E-Book Overview
Is there a controversial issue in the contemporary world that does not involve religion? Whether it's a debate over the beginning of life, or on sexuality and family life, or on the stewardship of humans over the environment, almost all of the most contentious matters that impact today's society involve people's deeply held religious beliefs. Battleground: Religion helps clarify these complex topics by examining how various religious beliefs and practices impact current political, social, and cultural debates. Each of the approximately 100 entries examines a hot-button issue—from war and peace to the culture wars—and discusses, in a balanced and objective way, the points of view on these topics from all parts of the religious spectrum. Students will come away from Battleground: Religion with a better understanding of the issues that they will be encountering for years to come.Each entry includes a bibliography or resources for further information.
E-Book Content
BATTLEGROUND RELIGION VOLUME 1 (A–G) Edited by Daniel L. Smith-Christopher GREENWOOD PRESS Westport, Connecticut • London Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Battleground religion / edited by Daniel L. Smith-Christopher. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978–0–313–34098–7 (set: alk. paper) ISBN 978–0–313–34099–4 (vol. 1: alk. paper) ISBN 978–0–313–34100–7 (vol. 2: alk. paper) 1. Religion and sociology. I. Smith-Christopher, Daniel L. BL60.B315 2009 200—dc22 2008038760 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright © 2009 by Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2008038760 ISBN: 978–0-313–34098–7 (set) 978–0-313–34099–4 (vol. 1) 978–0-313–34100–7 (vol. 2) First published in 2009 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984). 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 CONTENTS Guide to Related Topics Series Foreword Introduction ix xiii xv Entries: Abortion 1 Addiction and Recovery 10 AIDS 17 Aliens 23 Amish 30 Animal Sacrifice 37 Animation as a New Medium 44 Anti-Catholicism and American Politics 49 Apocalypticism and Nuclear War 54 Bible and Poverty 63 Birth Control and Family Planning 69 Capital Punishment 77 Capitalism and Socialism 83 v vi | Contents Christian Zionism 89 Civil Disobedience 97 Clergy Sex Abuse Scandal in America 104 Cloning 114 Cosmology 119 “Deep Ecology” and Radical Environmentalism 127 Divorce 133 Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide 141 Evangelical Christianity in America 153 Evangelical Men’s Movements 160 Evangelicals and Environmentalism 167 Evolution versus Creationism in Public Schools 174 Faith-Based Health Care, Religious Morality, and Institutional Policies 183 Female Subordination in Christian Thought 191 Gambling and the Religious Conscience 199 Genetic Research 206 Genocide 211 Global Warming and Prosperity Theology 217 <