before these areas became U.S. states. Mormons came to Utah and Idaho in the 19th century to set up their own church-state and only later were admitted to the Union. Religious minorities from Native Americans to "mainstream" Protestants must contend with these religious establishments. In the third subregion of Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana no one religious body dominates and many inhabitants claim no religious affiliation at all. Religion and Public Life in the Mountain West explores these three distinct religious regions but then goes on to see how they work together and what they have in common.

This volume contains five essays that present not only demographics but also analyses and overviews that highlight the religious uniqueness of the Mountain West and invite comparisons with other regions of America. A chapter on demographics by Walter Nugent describing the Mountain West as an oasis culture is complemented by Ferenc Szasz's essay on the role of religion in creating a social infrastructure in the region. A wise editorial decision then breaks the region into three subregions that are examined in the remaining essays. Randi Walker discusses Catholicism in Arizona and New Meexico, alerting readers to some unexpected ways that religion finds expression in public life. In a carefully nuanced essay, Kathleen Flake argues that theological uniqueness and the recollection of persecution in the past almost insure the continued tension between the Latter Day Saints and other religious groups in the region. The interesting aspects of Philip Deloria's essay include his comparison of the religious ambiance of Boulder with Colorado Springs, and his treament of religion among Native Americans. The introduction and conclusion by Jan Shipps sound high notes at the beginn and end of the collection. Recommended. Undergraduate and graduate students; general re