Oxford Handbook of Religion and American Education

From the founding of Harvard College in 1636 as a mission for training young clergy to the landmark 1968 Supreme Court decision in Epperson v. Arkansas, which struck down the state's ban on teaching evolution in schools, religion and education in the United States have been inextricably linked. Still today new fights emerge over the rights and limitations of religion in the classroom. The Oxford Handbook of Religion and American Education brings together preeminent scholars from the fields of religion, education, law, and political science to craft a comprehensive survey and assessment of the study of religion and education in the United States. The essays in the first part develop six distinct conceptual lenses through which to view American education, including Privatism, Secularism, Pluralism, Religious Literacy, Religious Liberty, and Democracy. The following four parts expand on these concepts in a diverse range of educational frames: public schools, faith-based K-12 education, higher education, and lifespan faith development. Designed for a diverse and interdisciplinary audience, this addition to the Oxford Handbook series sets for itself a broad goal of understanding the place of religion and education in a modern democracy.

Michael D. Waggoner is Professor of Higher Education at the University of Northern Iowa and editor of the journal Religion & Education and the book series Routledge Research in Religion and Education. His recent books include Sacred and Secular Tensions in Higher Education and Religion in the Public Schools.
Nathan C. Walker is the executive director of 1791 Delegates, a consortium of constitutional and human rights experts who address issues of religion and public life. His recent books include Whose God Rules?: Is the United States a Secular Nation or a Theolegal Democracy? and Cultivating Empathy: The Worth and Dignity of Every Person--Without Exception.

- List of Contributors
- Foreword - Martin E. Marty
- Introduction - Michael D. Waggoner, University of Northern Iowa
- Nathan C. Walker
- Part I. Frameworks
- Chapter 1 - Religion, Privatization, and American Educational Policy
- Janet Bordelon
- Chapter 2 - Secularism in Religion and American Education
- Jonathon S. Kahn
- Chapter 3 - Pluralism in Religion and American Education
- Diana L. Eck
- Brendan Randall
- Chapter 4 - Religious Literacy in American Education
- Benjamin P. Marcus
- Chapter 5 - Religious Liberty in American Education
- Charles C. Haynes
- Chapter 6 - Democracy, Religion, and American Education
- Emile Lester
- Part II. Lifespan Faith Development
- Chapter 7 - Faith Development
- Sharon Daloz Parks
- Chapter 8 - Moral and Character Development
- Larry P. Nucci
- Robyn Ilten-Gee
- Chapter 9 - Religious Education in the Traditions
- Mark A. Hicks
- Chapter 10 - Religious Education between the Traditions
- Eboo Patel
- Noah J. Silverman
- Part III. Faith-Based K-12 Education
- Chapter 11 - Private Religious Schools
- Charles J. Russo
- Kate E. Soules
- Adina Newman
- Susan Douglass
- Chapter 12 - Religion and Homeschools
- Milton Gaither
- Chapter 13 - Religiously Affiliated Charter Schools
- Nathan C. Walker
- Chapter 14 - Public Funding of Private Schools
- Steven K. Green
- Part IV. Religion and Public Schools
- Chapter 15 - Law and Religion in American Education
- John Witte Jr.
- Brian Kaufman
- Chapter 16 - Religious Expression in Public Schools
- Kevin R. Pregent
- Nathan C. Walker
- Chapter 17 - Religion and the Public School Curriculum
- Walter Feinberg
- Chapter 18 - The Bible and American Public Schools
- Mark A. Chancey
- Chapter 19 - Religion, Extracurricular Activities and Access to Public School Facilities
- Charles J. Russo
- Chapter 20 - Religious Freedom, Common Schools and the Common Good
- Erik Owens
- Part V. Religion and Higher Education
- Chapter 21 - Religion in Mainline and Independent Private Higher Education
- Douglas Jacobsen
- Rhonda Jacobsen
- Chapter 22 - Evangelical Higher Education
- P. Jesse Rine
- Chapter 23 - Catholic Higher Education
- Michael Galligan-Stierle
- Paula Moore
- Chapter 24 - Religion and Spirituality in Public Higher Education
- Michael D. Waggoner
- Chapter 25 - Theological Education
- Daniel O. Aelshire
- Chapter 26 - Religion, Spirituality and College Students
- Alyssa Bryant Rockenbach
- Julie J. Park
- Chapter 27 - Religion, Spirituality and College Faculty
- Jennifer A. Lindholm
- Chapter 28 - Teaching Religious Studies
- Eugene V. Gallagher
- Chapter 29 - Teaching About Religion Outside of Religious Studies
- Robert J. Nash
- Chapter 30 - Campus Ministry
- John A. Schmalzbauer
- Index