Merati, “Muslims in Putin’s Russia”

In May, Springer Publishing will release Muslims in Putin’s Russia: Discourse on Identity, Politics, and Security by Simona E. Merati (Florida International University). The publisher’s description follows:

SpringerThis book offers a novel interpretation of Russian contemporary discourse on Islam and its influence on Russian state policies. It shifts the analytical perspective from the discussion about Russia’s Islam as a potential security threat to a more comprehensive view of the relationships of Muslims with Russia as a state and a civilization. The work demonstrates how many Muslims increasingly express a sense of belonging to Russia and are increasingly willing to contribute to state building processes.

Lehmann, “The Money Cult”

In May, Melville House will release the paperback edition of The Money Cult: Capitalism, Christianity, and the Unmaking of the American Dream by Chris Lehmann (Bookforum). The publisher’s description follows:

the-money-cultWe think we know the story of American religion: the Puritans were cold, austere, and pious, and Christianity continued pure and uncorrupted until the industrial revolution got in the way. In The Money Cult, Chris Lehmann argues that we have it backwards: capitalism has always been entangled with religion, and so today’s megapastors aren’t an aberration — they’re as American as Benjamin Franklin. The long-awaited first book by a hugely admired journalist, The Money Cult is a sweeping and accessible history that traces American Christianity from John Winthrop to the rise of the Mormon Church to the triumph of Joel Osteen.