Roger Finke is a professor of sociology and religious studies at the Pennsylvania State University and serves as the director of the American Religion Data Archive.Rodney Stark was for many years professor of sociology and comparative religion at the University of Washington. In 2004 he became University Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University.

• List of IllustrationsList of FiguresList of TablesPreface to the Second Edition1. A New Approach to American Religious History2. The Colonial Era Revisited3. The Upstart Sects Win America, 1776-18504. The Coming of the Catholics, 1850-19265. Methodists Transformed, Baptists Triumphant6. Why Unification Efforts Fail7. Why "Mainline" Denominations DeclineAppendix: Profile Tables, 1776 and 1850NotesReference ListIndex

Roger Finke is a professor of sociology and religious studies at the Pennsylvania State University and serves as the director of the American Religion Data Archive.Rodney Stark was for many years professor of sociology and comparative religion at the University of Washington. In 2004 he became University Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University.

• List of IllustrationsList of FiguresList of TablesPreface to the Second Edition1. A New Approach to American Religious History2. The Colonial Era Revisited3. The Upstart Sects Win America, 1776-18504. The Coming of the Catholics, 1850-19265. Methodists Transformed, Baptists Triumphant6. Why Unification Efforts Fail7. Why "Mainline" Denominations DeclineAppendix: Profile Tables, 1776 and 1850NotesReference ListIndex