Political scholar John Green examines ‘Mormon Paradox’ in new book
The 2012 presidential candidacy of Mitt Romney further raised the national profile of Mormons among American voters. But it also raised the question of how candidates of any faith can appeal to a diverse electorate while staying true to their own beliefs.
John Green
John Green, director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at The University of Akron, is co-author of a new book that examines Mormons’ place in the political landscape. “Seeking the Promised Land: Mormons and American Politics” (Cambridge Studies in Social Theory, Religion, and Politics) is the first full-length, scholarly work on Mormons in American politics.
'Sacred tabernacle'
Green and co-authors David E. Campbell of the University of Notre Dame and J. Quin Monson of Brigham Young University describe Mormon culture as “the sacred tabernacle” — faith-based but mobile, allowing Mormons to seek the promised land first by moving geographically and later by moving socially and politically.
“At the center of this book is the ‘Mormon Paradox,’ ” Green says. “On the one hand, Mormonism is the most American of all religions, by virtue of the fact that it was founded here. On the other hand, Mormons hold religious beliefs that are starkly different from those of other Americans.”
In a recent review of the book, the Wall Street Journal writes that the civic and communication skills Mormons develop through congregational activities and mission work also position them to mobilize effectively behind political causes. However, that organized political involvement can spark a voter backlash and hurt Mormons’ ability to gain acceptance at the polls.
Written by three top students of religion and politics, “Seeking the Promised Land” offers a balanced perspective on the relationship between Mormonism and democracy.
“At the Bliss Institute, I study the impact of political resources on elections — money, organization and knowledge,” says Green, the author or co-author of seven books on American politics, and editor or co-editor of 27 on the topic. “In this regard, religion offers another set of resources for politics. Religious people have strong expectations of what is moral and what is just, and their point of view informs the political process.”
Media contact: Roger Mezger, 330-972-4219 or rmezger@uakron.edu.
