Title Religion in public life : a dilemma for democracy / Ronald F. Thiemann

Published Washington, D.C. : Georgetown University Press, ©1996

Click on the following:
EBSCO eBooks

Copies

Description 1 online resource (xiii, 186 pages) Contents Religion in public life: an American dilemma -- Our contemporary dilemma in historical perspective: religion, values, and the framing of the Constitution -- The Constitutional tradition: a perplexing legacy -- Political liberalism and public religion -- Political liberalism revisioned -- Public religion in a pluralistic democracy: a proposal -- Beyond the wall of separation: reconceiving American public life Summary Prayer in public schools, abortion, gay and lesbian rights - these bitterly divisive issues dominate American politics today, revealing deep disagreements over basic moral values. In a highly readable account that draws on legal arguments, political theory, and philosophy, Ronald F. Thiemann explores the proper role of religious convictions in American public life. He proposes that religion can and should play an active, positive part in our society even as it maintains a fundamental commitment to pluralist, democratic values Arguing that both increased secularism and growing religious diversity since the 1960s have fragmented commonly held values, Thiemann observes that there has been an historical ambivalence in American attitudes towards religion in public life. He proposes abandoning the idea of an absolute wall between church and state and all the conceptual framework built around that concept in interpreting the First Amendment. He returns instead to James Madison's views and the Constitutional principles of liberty, equality, and toleration. Refuting both political liberalism (as too secular) and communitarianism (as failing to meet the challenge of pluralism), Thiemann offers a new definition of liberalism that gives religions a voice in the public sphere as long as they heed the Constitutional principles of liberty, equality, and toleration or mutual respect The American republic, Thiemann notes, is a constantly evolving experiment in constructing a pluralistic society from its many particular communities. Religion can act as a positive force in its moral renewal, by helping to shape common cultural values. All those interested in finding solutions to today's divisive political discord, in finding ways to disagree civilly in a democracy, and in exploring the extent to which religious convictions should shape the development of public policies will find that this book offers an important new direction for religion and the nation Analysis Democracy Religious aspects Christianity Geschichte 1960- Religion and politics United States Religion and state United States United States Politics and government United States Politics and government 1993-2001 United States Religion United States Religion 1960- Notes "A Twentieth Century Fund book." Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index Notes Master and use copy. Digital master created according to Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials, Version 1. Digital Library Federation, December 2002. http://purl.oclc.org/DLF/benchrepro0212 MiAaHDL Print version record digitized 2010 HathiTrust Digital Library committed to preserve pda MiAaHDL SUBJECT Umschulungswerkstätten für Siedler und Auswanderer Bitterfeld gnd Subject Democracy -- Religious aspects -- Christianity. Religion and state -- United States Religion and politics -- United States Religion. Democracy -- religious aspects Democracy -- christianity Religion religion (discipline) POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Political Process -- Political Advocacy. Democracy -- Religious aspects -- Christianity Politics and government Religion Religion and politics Religion and state Demokratie Religion Öffentlichkeit Openbaar leven. Godsdienst. Democratie. Church and state -- United States. SUBJECT United States -- Politics and government. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85140410 United States -- Politics and government -- 1993-2001. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh92006372 United States -- Religion. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85140498 United States -- Religion -- 1960- http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85140504 United States -- politics & government United States -- religion Subject United States USA Form Electronic book LC no. 95042085 ISBN 0585202559 9780585202556 1589018222 9781589018228

  Permalink