Introduction -- The faith of the working men -- African identity and Black radicalism -- Encounters with William Lloyd Garrison -- Personifying radical abolitionism -- Radicals fight and unite -- Confronting the slave power -- New religions for radicalism -- Women's rights, women ministers, and a woman's Bible -- The Jesus of labor -- Encountering the city -- The religion of socialism -- The radical depression -- The Gandhian moment -- Mentors of a new left -- New encounters in the South -- Expanding circles of encounter -- From encounter to confrontation -- Rebuilding the left -- A women's decade -- Resisting the right -- The future of radicalism
Summary:
Though in recent years the religious right has been a powerful political force, making "religion" and "conservatism" synonymous in the minds of many, the United States has always had an active, vibrant, and influential religious Left. In every period of our history, people of faith have envisioned a society of peace and justice, and their tireless efforts have made an indelible mark on our nation's history. In Prophetic Encounters, Dan McKanan challenges simple distinctions between "religious" and "secular" activism, showing that religious beliefs and practices have been integral to every movement promoting liberty, equality, and solidarity.
