This resource helps readers navigate and better understand the religious, cultural, and political impact of American views of religious faith and scientific inquiry. Do different religious faiths and traditions hold varying views on Charles Darwin's theory of evolution? How does religious belief shape American attitudes about vaccination and climate change? How have American political affiliations been influenced by these controversies and debates? This all-in-one resource provides answers to all these questions and more.

Coverage includes narrative chapters detailing how religious belief and science have intersected in the lives of Americans historically, as well as how they shape our lives today. Other features include scholarly essays discussing how people of different religious beliefs (as well as people who are non-religious) view science and its role in American society, biographical profiles of activists and opinion-shapers, tables and figures, primary documents, annotated bibliography, and chronology of events.