God's Country, Uncle Sam's Land

Todd M. Kerstetter is an associate professor of history at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth.

• Acknowledgments   viiIntroduction: Guns, God, and Government in the West   11. God's Country   132. Uncle Sam and the Saints   333. Uncle Sam and the Lying Messiah   814. Uncle Sam and the Sinful Messiah   1245. Uncle Sam's Land   167Notes   179Index   207

"Kerstetter's well-written study unpacks how devastating the conflict becomes when mythic worlds--in this case those of region and religion--collide."--Great Plains Quarterly "An important contribution to our understanding both of the role of religion in the development of the American West and of the interplay of government and social geography in shaping religion."--Journal of American History "Kerstetter has selected a trio of events that not only invite comparison but also stimulate critical questioning. . . . [A] well-balanced and exemplary book."--American Historical Review "Stunning objectivity and deep understanding of three distinct and different religious ideologies is clear throughout the narrative."--History Teacher "Each essay shines both in its readability and its effectiveness . . . . A powerful volume of history that reinforces an ongoing reassessment of historical views of the American West and the whole notion of American religious freedom."--Utah Historical Quarterly "A useful survey of scholarly knowledge. . . . Kerstetter's book is a welcome step toward a fuler understanding of the nation's past, and especially the violent episodes in its past, as Americans grappled with the question of tolerating diversity."--Journal of American Academy of Religion