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Shriver and Leonard have provided scholars and interested lay people with a good starting point for considering the individuals, institutions, and themes comprising the subject of religious controversy in American history from the colonial period to the present. The editors strike an optimistic tone in their introduction, pointing out that one should view the prevalence of religious conflict throughout American history as evidence of a dynamic and diverse religious culture. Readers should note a few significant weaknesses. A strongly partisan perspective, usually liberal and anti-evangelical, colors some entries about present-day controversies. The entry on the Sophia Movement, for example, insists that opposition to that movement stems from "entrenched patriarchy" (440) without recognizing that critics might have legitimate theological concerns. The entry for Madalyn Murray O'Hair strips her son, Bill Murray, of his autonomy by casting him as a victim of right-wing "fanatics" who now "parade him as a means to demonize his mother" (332). The bibliographic citations omit reference to Murray's autobiographical writings. One should, perhaps, expect such partisanship in a book organized around the theme of controversy. More puzzling are entries, such as those for racism and feminism, written with little reference to religion at all, much less to religious controversy. As with any such collection, the quality of content and clarity of writing vary significantly among the entries. This work should nevertheless prove interesting to browsers and useful as a reference tool.