In the Course of a Lifetime

Discover the profound impact of religion on American lives in "In the Course of a Lifetime" by Michele Dillon. Published by the University of California Press in 2007, this insightful paperback spans 295 pages, offering a compelling exploration of faith development throughout the decades. Dillon presents a detailed portrait of the dynamic role that religion plays in the everyday experiences of individuals, drawing from an extensive study of nearly two hundred predominantly Protestant and Catholic participants. These men and women, born in the 1920s, were interviewed at various life stages—adolescence, the 1950s, 1970s, 1980s, and late 1990s—providing a rich narrative of their evolving beliefs and practices. This book is an essential read for those interested in Christian life, sociology, and the psychology of religion, illuminating how faith shapes personal identity across a lifetime.