An Introduction to Religion and Politics : Theory and Practice (Paperback, 2 ed)

Chapter 1: Introduction

• Approaches to the Study of Religion and Politics
• A Social Science Approach to Religion
• The Religion and State Dataset
• Religious Discrimination vs. Religious Freedom
• A Note on Methodology and Citations
• Conclusions

Chapter 2: Secularization and Functionalism: Predictions of Religion’s Decline, and Irrelevance

• Classic Secularization Theory
• Religion's Resurgence?
• The Evolution of Secularization Theory
• Moving Past Secularization Theory
• Functionalism
• Critiques of Functionalism
• Religion as a Tool vs. as an Independent Force in Political Science Theory
• The Doctrine of Religion’s Irrelevance
• Secularization, Functionalism, Religion and Political Science Theory
• Discussion Questions
• Further Readings

Chapter 3: Religious Identity

• Is Religious Identity Unique?
• The Origins of Religious Identity in Politics
• Religious Identity and Tolerance
• Religious Identity and Democracy
• Religious Identity and Conflict
• Political Opinions, Voting, and Beyond
• Discussion Questions
• Further Readings

Chapter 4: Religious Worldviews, Beliefs, Doctrines, and Theologies

• Religion as a Basis for Understanding the World
• Religious Rules and Standards of Behavior
• Political Manifestations of Religious Worldviews Beliefs and Ideologies
• Religious Actors
• Belief vs. Identity
• Conclusions
• Discussion Questions
• Further Readings

Chapter 5: Religious Legitimacy

• Religion as a Justification for Anything
• The Evolving Role of Religious Legitimacy in Government
• The Political Uses of Religious Legitimacy

• The Limits of Religious Legitimacy Discussion Questions
• Discussion Questions
• Further Readings

Chapter 6: Religious Institutions and Political Mobilization

• Religious Institutions and Political Resource Mobilization
• Religion and the "Free Rider" Problem
• The Downside of Religious-Based Mobilization
• When Do Religious Institutions Mobilize?
• Conclusions
• Discussion Questions
• Further Readings

Chapter 7: Rational Religion

• Functionalism and Rational Choice
• The Supply Side Theory
• Religious Liberty and Rational Calculation
• The Interests of Religious Institutions
• Rational Actor Theories in Perspective
• Religion and the Economy
• Conclusions
• Discussion Questions
• Further Readings

Chapter 8: Religious Fundamentalism

• What is Fundamentalism?
• Why is Fundamentalism Politically Relevant?
• Radicals, Extremists, and Deviants?
• Conclusions
• Discussion Questions
• Further Readings

Chapter 9: Religion and Conflict

• Religious Worldviews, Beliefs, Doctrines, and Ideologies
• Religious Legitimacy
• Religious Institutions
• Fundamentalists and Violent Conflict
• Religious Terror
• Messianic Violence
• Recruitment
• Are Religious Conflicts Different?
• Religion and Peace
• It is Not Just Religion
• Discussion Questions
• Further Readings

Chapter 10: Government Religion Policy 1: Official Policies and Supporting Religion

• What is Government Policy?
• Official Policy
• Motivations for Supporting Religion
• Types of Support for Religion
• Conclusions
• Discussion Questions
• Further Readings

Chapter 11: Government Religion Policy 2: Restrictions, Regulation, Control and Discrimination

• Regulation, Restriction, and Control
• Religious Discrimination in Theory
• Religious Discrimination in Practice
• Conclusions
• Discussion Questions
• Further Readings

Chapter 12: Political Secularism

• What do "Secular" and Secularism Mean?
• Defining Political Secularism
• Families of Political Secular Ideologies
• Secular-Religious Competition
• A Complex Competition
• Conclusions
• Discussion Questions
• Further Readings

Chapter 13: Religious Freedom

• Official Religious Freedom
• The Multiple Meanings of Religious Freedom
• The Complexity of Religious Freedom
• Conclusions
• Discussion Questions
• Further Readings

Chapter 14: Religion in International Relations

• Secularization, and Ignoring Religion
• Religious Identity
• Religious Legitimacy
• Religious Institutions and Mobilization
• Transnational Religious Institutions and other Religious Actors
• Transnational Religious Issues and Phenomena
• Faith-Based Diplomacy
• Religious Worldviews, Ideologies and Beliefs
• Conclusions
• Discussion Questions
• Further Readings

Chapter 15: Conclusions

• Linking Theory and Practice
• A Theoretical Framework to Comprehend Religion and Politics