When Matthew Ammann, a comely young Amish man ventures into the seductive world of Philadelphia nightlife for an evening with his boyhood friends, he could not possibly foresee the far-reaching ramifications of his choice. Enter James Royer, the socially ascending, politically-connected Chief of Police for Philadelphia, who knows only too well the uncompromising morals of the Amish life, having been ostracized from the community as a young man when his insatiable thirst for knowledge forced him to leave behind the woman he loved. Through a dramatic sequence of events, he is united with his onetime love and the son he never knew, the unpredictable yet powerful forces that lure these kindred spirits together produces repercussions that will ultimately encompass the lives of many others!

This book is a companion to SmuckerOCOs 1977 publication The Sociologyof Canadian Mennonites, Hutterites and Amish, which is referred to asVol. 1. While the first volume consisted primarily of citations relatingto Canadian Mennonites, Hutterites, and Amish, the present volume ismuch broader in scope, in that it includes materials from both the U.S.and Canada, as well as from Europe. Vol. 2 is organized only slightly differently from the previous volume.There are four main sections: OC Bibliographies and EncyclopediasOCO;OC MennonitesOCO; OC HutteritesOCO; and OC Amish.OCO Each of the latterthree is further arranged by kind of material: OC Books andPamphletsOCO; OC Graduate ThesesOCO; OC ArticlesOCO (from journals andchapters from books); and OC Unpublished SourcesOCO (cited forMennonites only). Three appendixes appear at the end of the book. A nameindex and a subject index are also included. This handy bibliography lists 400 items (mostly published since 1977, though there are a few justified exceptions). It is important to notethat, while information on Mennonites and the Amish is more readilyavailable, the same on Hutterites is scarce. The 53 items listed will, in combination with the ones in the previous volume, prove very useful. The appendixes, though brief, may assist in further research, but theavailability of the materials mentioned therein is not apparent. Theappendixes do provide a little insight into the present-day status andactivities of these groups. Appendix A summarizes the Mennonite ChurchMember Profile II, which is the result of a current survey that willhelp identify trends in the beliefs of Mennonites today. This survey isexpected to be published in a book. Appendix B lists helpful sources(e.g., major Mennonite and Amish research libraries, bookstores, yearbooks, and handbooks relating to these groups). Appendix C listsspecial collections of Amish material. Only some of the books published in the U.S. before 1977 that weremissing from the earlier volume are included in this one. Several otherbooks may have been deliberately excluded (the authorOCOs criteria forinclusion or exclusion are not clearly stated). Just as in the previousbibliography, the writings of prominent Mennonite sociologists and otherauthors have been cited. Evidently books on sociological, religious, andhistorical aspects were chosen, though some fiction titles have alsobeen included. Some books could have been included but are not. Andthere is no mention of the journals Mennonite Historian or The Journalof Mennonite Studies, both of which are Canadian. The bibliography is mostly in essay form. There is no consistency inthe annotations. Some books and articles are annotated in great detail, while others receive only brief mention. A lot of effort has been putinto the arrangement of the material into subsections (books andpamphlets, etc.) for each group, but the user may well find this systemcumbersome. Since there are not many items, they could all have beenlisted in a single alphabetical sequence under each group. The authorindex is convenient, although a spot-check reveals some errors. Theterms used in the subject index are too broad and vague, and at timesserve no purpose. In publishing this bibliography, which reflects 10 years of research, Smucker has further extended his service to students of Mennonites. Theinformation gathered in this volume, as in the earlier one, is notrestricted to academic/research interest only. A bibliography is awelcome addition to any collection, and an annotated one has a distinctadvantage: it enables readers to choose more easily the books they wishto consult. Despite the inconsistencies prevalent in this book, there is no doubtthat, when used in conjunction with its predecessor, it will become avaluable tool for sociologists, historians, and theologiansOCoin fact, for anyone interested in studying or conducting research on thesefascinating people.a"

Available as a single volume or as part of the 10 volume set Supreme Court in American Society

The study of religion encompasses ordinary human social practice and is not limited to the extraordinary or divine. 'Introducing Religion' brings together leading international scholars in the field of religious studies to examine religion as integral to everyday social practice. The book establishes a theoretical framework for the study of religion to analyse prayer, ritual, science, morality and politics in relation to the world's major religions. It will be of interest to students of theory and method in religious studies seeking a clear introduction to the multifaceted nature of religion.

What are the rights of religious institutions? Should those rights extend to for-profit corporations? Houses of worship have claimed they should be free from anti-discrimination laws in hiring and firing ministers and other employees. Faith-based institutions, including hospitals and universities, have sought exemptions from requirements to provide contraception. Now, in a surprising development, large for-profit corporations have succeeded in asserting rights to religious free exercise. The Rise of Corporate Religious Liberty explores this "corporate" turn in law and religion. Drawing on a broad range perspectives, this book examines the idea of "freedom of the church," the rights of for-profit corporations, and the implications of the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby for debates on anti-discrimination law, same-sex marriage, health care, and religious freedom.

Provides a thorough discussion of the historical development of civil rights and liberties under the Constitution. A fresh approach features chapter opening case studies and places special emphasis on the modern Supreme Court and contemporary legal controversies. A unique chapter focuses on members of the Rehnquist Court which provides a background to understand how the make-up of the Court affects the decisions made and thus the development of the law. A broad selection of edited cases are integrated within each chapter. Unique Empirical Data Tables and Doctrinal Analysis Tables analyze decisions, voting patterns and show philosophical differences among members of the modern court.

The editor provides an important new scholarly tool for locating and understanding the enormous expansion of scholarly research dealing with the sociology of Canadian Mennonites, Hutterites and Amish. Although the book includes research from American scholars, the editor devotes special attention to Canadian works concerning these important and interesting minorities. Using the tripartite division of Mennonites, Hutterites and Amish, the bibliography includes 800 entries each with a concise summary and evaluation. The entries are listed under the subheadings: books, theses, articles and unpublished manuscripts. Preceding the bibliography itself is an essay by the editor originally presented to the Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association. The essay outlines the differing conceptual assumptions of the researchers included in the book, the major methodologies employed and the main conclusions to be drawn from their work.

Nearly all discussions regarding the role of religion in American life build on two dominant assumptions: first, the separation of church and state is a constitutional principle that promotes democracy and equally protects the religious freedom of all Americans, especially religious outgroups; and second, this principle emerges as a uniquely American contribution to political theory. In Please Don't Wish Me a Merry Christmas, Stephen M. Feldman challenges both these assumptions. He argues that the separation of church and state primarily manifests and reinforces Christian domination in American society. Furthermore, Feldman reveals that the separation of church and state did not first arise in America, either at the time of the constitutional framing or later. In challenging the dominant story of the separation of church and state, Please Don't Wish Me a Merry Christmas follows the historical path of two institutions - the Christian church and the state - from the origins of Christianity forward to the present day. Feldman thus focuses on the workings of power in a specific context: he interprets the development of Christian social power vis-a-vis the state and religious minorities, particularly the prototypical religious outgroup, Jews.