Author Description
Original and wide-ranging, Murphy's discerning and important study is another reminder that America is 'the nation with the soul of a church.'"-Journal of American History "A wide-ranging and thoughtful meditation on how the theo-political stories we Americans tell ourselves resonate with and sometimes even create the communities we inhabit. This book deserves an honored place among the oeuvre of work by political scientists and historians on the jeremiad."-- Politics and Religion"A significant contribution to the historical account of the role of religion in American politics." --Perspectives on Politics "Prodigal Nation is a careful account of how theologies function politically and deserves attention from political scientists, political theologians, American historians, and others interested in the interface of religion and culture."--Religious Studies Review "This highly original and wonderfully written analysis will be invaluable to anyone interested in the meaning of America." --Harry S. Stout, author of The New England Soul and Upon the Altar of the Nation"A brilliant analysis of the American jeremiad. Elegant, powerful, hopeful, and wise - Prodigal Nation is required reading for anyone who wishes to understand the fitful history of the American spirit." --James A. Morone, author of Hellfire Nation and The Democratic Wish
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the historical and political function of the American jeremiad, a rhetorical tradition that links national moral decline to divine punishment. Andrew R. Murphy, a professor of political science, examines how this specific narrative framework has been utilized from the colonial era through the post-9/11 period. By analyzing primary texts and political discourse, he argues that the jeremiad serves as a persistent mechanism for Americans to define their national identity and address crises through a theological lens.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Historical analysis of the jeremiad tradition from Puritan New England to modern political rhetoric.
- Examination of how religious language shapes American political culture and national self-understanding.
- Case studies of political speeches and writings that invoke themes of moral decay and divine judgment.
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide a comprehensive history of all American religious movements.
- It does not offer a predictive model for future political outcomes based on current religious trends.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars in political science and history recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of religion in American public life. Readers frequently note the academic rigor of the prose and the depth of the author's historical research.
Page Count:
232
Publication Date:
2011-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190454210
ISBN-13:
9780190454210
Religion
History
American Studies
Theology
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