Theological Perspectives for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Andrea Smith associate professor, Department of Media and Cultural Studies at the University of California, RiversideJames H. Evans, Jr. Robert K. Davies Professor of Systematic Theology, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity SchoolSharon Welch provost and professor of religion and society, Meadville Lombard Theological SchoolK. Christine Pae Assistant Professor of Ethics, Denison UniversityPaula M. Cooey Margaret W. Harmon Professor of Christian Theology and Culture, Macalester CollegeTeresa Delgado Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Iona CollegeJoerg Rieger Wendland-Cook Endowed Professor of Constructive Theology, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist UniversityMark Lewis Taylor Maxwell M. Upson Professor of Theology and Culture, Department of Theology, Princeton Theological SeminaryAnthony B. Pinn Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and Professor of Religious Studies, Rice UniversityStephanie Y. Mitchem Professor, Department of Religious Studies, University of South Carolina

"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - what's not to love? Sadly, much hate has been enacted under the auspices of these American ideals. But that's only one side of the stories you will read here. Their other side is about the hunger for life and the struggle for elemental freedom going on everywhere in America indeed, everywhere in the world - beyond the lonely domain of the 1%. Listening deeply to these stories, these authors articulate a vision of happiness that's both eminently possible and urgently needed." Kathleen Sands, Associate Professor of American Studies, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, USA 'A highly engaging and provocative series of reflections from a stellar group of theologian-activists on the state of our American creed. The volume powerfully captures the urgency of retrieving core American values from the racism, militarism, and economic injustices that eviscerate their moral power. It is a wonderful testimony to the spirit and legacy of Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz.' Linell Cady, Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict, Arizona State University, USA

• Introduction: Academics as Public Intellectuals; Ada María Isasi-Diaz, Mary McClintock-Fulkerson and Rosemary P. Carbine PART I 1. The Indigenous Dream - A World Without an 'America'; Andrea Smith 2. Race, Religion and the Pursuit of Happiness; James H. Evans, Jr. 3. Pax Americana, Pax Humana; Sharon Welch PART II 4. The United States as a Responsible Member of the Global Community: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness When Militarized 5. Prostitution Matters; K. Christine Pae 6. Living Sustainably toward Social Justice: Asceticism Revisited; Paula M. Cooey 7. 'Dead in the Water….Again': Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness in the 21st Century; Teresa Delgado 8. Welcome to the Great American Middle Class: From the American Dream to Deep Solidarity; Joerg Rieger 9. Political Theology as Reflection on the Arts of Liberatory Politics; Mark Lewis Taylor PART III 10. Naming What We Want: Thoughts on Religious Vocabulary and the Desire for Quality of Life; Anthony B. Pinn 11. Redeeming Equality: Life, Liberty and Alternatives to Obliviousness; Mary McClintock Fulkerson 12. The Political Divide; Stephanie Y. Mitchem 13. Revitalizing U.S. Civil Society by Reconceptualizing Civil Religion and its Virtues; Rosemary P. Carbine Conclusion: Latinas and Latinos Understanding of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness; Ada María Isasi-Díaz Afterword