Theological Perspectives for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxviii

   PDF

2. Learning about “Our Nation” from La Lucha (The Struggle)

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. The Indigenous Dream—A World without an “America”

      • Andrea Smith

      Pages 3-12

   3. Race, Religion, and the Pursuit of Happiness

      • James H. Evans Jr.

      Pages 13-22

   4. Pax Americana, Pax Humana

      • Sharon Welch

      Pages 23-33

3. Creative Practices that Emerge from Lo Cotidiano (The Everyday)

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 35-35

      PDF

   2. The United States as a Responsible Member of the Global Community: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness When Globalized Militarization Matters

      • Keun-Joo Christine Pae

      Pages 37-49

   3. Living Sustainably toward Social Justice: Asceticism Revisited

      • Paula M. Cooey

      Pages 51-60

   4. “Dead in the Water….Again”: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness in the Twenty-First Century

      • Teresa Delgado

      Pages 61-69

   5. Welcome to the Great American Middle Class: From the American Dream to Deep Solidarity

      • Joerg Rieger

      Pages 71-81

   6. Political Theology: Reflecting on the Arts of a Liberating Politics

      • Mark Lewis Taylor

      Pages 83-98

4. The Significance of Fuerzas Para La Lucha (God-Given Strength for the Struggle)

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 99-99

      PDF

   2. Naming What We Want: Thoughts on Religious Vocabulary and the Desire for Quality of Life

      • Anthony B. Pinn

      Pages 101-108

   3. Redeeming Equality: Life, Liberty, and Alternatives to Obliviousness

      • Mary McClintock Fulkerson

      Pages 109-120

   4. The Political Divide

      • Stephanie Y. Mitchem

      Pages 121-128

   5. Revitalizing US Civil Society by Reconceptualizing Civil Religion and Its Virtues

      • Rosemary P. Carbine

      Pages 129-144

   6. Latinas’ and Latinos’ Understanding of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

      • Ada María Isasi-Díaz

      Pages 145-155

5. Afterword

   1. Afterword

      • Mary McClintock Fulkerson, Rosemary P. Carbine

      Pages 157-158

6. Back Matter

   Pages 159-184

   PDF

Rather than wield religion as a weapon or a ruse in irrational appeals, the book attempts to reimagine a shared American mythos and ethos, by reminding us of our shared stake in creating an America committed to the life of all peoples and species and to the full developments of our capabilities as an exercise of liberty.

• Civil society
• community
• development
• Dream
• exercise
• freedom
• politics
• prostitution
• quality
• quality of life
• race
• religion
• society
• solidarity
• water

"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - what's not to love? Sadly, much hate has been enacted under the auspices of these American ideals. But that's only one side of the stories you will read here. Their other side is about the hunger for life and the struggle for elemental freedom going on everywhere in America indeed, everywhere in the world - beyond the lonely domain of the 1%. Listening deeply to these stories, these authors articulate a vision of happiness that's both eminently possible and urgently needed." Kathleen Sands, Associate Professor of American Studies, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, USA

'A highly engaging and provocative series of reflections from a stellar group of theologian-activists on the state of our American creed. The volume powerfully captures the urgency of retrieving core American values from the racism, militarism, and economic injustices that eviscerate their moral power. It is a wonderful testimony to the spirit and legacy of Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz.' Linell Cady, Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict, Arizona State University, USA

Andrea Smith associate professor, Department of Media and Cultural Studies at the University of California, Riverside James H. Evans, Jr. Robert K. Davies Professor of Systematic Theology, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School Sharon Welch provost and professor of religion and society, Meadville Lombard Theological School K. Christine Pae Assistant Professor of Ethics, Denison University Paula M. Cooey Margaret W. Harmon Professor of Christian Theology and Culture, Macalester College Teresa Delgado Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Iona College Joerg Rieger Wendland-Cook Endowed Professor of Constructive Theology, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University Mark Lewis Taylor Maxwell M. Upson Professor of Theology and Culture, Department of Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary Anthony B. Pinn Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and Professor of Religious Studies, Rice University Stephanie Y. Mitchem Professor, Department of Religious Studies, University of South Carolina

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