Politics and Religion
in the United States

Michael Corbett and Julia Corbett

Ball State University


Updated September, 2007


Michael Corbett, the first author of Politics and Religion and the creator of this Web site, died in November, 2001, following a courageous battle against cancer. My hope was to maintain the site for the benefit of students and faculty who are using the book, as well as for others who might choose to use it. In some sense, it has also a memorial to my late husband, who was very enthusiastic about using the Web as a tool to enhance students' learning. Politics and religion is not my primary area of academic expertise, and I have found it impossible to maintain this site as well as it should be. Be advised that although the site remains, the links have not been updated since 2002. Some of them are still useful, others are not.

Julia Corbett-Hemeyer,  Professor Emerita, Religious Studies, Ball State University


 
 
 
 
Contents
Religion and History
           The Colonial Experience
           Religion and Politics:  Intentions of the Founders
           Religion and Politics in United States History, 1800-1959
           Religion and Politics Since 1960
Religion and the First Amendment
           The Establishment Clause
           The Free Exercise Clause
Religion and Public Opinion
           Public Opinion About Religion and Politics
           Religious and Political Orientations Among White Americans
           Religion and Politics Among Black Americans
Effects of Religious Influences in Politics
           Religious Groups as Political Interest Groups
           The Debate on the Role of Religion in Public Life
General
    Go here for other religious or political websites such as links to churches or lists of political sites.
Update Notes
         Go here to see our comments about events that have occurred 
               since the publication of the book.



The Colonial Experience
Return to Contents Listing
 


Religion and Politics:  Intentions of the Founders

Religion and Politics in United States History, 1800-1959
Return to Contents Listing
 


Religion and Politics Since 1960

There are many Websites that could be listed here.  To avoid such a long list of political links, we have included below four good websites that contain lists of links that are relevant.

The J.M. Dawson Institute for Church-State Studies (at Baylor University) has a very informative site about politics and religion.  Click on its Church-States Links to find some very useful links, including links to the online text of relevant documents.

A number of organizations that have Washington lobbies also have Websites.  Several examples are included below, and a longer list is included in the  Religious Groups as Political Interest Groups topic -- Chapter 10.

Return to Contents Listing
 


The Establishment Clause

There are two websites that are of particular relevance for this chapter -- and these two sites are also relevant for the next chapter as well.  Further, each of these sites has relevant links to other sites.

Return to Contents Listing
 


The Free Exercise Clause

RFRA First Page      The website has information about the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

There are two websites that are of particular relevance for this chapter -- and these two sites are also relevant for the previous chapter as well.  Further, each of these sites has relevant links to other sites.

Return to Contents Listing
 


Public Opinion About Religion and Politics

Some examples of organizations that are close to the accommodationist view of religion and politics are:

Some examples of organizations that are close to the separationist view of religion and politics are: The following websites provide information from public opinion surveys, including questions about politics, questions about religion, and some questions about the proper connections between politics and religion. Return to Contents Listing
 


Religious Orientations and Political Orientations Among White Americans

Religion and Politics Section of the American Political Science Association     Contains a variety of information relevant to politics and religion.

The public opinion sites listed previously are also useful here.   Some of these sites provide databases that can be used to explore other relationships between religious orientations and political orientations.

 Return to Contents Listing
 


Religion and Politics Among Black Americans

Here are some websites relevant to specific groups or topics in this chapter.

Return to Contents Listing
 


Religious Groups as Political Interest Groups

Here are the websites for some of the organizations mentioned in this chapter.

Return to Contents Listing
 


The Debate on the Role of Religion in Public Life

Several of the groups discussed in this chapter are listed below.

Return to Contents Listing
 


General

Websites relevant to various religions and viewpoints:

Return to Contents Listing
 
 
 


Update Notes















Return to Contents Listing