Religion and public life in New England

"Although stoical New Englanders may not be showy about it, religion continues to play a powerful role in their culture. In fact, their very reticence to discuss religion may stem from long-standing religious divisions in the region. Beginning in the 1840s, Catholics flocked to the region and soon challenged the Protestant establishment. Tensions between the powerful mainline Protestant minority and the Catholic majority continue to this day. This third volume in the Religion by Region series devotes many of its pages to these two dominant groups. Yet the authors do not overlook the roles of conservative Protestants, African Americans, and Jews. Religion & Public Life in New England also imagines the long-term effects of recent developments such as the arrival of non-Judeo-Christian religions to the region and the Catholic priest sexual abuse scandal. This volume provides a very readable account of religion in this most regional of U.S. regions."--BOOK JACKET.