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256 Annals Am. Acad. Pol. & Soc. Sci. vii (1948)

handle is hein.cow/anamacp0256 and id is 1 raw text is: FOREWORD RELIGION is quite obviously one of the most powerful and persistent of all the social forces. Its antiquity, its universality, and the infinite variety of expression combine to make a study of this subject one of the most interesting. Organized religion plays an important role in our own society. These institu- tions and thought have influenced to a considerable extent our economic and po- litical structure, the nature of our educational institutions, and the norms and values in family life. Much of our art is religiously motivated. There is scarcely a sphere of man's life that is left untouched by the conditioning effect of religious ideas. Its influences are to be observed at every turn in the road from the time we are born until we die. Beliefs about the hereafter frequently become impor- tant in determining modes of behavior on this earth. The Bible is appealed to as Authority by Fundamentalists and Liberals alike. It continues to be the world's best seller. The symbolic expression of religious ideas surrounds us from the church spires, religious holidays and music, the Christian calendar, to the coinage system with the words engraved, In God We Trust. In the folklore, children are taught that babies are sent from God, and in the lawbooks and courts certain events, such as shipwreck and cyclones, are still characterized as acts of God. On the other hand, in the pattern of the interrelationship of our social institu- tions, organized religion has been greatly influenced by the political, economic, and educational systems, and the dynamic needs of the family. Social change has deeply affected church life. The increased secularization of religious institutions over a long period of years is a cause of grave concern on the part of religiously minded people who are fearful lest worldliness overtake the churches. The present volume is limited to a discussion of Organized Religion in the United States. The topic is still an ambitious one, though confined to our geo- graphical area. Many important aspects of religious life in this country had to be omitted, much to our regret. In addition, our contributor on the topic of The Churches and Education found that he was unable, due to unavoidable circum- stances, to complete his article. This omission leaves a gap in the volume the rea- son for which the reader will readily understand. The special editor wishes to express his thanks to all those who have made the present volume possible, either by direct contributions in the form of articles, or by valuable suggestions and aid. The various writers have attempted to be objective in the presentation of ma- terial. At times personal views and interpretations have been evident. However, any student of society must analyze and interpret data as they appear to him. Whether the editor agrees with the various writers is unimportant. Moreover, any differences of opinion expressed among the contributors are testimony to the variety of ways of looking at religious phenomena, and to the fact that in the United States we continue to hold to the principles of freedom of speech and the expression of religious ideas. RAY H. ABRAMS vii

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