Johnsons book provides a persuasive, innovative, and broader global framework to understand african american religions that should be required reading for current and future scholars of black religion and american religious history. Harold bloom gnosticism in american religion youtube. Clark on 15 november 1990, harold bloom spoke on the religionmaking imagination of joseph smith at the university of utahs kingsbury hall. Evangelical protestantism shaped the soul of the nation, but on the fringes of society many new denominations emerged, under the leadership of such visionaries as joseph smith mormonism, mary baker eddy christian science and ellen white seventhday adventism. There has been a debate between declinists, those who believe america is in decline, and exceptionalists, those who feel america is special. If one takes enough stabs in the dark, one is bound to hit upon the occasional truth. Reluctantly, my father allowed me at seventeen to enter the university, where i was an enthusiastic wildly excited but erratic and contrary student. Harold bloom was an american literary critic and the sterling professor of humanities at yale university. The american religion a gnostic christianity sermon index. Oct 08, 2014 bloom refers to the african american religion as a paradigm, but appears merely anxious to tie together his thesis with a climactic reference to the african american religious experience. The most widely recognized journal in its field, ajh focuses on every aspect of the american jewish experience. In other words, it is a knowing, by and of an uncreated self, or selfwithin the self, and the knowledge leads to freedom. However despite being a scholar of religion, i was unable to get a clear idea of just what he means by the american religion. When, well into his address to the mixed and expectant audience, harold bloom described contemporary mormonism as the most workaddicted.
The postchristian nation, says bloom, emerged a long time ago and is exemplified in ralph waldo emerson, who declared. The core belief of this america religion, bloom asserts, unites. According to bloom, the american religion began on august 6, 1801, when 25,000 frontierpeople of many denominations showed up at cane ridge, kentucky for a huge revival meeting. In this fascinating work of religious criticism, harold bloom examines a number of americanborn faiths. The american religion by harold bloom 20061025 by harold bloom free pdf d0wnl0ad, audio books, books to read, good books to read, cheap books, good books, online books, books online, book. The american religion richard john neuhaus first things.
In chapterbychapter treatment of what he considers to be the authentic american religion, bloom focuses on five indigenous sects that he sees as indelible strands of the american religion. The emergence of the postchristian nation, bloom has written from his perspective as an avowed gnostic jew. Even mullins, however, did not get the american religion quite right, for he lacked the nerve to go all the way and affirm what bloom calls the nakedness of the soul. Bloom, harold the american religion 1992 protestantism. He tells us that he is a gnostic jew who is not quite up to trust in god and all that. As americans, we are often exposed to the complexities of economics, government, and religion. American decline is a term used by various analysts to describe the diminishing power of the united states geopolitically, militarily, financially, economically, socially, and in health and the environment. His remarks are essily more interesting than anything anyone else has ever written about religion in america, clearly a unique phenomenon only peripherally related to its old world antecedents. By this he does not mean that he is a critic who is religious. Bloom, the wildly eccentric but brilliant literary critic, decided to take on religion, american style.
This book, the american religion, has lived mostly underground since its original publication fourteen years ago. In this book bloom argues that the american religion. The american religion, however, disproves the rule. What he says about the lds tradition, joseph smith, and the future of the church, has engendered a wide range of responses. In other words, it is a knowing, by and of an uncreated self, or selfwithintheself, and the knowledge leads to freedom. One of the most effective ways to help students explore its vitality is through primary sources. There are other scholars who hold the oppositeview, arguingthat religionmakes people. The american religion and all that mumbojumbo forum on. Uploaded by booksalecataloger3 on september 27, 2011. The american religion harold bloom in this fascinating work of religious criticism, harold bloom examines a number of americanborn faiths. Pentecostalism, mormonism, seventhday adventism, christian science, jehovahs witnesses, southern baptism and fundamentalism, and africanamerican spirituality. Reflections in the evening land books the guardian. Blooms interpretation of the american religion as modern gnosticism was very helpful in making sense of the american religious landscape, whether mormon, adventist, christian scientist, baptist, or pentecostal. It is by yourself without ambassador that god speaks to you.
American decline is a term used by various analysts to describe the diminishing power of the united states geopolitically, militarily, financially, economically, in health and the environment. Religious social identity, religious belief, and antiimmigration sentiment volume 109 issue 2 pazit bennun bloom, gizem arikan, marie courtemanche. The great contest is over the culture, the guiding ideas and habits of mind and heart that inform the way we understand the world and our place the american religion. Years ago, almost everybody thought that writing about american religion meant writing about congregationalists and presbyterians. Noted american scholar harold bloom writes about the. Large numbers of catholics, first from ireland and later from germany, poland, and italy, were coming to what had been an overwhelmingly protestant land. This isnt so true now, but this is the best and most famous book ever written from that perspective and raises challenging questions about our own day and the american dream. Bloom, harold the american religion 1992 free ebook download as pdf file. The religious american for bloom is one who knows god in solitude. The american religionmasks itself as protestant christianity yet has ceased to be christian.
