George Yancey is professor of sociology at the University of North Texas. He is the author of numerous books, including Compromising Scholarship: Religious and Political Bias in American Higher Education and Dehumanizing Christians: Cultural Competition in a Multicultural World. His teaching and research focus on race and religion. David A. Williamson is associate professor of sociology at the University of North Texas and author with George Yancey of What Motivates Cultural Progressives? And There is No God: Atheists in America. He has taught extensively and conducted research for more than 20 years in the U.S., Israel, and Africa.

Yancey and Williamson explore anti-Christian attitudes in US society. Though they nod to historical precedent in the intellectual history of the 18th and 19th centuries, the authors focus primarily on current trends. They find that those who hold anti-Christian sentiments tend to have higher social status and to be better educated, more politically progressive, and less religious than other Americans. Moreover, the negative sentiment is directed not so much at Christianity in general as toward Christianity in its conservative/fundamentalist expressions. The authors conclude that progressives’ hostility derives from fear that conservatives seek to achieve political control to impose anti-gay, anti-abortion, anti-pluralist views on society and thereby restrict individual liberties and choices. Progressives currently exercise a great deal of influence in American life. They cherish rationality, individual liberty, and toleration of others and resent intolerant Christians who seek to undermine their values and impose one exclusive view on all citizens. This aspect of the culture wars has long been recognized. The authors acknowledge limitations of their sources and admit a level of speculation. The value of this study is that it begins to document and analyze the presence of current anti-fundamentalist sentiments in the US. Summing Up: Recommended. With reservations. All readers.

• 1 – Introduction2 – A History of Anti-Christian Hostility in the United States3 – Who are those with Christian Animosity?4 – How Anti-Christian Hostility Shapes Perceptions of Christians5 – Dehumanizing and Hating Christians6 – What do Those with Anti-Christian Animosity Want?7 – Christianophobia in the United States8 – ConclusionReferencesAppendix AAppendix B

George Yancey is professor of sociology at the University of North Texas. He is the author of numerous books, including Compromising Scholarship: Religious and Political Bias in American Higher Education and Dehumanizing Christians: Cultural Competition in a Multicultural World. His teaching and research focus on race and religion. David A. Williamson is associate professor of sociology at the University of North Texas and author with George Yancey of What Motivates Cultural Progressives? And There is No God: Atheists in America. He has taught extensively and conducted research for more than 20 years in the U.S., Israel, and Africa.

Yancey and Williamson explore anti-Christian attitudes in US society. Though they nod to historical precedent in the intellectual history of the 18th and 19th centuries, the authors focus primarily on current trends. They find that those who hold anti-Christian sentiments tend to have higher social status and to be better educated, more politically progressive, and less religious than other Americans. Moreover, the negative sentiment is directed not so much at Christianity in general as toward Christianity in its conservative/fundamentalist expressions. The authors conclude that progressives’ hostility derives from fear that conservatives seek to achieve political control to impose anti-gay, anti-abortion, anti-pluralist views on society and thereby restrict individual liberties and choices. Progressives currently exercise a great deal of influence in American life. They cherish rationality, individual liberty, and toleration of others and resent intolerant Christians who seek to undermine their values and impose one exclusive view on all citizens. This aspect of the culture wars has long been recognized. The authors acknowledge limitations of their sources and admit a level of speculation. The value of this study is that it begins to document and analyze the presence of current anti-fundamentalist sentiments in the US. Summing Up: Recommended. With reservations. All readers.

• 1 – Introduction2 – A History of Anti-Christian Hostility in the United States3 – Who are those with Christian Animosity?4 – How Anti-Christian Hostility Shapes Perceptions of Christians5 – Dehumanizing and Hating Christians6 – What do Those with Anti-Christian Animosity Want?7 – Christianophobia in the United States8 – ConclusionReferencesAppendix AAppendix B

George Yancey is professor of sociology at the University of North Texas. He is the author of numerous books, including Compromising Scholarship: Religious and Political Bias in American Higher Education and Dehumanizing Christians: Cultural Competition in a Multicultural World. His teaching and research focus on race and religion. David A. Williamson is associate professor of sociology at the University of North Texas and author with George Yancey of What Motivates Cultural Progressives? And There is No God: Atheists in America. He has taught extensively and conducted research for more than 20 years in the U.S., Israel, and Africa.

Yancey and Williamson explore anti-Christian attitudes in US society. Though they nod to historical precedent in the intellectual history of the 18th and 19th centuries, the authors focus primarily on current trends. They find that those who hold anti-Christian sentiments tend to have higher social status and to be better educated, more politically progressive, and less religious than other Americans. Moreover, the negative sentiment is directed not so much at Christianity in general as toward Christianity in its conservative/fundamentalist expressions. The authors conclude that progressives’ hostility derives from fear that conservatives seek to achieve political control to impose anti-gay, anti-abortion, anti-pluralist views on society and thereby restrict individual liberties and choices. Progressives currently exercise a great deal of influence in American life. They cherish rationality, individual liberty, and toleration of others and resent intolerant Christians who seek to undermine their values and impose one exclusive view on all citizens. This aspect of the culture wars has long been recognized. The authors acknowledge limitations of their sources and admit a level of speculation. The value of this study is that it begins to document and analyze the presence of current anti-fundamentalist sentiments in the US. Summing Up: Recommended. With reservations. All readers.

• 1 – Introduction2 – A History of Anti-Christian Hostility in the United States3 – Who are those with Christian Animosity?4 – How Anti-Christian Hostility Shapes Perceptions of Christians5 – Dehumanizing and Hating Christians6 – What do Those with Anti-Christian Animosity Want?7 – Christianophobia in the United States8 – ConclusionReferencesAppendix AAppendix B