{"product_id":"god-bless-america-strange-and-unusual-religious-beliefs-and-practices-in-the-united-states-paperback","title":"God Bless America: Strange and Unusual Religious Beliefs and Practices in the United States - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eKaren Stollznow\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eGod Bless America\u003c\/i\u003e lifts the veil on strange and unusual religious beliefs and practices in the modern-day United States. Do Satanists really sacrifice babies? Do exorcisms involve swearing and spinning heads? Are the Amish allowed to drive cars and use computers? Taking a close look at snake handling, new age spirituality, Santeria spells, and satanic rituals, this book offers more than mere armchair research, taking you to an exorcism and a polygamist compound--and allowing you to sit among the beards and bonnets in a Mennonite church and to hear L. Ron Hubbard's stories told as sermons during a Scientology service. From the Amish to Voodoo, the beliefs and practices explored in this book may be unorthodox--and often dangerous--but they are always fascinating. While some of them are dying out, and others are gaining popularity with a modern audience, all offer insight into the future of religion in the United States--and remind that fact is often stranger than fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eKaren Stollznow\u003c\/b\u003e is a linguist with a background in history and anthropology. She is a columnist, podcaster, and the author of \u003ci\u003eHaunting America\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e Language Myths, Mysteries and Magic\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eRed, White and (True) Blue\u003c\/i\u003e. Karen was a researcher at the University of California-Berkeley, and has spent many years writing about a diverse array of topics, including language, culture, religion, and anomalous claims. She lives in Denver, Colorado.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 256\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.7 x 8.9 x 5.9 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 01, 2013\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42700475334719,"sku":"9781939578006","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0105\/8226\/1823\/files\/c800a708bd5eeecf751dae87fdd5efdd.webp?v=1765016884","url":"https:\/\/dhl-adrianne.myshopify.com\/products\/god-bless-america-strange-and-unusual-religious-beliefs-and-practices-in-the-united-states-paperback","provider":"BBB","version":"1.0","type":"link"}