A Publishers Weekly Best Religion Book of the Year A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year "Bowman is fast establishing a reputation as a significant commentator on the culture and politics of the United States." -- Church Times "Bowman looks to tease out how religious groups in American history have defined, used, and even wielded the word Christian as a means of understanding themselves and pressing for their own idiosyncratic visions of genuine faith and healthy democracy.An interesting ride through some familiar and forgotten terrain." -- The Christian Century "A fascinating examination of the twists and turns in American Christianity, showing that the current state of political/religious alignment was not necessarily inevitable, nor even probable." -- Deseret News For many Americans, being Christian is a core element of their political outlook. Despite the increasing association of Christianity with the Religious Right, the Christian faith has itself been a source of deep disagreement about what American society and government should look like. While many Americans identify Christianity with Western civilization, capitalism, and unfettered individualism, others have maintained that Christian principles require racial egalitarianism, international cooperation, and social justice. Matthew Bowman delves into the ongoing struggle over what it means to be "Christian" in America in an effort to explain the centrality of Christian identity to American politics.