Prophetic Encounters: Religion and the American Radical Tradition
“McKanan challenges simple distinctions between religious and secular activism.”—The Tavis Smiley Show“McKanan narrates these tumultuous and dizzying developments with great lucidity and sympathy.”—Dissent“…[H]is packed chronicle stands to be  the book-of-first-resort on the intersection of religion and radicalism in  America.”—Booklist   “An illuminating  book.”—Kirkus “Dan  McKanan’sProphetic Encountersis  a revelation of a book. Beautifully written and boldly conceived, it the most  accessible and comprehensive study to date of the ‘sibling’ relationship—and  rivalry—between radicalism and religion in American history. Shattering the  stubborn myth that politics and religion don’t mix, McKanan shows us instead  that we can’t possibly understand one without the other.Prophetic Encountersinsists that the  American radical tradition itself is the strongest sign we have of our stubborn  faith in the power of the nation’s founding ideals and the possibility of  building a world where they are finally, and fully, realized. This book is a  must-read for activists and academics, people of faith and non-believers  alike.”—Timothy  Patrick McCarthy, Harvard University, co-editor ofThe Radical Reader: A Documentary Anthology of the  American Radical Tradition“To  be a radical means to go to the root of things. The root of American radicalism  has been among religious people. Secularists, individualists, please take note!  Encounters and dialogue between religiously motivated radicals and more secular  activists remain important. America, ‘the nation with the soul of  a church,’ cannot be changed by those who ignore or scorn religion. This book  proves that in vitalizing stories. They go from our roots as a democratic  republic to recent efforts to feed the withering branches of social activism  with living waters for all souls. Blessings on Dan McKanan, a storyteller,  theologian, and historian who feeds the activist  soul!”—John  Buehrens, co-author, A House for Hope: The  Promise of Progressive Religion in the 21st Century “All  too few historians have taken genuine heed of the diverse band of prophetic  radicals who have stirred and galvanized the American Left. Dan McKanan’s  history captures the spirit of that activist tradition. Casting a suitably wide  net, he brings together evangelical abolitionists, Protestant progressives,  Catholic Leftists, labor-agitating socialists, civil-rights protesters,  post-Christian humanists, and Neopagan feminists in a compelling testimony to  the nation’s radical inheritance. McKanan offers a prophetic history in sync  with—and worthy of—the Left’s deepest aspirations.”—Leigh  Eric Schmidt, Washington University, author ofHeaven’s  Bride“Prophetic Encountersis the most important  book on the radical tradition in America to emerge in years. Spanning  almost two hundred years of American history, and written with subtlety and  grace, it tells the story of the intricate links between the radical reform  tradition and the ‘prophetic power’ of religious belief. It is not only a  brilliant work of scholarship, but a stirring handbook for present and future  radicals—for in Dan McKanan’s deft hands, history becomes the activist’s  muse.”—John  Stauffer, award-winning author ofThe Black  Hearts of MenandGiantsand Professor of the History of  American Civilization at Harvard “Prophetic Encountersis an endlessly  fascinating history of America’s most creative dissenters.  Dan McKanan’s vast knowledge and unflagging enthusiasm make this book essential  reading for activists, for scholars, or for anyone interested in the religious  dimensions of social change.”—Joseph  Kip Kosek