Formed From This Soil: An Introduction to the Diverse History of Religion in America

Formed from This Soil offers a complete history of religion in America that centers on the diversity of sacred traditions and practices that have existed in the country from its earliest days. The text is organized chronologically, starting with the experiences of the earliest Europeans searching for new routes to Asia and continuing through to the global context of post–9/11 America in the 21st century.  Offering students more than a traditional narrative focused on the Puritan and Protestant Christian experience, this text incorporates recent scholarship for a more complex and nuanced picture of religion in America. Chapters discuss the diverse religious beliefs and practices that originated in the Americas, as well as those that came from Europe, Asia, and Africa. In addition to discussion of traditional components of religion, including religious people, communities, practices, and beliefs, the text also covers race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio–economic class, political affiliations, and other elements of individual and collective identity. Written accessibly, the text has a number of features that broaden students’ learning experience, including numerous visual images; sidebars with specialized topics and interpretive themes; discussion questions for each chapter; a glossary of common terms; and lists of relevant resources. Offering broad and inclusive coverage, this is an exciting new exploration of one of the most foundational topics in American history.

Thomas S. Bremer is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.  A historian of religions in the Americas, his research focuses on religion and culture, with special emphasis on tourism. He is the author of Blessed with Tourists: The Borderlands of Religion and Tourism in San Antonio (2004) and has published a number of articles on religion and tourism in the United States and elsewhere.