As a literary critic, bloom has shown an increasing fascination of late with scriptural texts and religious imagery the book of j, 1990. Bloom wanders a bit, away from yale into the evening land of america and its churchesand reconstructs a remarkable diagram of the religious imagination. From his anonymous source bloom has learned to admire edgar young mullins d. For bloom the american religion is a national faith that shapes the way we think and act, whether we realize it or not. Mormonism, christian science, seventhday adventism, jehovahs witnesses, pentecostalism p. Harold bloom is one of the most towering figures in american literary theory and criticism. Mormonism is one form of religion that america has grown to accept, but only to a point. A documentary history is the only onevolume, uptodate collection of primary sources available for american religious history courses. Harold bloom tries to tackle this question in the american religion, an intentionally provocative study of the innermost meanings of religion over two centuries of american culture. One of the worlds most famous literary critics, a selfconfessed unbelieving jew of strong gnostic tendencies, sheds light on american religion. American jewish history is the official publication of the american jewish historical society, the oldest national ethnic historical organization in the united states. Bloom is one of our most admired literary critics and philosophers.
In this unique anthology, worldrenowned scholar harold bloom weaves a tapestry from the many strands of american religious experience and practice. Evangelical protestantism shaped the soul of the nation, but. Recent empirical studies have provided some support for the buffering effects of religion on death anxiety posited by tmt. Commonweal magazine these essays reveal a deeply personal attachment and fresh perspective. Pdf the influence of religion on death anxiety and death. American religion, for all their recent rapid growth at least in the case of the southern baptists and the mormons, are still collectively a small minority of the american population, bloom extends his definition to claim that supposedly normative methodists and catholics, as well as. Learn more about blooms life and career, including his notable books. Bloom is an internationally recognized literary critic. A fascinating book about the mormons and other religious groups in the united states is harold blooms the american religion. There has been a debate between declinists, those who believe america is in decline, and exceptionalists, those who feel america is special some analysts say that the u. Here, he attempts to go one step further and provide an exegesis of.
Since the publication of his first book in 1959, bloom has written more than forty books of literary criticism, several books discussing religion, and one novel. He defines it as a religion of the self, one that is irretrievably gnostic. Bloom is aware that there are those who might question his credentials when he claims to be a religious critic. D uring the 19th century, americans were obsessed with religion. He traces the distinctive features of american religion while asking provocative questions about the role religion plays in. In a study with parishioners of an episcopal church, belief in god and. The american religion harold bloom in this fascinating work of religious criticism, harold bloom examines a number of american born faiths. Berg professor of english at new york university, was at one time a. By the mid19th century, the american religious landscape was growing more variegated. Religion has played a complex, vibrant, and multifaceted role in our nations history. R ecall the influential 1992 book by literary critic harold bloom, the american religion. Possessed by memory really is a kind of valediction bloom has loved literature deeplyand that love is, even in the face of death, a lifegiving force. Out of print, it still circulated steadily among readers increasingly aware of the. An eloquent and erudite rereading of the authors beloved works.
Bloom refers to the africanamerican religion as a paradigm, but appears merely anxious to tie together his thesis with a climactic reference to the africanamerican religious experience. Harold bloom is sterling professor of the humanities at yale university and berg professor of english at new york university. Pentecostalism, mormonism, seventhday adventism, christian science, jehovahs witnesses, southern baptism and fundamentalism, and african american spirituality. Harold bloom lauds the audacity of joseph smith by dennis m. Pentecostalism, mormonism, seventhday adventism, christian science, jehovahs witnesses, southern baptism and. The celebrated critic harold bloom, despairing of contemporary america, turns to his bookshelves to understand the trajectory of his country h a r o l d b l o o m published on fri 16 dec 2005 19. Bloom says that the american religion is rather more like a form of gnosticism.
The american religion harold bloom american religion. Harold bloom, sterling professor of the humanities at yale university as well as henry w. He recognizes that religion in america has immense diversity, yet common characteristics. Currently the sterling professor of the humanities at yale university, blooma fierce defender of the. It appears, however, that the 20 kindle edition of blooms book is simply a replica of the 1991 edition. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. For chelsea house publishers he edited numerous series to chronicle all of western literature.
If i signed up for economic 201,s 1 was sure to spend all my time reading ibsen and shaw. Religious social identity, religious belief, and anti. Less is more gary laderman huffington post 12 dec 2008. The last two chapters of the book are short and in them bloom deals summarily with a number of topics, including dualism, antiintellectualism, self. In harold blooms book the american religion, he focuses on religions that were discovered or born in america, hence the title of the book. Scribd is the worlds largest social reading and publishing site. Ten books you should read to understand american religion.
How higher education has failed democracy and impoverished the souls of todays students paperback april 3, 2012. Harold bloom, american literary critic known for his innovative interpretations of literary history and of the creation of literature. Mormonism is a distinctly american religion that has grown from six members in. A fascinating book about the mormons and other religious groups in the united states is harold bloom s the american religion. He is the author of numerous publications including a map of misreading, yeats, the book of j, the american religion, the.
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