Americanization of Religious Minorities

Eric Michael Mazur is an assistant professor of religion at Bucknell University.

A cogent exploration of the 'free exercise' clause of the First Amendment and how it has been construed in constitutional conflicts with three minority religions: the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Latter-Day Saints, and Native Americans. -- Susan M. Willis Journal of Church and State Raises several interesting questions involving the relationship of religious minorities to the constitutional order. Law and Politics Book Review 2002 The role of religious minorities in defining not only the boundaries of acceptable religiosity but also the textures of mainstream civic identity still resonates in current debates, as demonstrated in his opening example of sacrificial practices observed by followers of Santeria. At stake in these debates, Mazur reminds us, is more than the free practice of religion; indeed, the pluralistic ideal in American civic life itself emerges in the struggles of excluded communities to join the mainstream while maintaining their own distinctive qualities, practices, and ways of life. -- Thomas S. Bremer Journal of Religion and Society An important book for scholars examining the relationship between religion and politics in the United States, as well as for teachers and students of the history of American religious diversity. -- Sherry Wright Sociology of Religion A thoughtful, enjoyable narrative of religious confrontation with the constitutional system. -- Mark E. Rush Perspectives on Political Science Mazur amasses familiar examples to create a strong and accessible argument concerning the constitutional authority all American religious communities must face. -- Jeffery Marlett Religious Studies Review Mazur raises difficult questions about the ostensible religious neutrality of America's constitutional order. BYU Studies