**Preface to "For God and Country: Essays on Religion and Nationalism"**

It is my pleasure to present this collection of essays exploring the relationship between religion, national identity and nationalism. All three are complex concepts, and the ways that they have historically interacted, and continue to interact, are the subject of conflicting theories and analyses. The essays in this collection, while not all sharing the same intellectual approaches, are all alike in presenting religion as an important force in understanding the development and articulation of national identity and nationalism.

Numerous people have helped me with this project, but several deserve special mention. Professors Raymond J. Haberski, Director of the Institute for American Thought at Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis, and Vasileios Syros of Jyvaskyl ¨ a University were ¨ sources of both encouragemen<sup>t</sup> and suggestions for contributors. My colleagues at Liberty Fund, especially Dr. Steven Ealy, shared helpful criticisms and suggestions on various aspects of the project. I would especially like to thank Dr. Steven Grosby, Clemson University, for being such an active and insightful interlocutor in our many discussions about nations and nationalism, and for suggesting me as Guest Editor for the Special Edition of *Genealogy* from which this book originated. Finally, I am grateful to the editors at *Genealogy*, especially Allie Shi and Simi Wang, who were consistently patient and helpful during the entire publication process.

> **Peter C. Mentzel** *Editor*
