Since the rise of the corporation in the 19th century, Christian businessmen have treated the American marketplace as a religious site—and a means to promote evangelical Christianity and its politics.
Controversies surrounding Chick-fil-A, Hobby Lobby, and bakers who refuse to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples are just the latest in a series of public skirmishes between self-described Christian entrepreneurs and the laws and regulations that govern American business.
Indeed, as historian Darren Grem relates in a compelling new study, when evangelicals found the public square increasingly hostile to religious influence, they turned to corporations to enact and advance their conservative values.
Read Full Article »