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 ...
Read More
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.
Read Less
Add this copy of Religion in Public Life: a Dilemma for Democracy to cart. $2.98, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Georgetown University Press.
Add this copy of Religion in Public Life: a Dilemma for Democracy to cart. $2.98, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Georgetown University Press.
Add this copy of Religion in Public Life: A Dilemma for Democracy to cart. $3.30, very good condition, Sold by Salt & Pepper rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Murfreesboro, TN, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Georgetown University Press.
Add this copy of Religion in Public Life: a Dilemma for Democracy (Not to cart. $5.09, good condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Georgetown University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Bundled media such as CDs, DVDs, floppy disks or access codes may not be included.
Add this copy of Religion in Public Life: a Dilemma for Democracy (Not to cart. $5.35, like new condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Georgetown University Press.
Add this copy of Religion in Public Life: a Dilemma for Democracy to cart. $8.00, good condition, Sold by Windows Booksellers rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Eugene, OR, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Georgetown University.
Add this copy of Religion in Public Life: A Dilemma for Democracy to cart. $15.00, new condition, Sold by Reformed Episcopal Seminary rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Blue Bell, PA, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Georgetown University Press.
Add this copy of Religion in Public Life: a Dilemma for Democracy to cart. $20.00, very good condition, Sold by Between the Covers-Rare Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gloucester City, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Twentieth Century Fund / Georgetown University Press.
Add this copy of Religion in Public Life: a Dilemma for Democracy (Not to cart. $28.94, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Georgetown University Press.
Add this copy of Religion in Public Life: a Dilemma for Democracy to cart. $44.73, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Georgetown Univ Pr.
