Cowboy Christians

Historicizing the Cowboy Church through the literature of the cowboy era, the radio life of cowboys, and cinema's representation of the American cowboy, Dallam goes on to examine the structure of worship, the ministerial calling, the arena style of the physical Cowboy Church, and the male-centered "muscular" morality that drives this NRM. Aimed at a scholarly and general audience alike, Cowboy Christians offers a descriptive ethnography of a little-known religious tradition. * Ana Self Schuber, The University of Alabama, Religious Studies Review *
Cowboy Christians explores this subculture of the evangelical subculture ... Cowboy Christians provides a useful window into what might be called niche evangelicalism * Randall Balmer, Journal of Southern History *
Marie W. Dallam's satisfying study of cowboy churches not only educates the reader about a relatively new movement in American evangelicalism, it also throws into relief many of the complexities surrounding the performance of gender, Christianity, and western American identity... Dallam's voice shines in her prose, and she is a winsome and trustworthy guide to this fascinating niche of American Christianity. Students at all levels will benefit from this enjoyable and groundbreaking book. * Brett Hendrickson, Journal of Religion *
This is a very engaging and astute book. Dallam displays an eye for significant detail and a thorough command of her sources. Both her narrative and analysis are lucid and straightforward. Cowboy Christians should be accessible to undergraduates and rewarding for scholars. * Eugene V. Gallagher, Nova Religio *
Dallam brings to our attention a fascinating and revealing corner of modern American Christianity and does an effective job of linking cowboy Christianity to broader trends like the 'new paradigm church' movement, muscular Christianity, and revitalization movements in general. * Jack David Eller, Reading Religion *
Marie W. Dallam's Cowboy Christians is an engaging, interdisciplinary analysis of one of the lesser studied, but certainly more interesting subcultures within the broader scope of modern American evangelicalism. Relying heavily on a mix of personal communication, first-hand accounts, and secondary literature, Dallam illuminates the human dimensions of this subculture. The result is a study that is informative, compelling, and consumable... [T]his is a good book that deserves a wide audience. It is a slice of modern Americana. * Sean P. Cunningham, Southwestern Historical Quarterly *
Cowboy Christians is appropriate for courses in the sociology of religion and religious studies. The writing style is scholarly and articulate, but eminently accessible. The wide variety of data sources provide excellent opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students alike to consider the empirical investigation of religion. And given the cultural currency of the iconic cowboy, this book will have appeal to scholars and students across the country, not just those situated in the western and frontier states. * Sociology of Religion *