ABSTRACT
Now that we have studied religion in American politics in its wide variety of forms, we need to step back to appreciate the bigger picture. In this concluding chapter we explore several interpretations of the relationships among religion, politics, and culture. These larger views put the previous chapters into context. Each can help us comprehend the sometimes bewildering complexity of religion’s relevance to American politics. Some of the perspectives emphasize worldwide forces, whereas others restrict themselves to the United States. Each has its own emphasis, makes its own case, and offers distinct illumination in the quest to understand the place of religion in the political culture of the United States.
