Books in the George H. Shriver Lecture Series in Religion in American History series

For 350 years, Protestantism was the dominant religion in America - and its influence spilled over in many directions into the wider culture. Religious historian Martin E. Marty looks at the factors behind both the long period of Protestant ascendancy in America and the comparatively recent diffusion and diminution of its authority.

Reviews the key aspects of the creation-evolution debate in the United States. This book discusses the response to Darwinism, the US controversy over teaching evolution in public schools, and the religious views of American scientists. It looks at the 2006 Dover, Pennsylvania, court decision on teaching Intelligent Design and other such cases.

Until about 1820, even learned Americans showed little interest in non-European religions-a subject that had fascinated their counterparts in Europe since the end of the seventeenth century. Fostered especially by learned Protestant ministers, this new discipline focused on canonical texts-the "bibles"-of other great world religions.