About the Book

The United States is one of the most outwardly religious places on earth, but it is also a nation of religious illiterates. Many Protestants can’t name all four Gospels, many Catholics can’t name the seven Sacraments, and many Jews can’t name the first five books of the Bible. And yet politicians and pundits continue to root public policy arguments in theological rhetoric that is misunderstood by the vast majority of American citizens.

Stephen Prothero, author of American Jesus, explores this problem in Religious Literacy. Prothero pinpoints key moments in U.S. history that spawned our current epidemic of doctrinal ignorance, and offers practical solutions to the problem, including mandatory religion classes in public schools. Religious Literacy also contains a dictionary of religious terms, as well as spiritual background information on current issues.

Stephen Prothero is the chair of the religion department at Boston University. His book American Jesus was named one of the best religion books of 2003 by Publisher’s Weekly, and one of the year’s best nonfiction books by the Chicago Tribune. He writes and reviews for The New York Times Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Salon, and other publications. He holds degrees in American Religion from Harvard and Yale. He lives on Cape Cod.

“Prothero’s provocative and timely Religious Literacy ... in this book, the author combines a lively history of the rise and fall of American religious literacy with a set of proposed remedies based on his hope that ‘the Fall into religious ignorance is reversible.’”

– Washington Post Book World

Freshman Common Read: Western Washington University

Critical Praise

“This book is a must-read not only for educators, clergy and government officials, but for all adults.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Smart but gentle, loving but blunt, Prothero is uniquely qualified to guide us through the fraught fields of faith.” — Bruce Feiler, author of Walking the Bible and Where God Was Born

“A compelling, provocative, wholly innovative historical interpretation of the place of learning in American religious life. I love this book!” — Lauren F. Winner, author of Girl Meets God and Real Sex

“Provocative and timely . . . Combines a lively history with a set of proposed remedies.” — Washington Post Book World

“Remarkable...an especially deft examination of the reasons for Americans’ religious literacy.” — Washington Monthly

“Religious Literacy presents a compelling argument for Bible-literacy courses.” — Time magazine

“Prothero makes you want to go back to college ... a scholar with the soul of a late-night television comic.” — Newsweek

“Compelling and persuasively presented . . . a critical addition to the debate about teaching religion in public school.” — San Francisco Chronicle

“Prothero’s book can be recommended for its readability. It is constantly interesting, very well-written, and chock full of essential information about all religions…This could be one of the most important books to be published this year. It deserves serious attention.” — Journal of American Culture

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Product Details

• ISBN: 9780060859527
• ISBN 10: 0060859520
• Imprint: HarperOne
• On Sale: 03/11/2008
• Trimsize: 5.310 in (w) x 8.000 in (h) x 0.860 in (d)
• Pages: 384
• List Price: $15.99
• BISAC1 : HISTORY / General
• BISAC2 : HISTORY / United States / General
• BISAC3 : RELIGION / General
• BISAC4 : RELIGION / Reference
• BISAC5 : RELIGION / Christian Theology / General
• BISAC6 : RELIGION / Christian Theology / History
• BISAC7 : RELIGION / Christian Church / History