Title Faith-based policy : a litmus test for understanding contemporary America / John Chandler

Published Lanham : Lexington Books, [2014]

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Description 1 online resource (ix, 137 pages) Contents The need to know -- Finding an instrument of the spirit : European roots -- The roots take hold in the United States -- The context for growth in the new millennium -- From theory to application : conflicting signals -- Theory in application : conflicting use of the instruments -- New theory : Obama and lessons from life -- New theory : Obama, Niebuhr and liberals -- Theory in application : a new partnership with Americans? -- Obama, faith-based policy, and "the center." Summary "In 2001, George W. Bush created the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. The driving force behind the policy was to create a "level playing field" where faith-based organizations could compete on an equal footing with secular organizations for government funding of social aid programs. Given, on the one hand, the continuation of faith-based policy under Barack Obama and, on the other, the continued support by the vast majority of the American people for some form of such policy, the need has emerged to clearly understand what this policy is and the issues that it raises. Why? First, because the policy reveals new paradigms that explode traditional political and religious designations such as conservative-liberal or evangelical-progressive. Secondly, it is a policy which is setting precedents that with time will only become more entrenched in the institutional fabric of American government and the values of the culture. Finally, it does not seem to be a policy that is likely to just go away. And if it won't go away, then, how should responsible policy be conducted? While John Chandler's Faith-Based Policy: A Litmus Test for Understanding Contemporary America responds to this need to understand, it also acknowledges that there is already a substantial amount of documentation available, which, taken together, provides a comprehensive, though sometimes biased, picture of faith-based policy. This book contributes a relatively brief, impartial analysis that draws on and synthesizes the available information. More specifically, in order to dissipate the confusion surrounding the perceptions that many have had concerning the intention and meaning of the policy, this book provides insight into: 1) the theological visions of the faith-based actors behind the policy; 2) how these actors have tried to apply these visions as the program has evolved in the 2000s; 3) the divisiveness and debate that has characterized the faith-based experiment, and; 4) how all of the above may be held up for contemplation by the reader as a mirror of developing American culture."--Publisher's website Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index Notes English Print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed Subject Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946- -- Political and social views Obama, Barack -- Political and social views SUBJECT Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946- fast Obama, Barack fast Subject White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (U.S.) United States. White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. SUBJECT United States. White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships fast White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (U.S.) fast Subject Faith-based human services -- Political aspects -- United States Human services -- Government policy -- United States Church and state -- United States Religion and politics -- United States POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Public Policy -- Social Services & Welfare. SOCIAL SCIENCE -- Human Services. Church and state Human services -- Government policy Political and social views Politics and government Religion and politics SUBJECT United States -- Politics and government -- 2001-2009. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2001002071 United States -- Politics and government -- 2009-2017. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2009003409 Subject United States Form Electronic book LC no. 2021675769 ISBN 9780739179031 0739179039 1498556647 9781498556644

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