The FBI and Religion: Faith and National Security before and after 9/11

Sylvester A. Johnson*, Steven Weitzman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Book/ReportBook

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has had a long and tortuous relationship with religion over almost the entirety of its existence. As early as 1917, the Bureau began to target religious communities and groups it believed were hotbeds of anti-American politics. Whether these religious communities were pacifist groups that opposed American wars, or religious groups that advocated for white supremacy or direct conflict with the FBI, the Bureau has infiltrated and surveilled religious communities that run the gamut of American religious life. The FBI and Religion recounts this fraught and fascinating history, focusing on key moments in the Bureau's history. Starting from the beginnings of the FBI before World War I, moving through the Civil Rights Movement and the Cold War, up to 9/11 and today, this book tackles questions essential to understanding not only the history of law enforcement and religion, but also the future of religious liberty in America.

Original languageEnglish (US)
PublisherUniversity of California Press
Number of pages364
ISBN (Electronic)9780520962422
ISBN (Print)9780520287280
StatePublished - Feb 7 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Arts and Humanities

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