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What Are the Best Titles in American Religious History?

BY ED BLUM

After I posted about Courtney Bender's book and praised her for the title, she sent me an emailing mentioning that her title was conceived in conversation with her press editor. She wanted U Chicago Press to feel some of the accolades as well.

And it got me thinking: what are the best titles in American religious history? Not the best books, but the best literary titles - and why.

So, if you have an opinion on this, please leave a comment and defend your choice. Let's have a comment-off.
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Paul Harvey said…
Still the one:

Baptized in Blood.
February 22, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Luke Harlow said…
The Nation with the Soul of a Church.

But Baptized in Blood probably wins.

Great topic, Ed.
February 22, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Anonymous said…
Two books about the same period and moment, but with two totally different and elegant titles:

Shopkeeper's Millennium by Paul Johnson

Cradle of the Middle Class by Mary Ryan

Those titles, I think, are just terrific.
February 22, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Luke Harlow said…
Without God, Without Creed: easy to remember and succinctly conveys the the thesis.
February 22, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Randall said…
Jon Butler, Awash in a Sea of Faith: Christianizing the American People
February 22, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Art Remillard said…
Chidester's proposed title for Authentic Fakes was Holy Shit. That would have won this contest hands down.
February 22, 2008 at 2:09 PM
Anonymous said…
Freedom's Coming ain't too bad either. It has hope, but also lament in it - since freedom is not here yet.
February 22, 2008 at 3:43 PM
John Fea said…
Great idea, Ed. I like titles that are plays on popular phrases or have multiple meanings.

Consumer Rites by Leigh E. Schmidt

New England's Generation by Virginia DeJohn Anderson
February 22, 2008 at 5:33 PM
Randall said…
I've been reading Van Wyck Brooks works on American lit. I like the sound of his New England: Indian Summer, 1865-1915. Few historians and scholars in general can write with the sweep and confidence of a mid-century author like this. Maybe that's a good thing, though.
February 22, 2008 at 6:31 PM
Kevin M. Schultz said…
Although only moderately concerning religion (although more so than you might remember):

Henry May, The End of American Innocence: A Study of the First Years of Our Own Time.

Then, on Catholics:
William Halsey, The Survival of American Innocence: Catholicism in an Era of Disillusionment.
February 22, 2008 at 7:50 PM
Kelly J. Baker said…
I like Chidester's Salvation and Suicide, Griffith's Born Again Bodies, and Frykholm's Rapture Culture, but I have to agree with Art about Holy Shit, I mean, Authentic Fakes.
February 23, 2008 at 8:07 AM
DEG said…
The Democratization of American Christianity.

Boom. Thesis in title. No need for subtitle.

I also like When Church Became Theatre and Body Piercing Saved My Life.
February 23, 2008 at 8:24 AM
Phil said…
Seeman's _Pious Persuasions_ captures the interplay that creates popular religion, and Shuck's _Marks of the Beast_ is just unforgettable.

One has to like titles that reflect the religious economy: Cimino and Latin's _Shopping for Faith_, George's _God's Salesman_, Chesnut's _Competitive Spirits_, and Miller's _Consuming Religion_.
February 23, 2008 at 2:12 PM
Phil said…
And can't forget Harrison's _Righteous Riches_.
February 23, 2008 at 2:15 PM
John Fea said…
Phil: Don't forget Moore, *Selling God*
February 23, 2008 at 3:26 PM
Amy said…
Red-hot & Righteous.
February 23, 2008 at 5:57 PM
Benjamin Brandenburg said…
Below are some winner's form my comps list:

Daniel Hofrenning's In Washington But Not Of It

Hudnut-Beumier's In Pursuit of the Almighty's Dollar

Edward Larson's Summer of the Gods

And the winner? Blood Done Sign my Name by Tim Tyson.
February 24, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Anonymous said…
If we expand the category to include sociology, I really like Michael Emerson's _Divided by Faith_
February 25, 2008 at 7:28 AM
Sarah said…
I have to say Beryl Satter's Each Mind a Kingdom. It's hands-down perfect.
February 25, 2008 at 2:18 PM
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