Prohibition and Eugenics

Implicit Religions That Failed

Authors

  • Robert H Nelson University of Maryland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/imre.v19i3.30841

Keywords:

Implicit religion, alcohol prohibition, eugenics, temperance,

Abstract

The study of implicit religion has typically examined more recent bellief systems with contemporary followers. It is also illuminating to study historic implicit religion that failed.  Two of the leading such implicit religions are the alcohol prohibition movement and the eugenics movement.  For the former, its faithful saw the elimination of alcohol from society as a way of saving the world.  For the latter, the elimination of "defective" genes from society would have equally profound consequences.  This paper studies the histories of prohibition and eugenics from the perspective of implicit religion.

Author Biography

  • Robert H Nelson, University of Maryland
    Professor, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland

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Published

2016-11-15

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Nelson, R. H. (2016). Prohibition and Eugenics: Implicit Religions That Failed. Implicit Religion, 19(2), 307-335. https://doi.org/10.1558/imre.v19i3.30841