Lauren R. Kerby - Saving History: How White Evangelicals Tour the Nations Capital and Redeem a Christian America

HOW WHITE EVANGELICALS TOUR THE NATIONS CAPITAL AND REDEEM A CHRISTIAN AMERICA

LAUREN R. KERBY

The University of North Carolina Press

Chapel Hill

No book is a solo endeavor, but this is doubly true of ethnography. This project would not have been possible without the kindness and cooperation of the tourists and guides I encountered during my research. While in the field, I met many people who amazed me with their interest in me as a person and their enthusiasm about my research, even if they were skeptical at first. They are, of course, anonymous here, but their experiences are at the heart of this project. I am thankful to them for sharing their lives and vacations with me.

This project has also benefited from the thoughtful input and occasional provocation of many colleagues at both Boston University and Harvard Divinity School. Stephen Prothero asked incisive questions that have shaped critical elements of the book. I am also grateful for the support and generous feedback of Nancy Ammerman, Anthony Petro, and Christopher Evans on early drafts. At the Religious Literacy Project, I have benefited from the insight and encouragement of Diane L. Moore, Judy Beals, Reem Atassi, Kris Rhude, John Camardella, and Mario Cader-Frech. My thanks go especially to Sarabinh Levy-Brightman and Anna Mudd for their friendship and their willingness to think through new ideas with me.

At UNC Press, I am grateful to Elaine Maisner and Kristy Nabhan-Warren for their enthusiasm for this project and their guidance as I completed it. My anonymous readers also offered truly transformative commentary on the manuscript, showing me new directions and connections that I might never have realized on my own. I am thankful for the time and care they devoted to this project.

Every stage of this project has been made possible by the support and encouragement of my friends and family. Laura Heath has been a sympathetic listener and co-conspirator against the kyriarchy. Claire Sadar has never failed to remind me that she cant wait to read this book. Kathleen Cooney has helped me see things more clearly with her sage advice and endless compassion. Georgia Frank introduced me to the study of religion many years ago, and her wisdom continues to help me find my way. Marie and John Langlois have welcomed me into their family and believed in me like one of their own. Sejal Patel has taught me how to tell better stories and to expect more of myself and others. Jo Anna Nevada has believed in me all along and always been on my side. Jack Daly has explored the world with me and helped me discover where I fit in it. These friends were some of the first readers for this project, and their interest and excitement bolstered my own.

My parents, Ron and Cheryl, have never doubted I would succeed in my academic endeavors. Their faith in me is humbling, and I will always be grateful for their love and acceptance. My partner, Adrienne Langlois, makes each day brighter. Her love gives me courage to reach beyond my limits. This would have been a different book without her, and I would have been a different writer.

For me, the best parts of academic life will always be found in the classroom. This project has spanned many years, but one constant has been the students who have challenged me and inspired me. Conversations with them are what kept me going, even through the worst points of writers block and American politics. They are determined to make the world a better place, and I believe that, someday, they will.

SAVING HISTORY