Religion and the American West offers a lavishly illustrated and comprehensive overview of the ways religion has shaped the idea of the American West and how the region has influenced broader religious and racial categories. Starting when the concept of the "American West" emerged in the early 1800s and continuing the analysis through modern times, Religion and the American West explores the interplay between a wide range of American belief systems, from established world religions to new spiritual innovations.

A stunning selection of material and print culture illustrates the varied range of religious expressions across the history of the American West. Taken as a whole, the contributors challenge longstanding definitions of the American West and provide a new narrative that recenters our attention on the lived experiences of diverse peoples and communities. It also serves as the companion publication for the exhibition "Acts of Faith," opening fall 2023 at the New York Historical Society. Religion and the American West is a story of vibrant innovation and tragic conflict, showcasing how historical actors and modern-day readers wrestle with the meaning of religious belief in the American West.

About the Author
Jessica Lauren Nelson is the Director of Religion and Cultural Initiatives at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art as well as a lecturer in history at Lake Forest College.

Reviews
Religion and the American West brings together the best scholarship on the subject with a dizzying array of material evidence in order to tell the story of a multicultural, multidimensional American West--reflecting the American West not as it is imagined, but as it was."-Brandi Denison, author of Ute Land Religion in the American West, 1879-2009



Book Information
ISBN 9780826365118
Author Jessica Lauren Nelson
Format Hardback
Page Count 208
Imprint University of New Mexico Press
Publisher University of New Mexico Press
Weight(grams) 272g