Prophetic Activism : : Progressive Religious Justice Movements in Contemporary America / / Helene Slessarev-Jamir.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter New York University Press Backlist eBook-Package 2000-2013
• VerfasserIn: Slessarev-Jamir, Helene,
• Place / Publishing House: New York, NY : : New York University Press, , [2011]; ©2011
• Year of Publication: 2011
• Language: English
• Series: Religion and Social Transformation ; 2
• Physical Description: 1 online resource

While the links between conservative Christians and politics have been drawn strongly in recent years, coming to embody what many think of as religious activism, the profoundly religious nature of community organizing and other more left-leaning justice work has been largely overlooked. Prophetic Activism is the first broad comparative examination of progressive religious activism in the United States. Set up as a counter-narrative to religious conservatism, the book offers readers a deeper understanding of the richness and diversity of contemporary religious activism.Helene Slessarev-Jamir offers five case studies of major progressive religious justice movements that have their roots in liberative interpretations of Scripture: congregational community organizing; worker justice; immigrant rights work; peace-making and reconciliation; and global anti-poverty and debt relief. Drawing on intensive interviews with activists at all levels of this work-from pastors and congregational leaders to local organizers and the executive directors of the national networks-she uncovers the ways in which they construct an ethical framework for their work. In addition to looking at predominantly Christian organizations, the book also highlights the growth of progressive activism among Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists who are engaged in reinterpreting their religious texts to support new forms of activism. Religion and Social Transformation series

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Acronyms/Abbreviations -- 1. An Introduction to Prophetic Activism -- 2. Identifying the Qualities of Prophetic Activism -- 3. Organizing in Borderlands Communities -- 4. Religious Organizing for Worker Justice -- 5. Immigrant Rights Activism -- 6. Peacemaking -- 7. Global Justice Organizing -- 8. Conclusions -- Notes -- Index -- About the Author