Ryan_Cragun-Could_I_Vote_For_A_Mormon_For_PresidentMitt Romney is a Mormon, but does that mean heÔÇÖs a Christian? Does he belong to a cult? Does he wear funny Mormon underwear? These questions and more are answered in this accessible and concise introduction to Mormonism, in which two sociologists of religion take an objective and often humorous look at 2012 presidential candidate Mitt RomneyÔÇÖs beliefs. Geared to voters wondering whether RomneyÔÇÖs Mormon faith should affect their vote, Could I Vote for a Mormon for President? comes at key time for those in search of unbiased information about the candidate and his faith.

EDITORIAL REVIEWS

REVIEW

Cragun and Phillips’ irreverent guide for the perplexed tells you everything you need to know about Mormonism this election season. –Mark Silk, Professor of Religion in Public Life, Trinity CollegeRyan Cragun and Rick Phillips have written a scholarly but highly accessible analysis of Mormonism in politics that is even-handed, educational, enlightening, and even entertaining. Whether you’re curious about the religion’s theology and practices or concerned about the prospect of a Mormon president, this book provides helpful answers and insights. It should be read by anyone who’s planning to vote for Mitt Romney — or against him. –Geoffry Kabaservice, author of Rule and Ruin: The Decline of Moderation and the Destruction of the Republican Party, from Eisenhower to the Tea Party

Cragun and Phillips have brilliantly performed the rare task of both making Mormonism intelligible to the outsider and opening its hermetic self to comparative understanding. To this they bring their deep knowledge of mainstream Christianity as sociologists of religion as well as their well-schooled but native knowledge of Mormonism. As a result, this book is important for people during this political season when a Latter-day Saint is the Republican candidate for the presidency. But the book also has long term importance as a sociological monograph explicating the nature of Mormon life. –David Knowlton, President of the Mormon Social Science Association

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ryan T. Cragun is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Tampa. His research interests include Mormonism and the nonreligious. He is the author of more than a dozen peer-reviewed articles and half a dozen book chapters. His research has been published in such journals as: Sociology of Religion, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Journal of Contemporary Religion, Journal of Religion and Health, Mental Health, Religion and Culture, and Nova Religio. His research has been featured in numerous local and national newspapers, including: Tampa Bay Times, The Salt Lake Tribune, The Washington Post, the Huffington Post, and Bloomberg Business Week. Dr. Cragun is also a past President of the Mormon Social Science Association.