Introduction

This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part explains why religious organizations have been ineffective as agents of social change. It deals with recommendations as to how to increase social activism by local Christian churches. The part describes the situation in Latin America and how it affects religion and politics in the United States. It is concerned with the historic Pastoral Letter on War and Peace issued by US bishops. The part shows that religious commitment among US blacks has both worked against civil rights activism and motivated other blacks to be activists. It focuses on the segments of institutionalized religion identified with the causes, i.e., liberal Protestantism, the Catholic church, the black church, and feminist theologians. Readers might be surprised by the inclusion of the Catholic church in the ranks of liberal Christianity.