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

Title: Religion in public life : a dilemma for democracy / Ronald F. Thiemann.
Author: Thiemann, Ronald F.
Publication: Washington, D.C. : Georgetown University Press, 1996.

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Status	Format	Access	Call Number	Item Location
Request for On-site Use Request Scan Not available - Please for assistance.	Text	Request in advance	BR115.P7 T475 1996	Off-site

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Details

Description

xiii, 186 p.; 23 cm.

Summary

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.
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.
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.

Subject

Note

"A Twentieth Century Fund book."

Bibliography (note)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Processing Action (note)

committed to retain

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.

ISBN

0878406093 (alk. paper)
0878406107 (pbk. : alk. paper)

LCCN

^^^95042085^

OCLC

33281463

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library