ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part discusses the constitutional issue of the relation between church and state. It examines the different interpretations of this relationship in the US context and shows that there is a constitutional basis for and benefits to be derived from allowing religious interest groups to compete for influence on the formation of public policies. The part presents a brief history of evangelical political officeholders and also shows that the identification of evangelical Christianity with conservative Christianity has become invalid. Evangelical Christians were once considered part of the conservative branch of Christianity. During the twenties and thirties, evangelicals were politically conservative, but they played a minor role in US politics. The situation began to change after World War II; about the same time that liberal clergy were active in the civil rights movement, evangelicals began to be a political force in Congress.
