American Evangelicals

Description

Ashlee Quosigk explores the diversity of opinions within the largest religious group in the US – Evangelical Christians – on the topic of Islam.
Evangelicals are often characterized as monolithically antagonistic toward Muslims. This book challenges that stereotype, exposing the sharp divides that exist among Evangelicals on Islam and examines why there is division. Drawing on qualitative research on two congregations in the US, as well as on popular Evangelical leaders, this book details the surprisingly diverse views Evangelicals hold on Muhammad, the Qur’an, interfaith dialogue, syncretism, and politics. This research is invaluable for providing a better understanding of what Evangelicals think, and why.
This book also offers insight into why conflict exists and why Evangelicals differ, while advancing culture war theory and qualitative methods. Specifically, it explores differences in moral authority (assumptions that guide one’s perceptions of the world) among Evangelicals and explains how these differences influence their views on Islam. The findings are relevant to religious relations worldwide as everyone appeals to moral authority, irrespective of their geographic location.

Ashlee Quosigk is Visiting Scholar at the University of Georgia, USA. She writes with an interdisciplinary perspective about Christianity, Islam, conservative-progressive divides, and issues of conflicting moral authority. She is the author of One Faith No Longer: The Transformation of Christianity in Red and Blue America (2021).

List of Figures
List of Tables
Preface
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
1. Preparing for Battle: An Introduction to the Study
2. External Enemies and Internal Strife: A Historical Review of Evangelicalism and its Conflicts
3. The Great Divide: Evangelicals Identity and Conflicting Moral Authorities
4. Evangelical Leaders: Conflict and Diversity in Places of Power
5. Evangelicals Congregants: Strife, Variety, and Moderation
6. Complexities of Evangelical Views on Islam: Comparative Perspectives of Leaders and Congregants
7. Making Sense of the Conflict: Where do we go from here?
Appendix 1: Qualitative Approaches: Justification of Methods and Data Analysis
Appendix 2: Biographical Reflexivity, Researcher Identity, and Ethical Considerations
Appendix 3: Additional Demographics and Level of Engagement with Muslims
References
Index

“This work is a must-read for students, academics and general readers interested in the 21st century interface between the world’s two largest religions.” —Peter G Riddell, Professor of History, SOAS University of London, UK“This important study explores how evangelicals view Islam and Muslims, and finds more nuance, more complexity and more dialogue than many might think possible. Through close analysis of data based on conversations with a range of evangelical leaders and congregants, Quosigk’s study stands as a warning against the easy assumptions and hasty judgements that are staple ammunition in an age of religious populism.” —Mathew Guest, Professor in the Sociology of Religion, Durham University, UK“This book makes a thoroughly worthwhile contribution to the research of Christian-Muslim relations.” —The Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies Oxford

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