Inspiration and Innovation: Religion in the American West

Unique in scope and comprehensive in coverage, this textbook is the first to place religion at the center of an examination of the history of the American West. Covering more than 200 years of history from pre–contact to the present, it details the relationship between the region and religion and the influence they had on one another. The narrative weaves together stories of diverse groups of people, places, and events that played an important historical role, from organized religions and easily recognized denominations to unorganized religions and cults. The author provides straightforward explanations of key theological terms and concepts throughout that augment readers’ understanding of the history. The coverage is broken into sections which mirror major themes in American history and assist students with placing new ideas in context. American Indians and their religion are discussed throughout the text in dialogue with other groups and religions. Beautifully illustrated by more than 20 images, this textbook offers a nuanced narrative that enriches our understanding of the American West by exploring its history outside of the traditional political, economic, social, and cultural domains.

Todd M. Kerstetter is Associate Professor of History at Texas Christian University. He teaches courses on the American West, American Indian history, and US environmental history. He is the author of God’s Country, Uncle Sam’s Land: Faith and Conflict in the American West (2006), which examines religious freedom in the American West by discussing relationships between the US government and Mormons, Lakota Ghost Dancers, and Branch Davidians. He has also published in scholarly journals on water issues and images of the American West in rock music.