Marist Associate Professor Stephen Croucher Publishes Second Book

Congratulations to my colleague Dr. Stephen Croucher on publication of his second book by Hampton Press, based in New York City. Release of the book, “Religious Misperceptions: The Case of Muslims and Christians in France and Britain,” couldn't be more timely. It explores how misperceptions between Muslims and Christians in France and Britain perpetuate interpersonal and societal conflicts.

In its review of the book, Hampton Press stressed the relevance of “Religious Perceptions” to contemporary conflicts like those currently occurring around the world. Hampton observed on the book’s website, “In the wake of numerous historical and current geopolitical, social and economic events/tragedies, misunderstandings have emerged and proliferated about Islam and Christianity.” Hampton also credited the book with helping to address misconceptions that have been created by “inadequate media coverage, lack of interpersonal understanding/knowledge, and deep-seeded prejudices.”

Dr. Croucher, a faculty member in Marist’s School of Communication and the Arts, authored the book in conjunction with Dr. Daniel Cronn-Mills, a professor and distinguished faculty scholar in the Department of Communication Studies at Minnesota State University. Dr. Croucher and Dr. Cronn-Mills used in-depth interviews and statistical analysis to examine how Muslims and Christians expressed their experiences dealing with various types of conflicts.

Describing some of the findings published in the book, Dr. Croucher reported, “Christians explain how they perceive Islam changing Europe, and how this is something Christian Europe should resist. Muslims on the other hand, see Europe as an unwelcoming home that expects them to change and become European but does not understand or respect their faith or heritage.” He added, “As conflicts linked to religious differences continue to grow and affect world affairs, this book offers analysis and solutions to religious misperceptions.”

Dr. Stephen Croucher

This is Croucher’s second book on religion and communication, specifically Islam. His first book, also published by Hampton Press, “Looking Beyond the Hijab,” was published in 2008. It analyzed the effects of the 2004 ban on the wearing of religious symbols in French public schools on Muslim-Christian relations in France. His third book, “Religion and Communication: An Anthology of Extensions in Theory, Research and Method,” is scheduled for publication in 2012 by Peter Lang Publishers.

Congratulations, again, to Stephen and to his colleague Daniel Cronn-Mills.