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American Religious Democracy Coming to Terms with the End of Secular Politics

Bruce Ledewitz

Book Code: C9460

ISBN: 0-275-99460-0

ISBN-13: 978-0-275-99460-0

DOI:

264 pages

Praeger Publishers

Publication: 3/30/2007

List Price: $49.95 (UK Sterling Price: £27.95)

Availability: In Stock

Media Type: Hardcover

Also Available: Ebook

Trim Size: 6 1/8 x 9 1/4

Subjects:

Reviews:

[A]merican Religious Democracy is worth reading. There is increasing fermonth both in politics and in progressive religious communities about how to respond to the assertiveness and political domination of conservative evangelicals. Ledewitz has a unique view of the matter and deserves to be heard in that debate.
—The Federal Lawyer January 2008
Ledewitz's book, which is sure to be controversial because it departs from the Supreme Court's jurisprudence as well as from the prevailing secular viewpoint in this area, is a tour de force. He writes clearly and comprehensibly, and his wide range of sources show his great erudition. They include not only relevant cases and law review articles but also Old and New Testament texts, political scientists, legal philosophers, newspaper articles, and an exhaustive list of recent books on religion in law and society.... Space here does not permit a description of how Ledewitz expands and elaborates his "religious democracy" thesis, applying it to current political and social issues not only in the United States but also in the world. While they are unorthodox and subversive of numerous traditional assumptions, Ledewitz's theses are cogently and articulately argued. Those who are concerned with "church-state" issues will certainly find much food for thought in this provocative book.
—Touro Law Review 2007
In American Religious Democracy, Ledewitz relentlessly relieves secularism's adherents of any lingering illusions about whether a momentous page has been turned in the American experiment called the United States of America....American Religious Democracy will both challenge and inform all who take the time to read it. As one who would be far more traditionally Christian in my faith affirmations than Ledewitz, I found the book enormously helpful, thought-provoking, and informative. It will be close at hand for recurrent reference by me in the coming months and years.
—Journal of Law and Religion October 2007
American Religious Democracy: Coming to Terms with the End of Secular Politics announces that the wall between church and state has crumbled--but also that a religious component of politics is good for us.
—Pittsburgh City Paper November 8, 2007
The most attractive features of this book are its honesty and its professionalism. Ledewitz hints at his opinion in many areas, but avoids an in-your-face thrusting of the left-wing agenda. He acknowledges the rights of religiously oriented voters to frame their views in faith-based terms, and doesnt use the tactics of condescension and bullying to silence them. He lays out the landscape as he sees it and suggests a new direction. For orthodox Catholics looking to understand how others view that landscape, American Religious Democracy is a good place to start.
—New Oxford Review October 2007
[A]n intelligent and refreshingly balanced view of the role of religion and public life....With recent polls showing that evangelicals have been shifting to the Democrats, American Religious Democracy should be read by those of all political and religious persuasions.
—The New York Post July 22, 2007
In the 2004 presidential election, says Ledewitz, the American people decided that the government should endorse religion and that religion would establish a basis for American public life. He asks whether this endorsement is legitimate, if so how far it should go in what forms it should take, and how secular voters and other dissidents should come to terms with it. He hopes the losers will embrace religious democracy as an opportunity for a political and religious renewal.
—Reference & Research Book News May 2007
Traces the decline of secularism in American political culture and argues that since the presidential election of 2004, the United States is best described as an emerging religious democracy.
—The Chronicle of Higher Education April 27, 2007
In the 2004 presidential election, says Ledewitz, the American people decided that the government should endorse religion and that religion would establish a basis for American public life. He asks whether this endorsement is legitimate, if so how far it should go in what forms it should take, and how secular voters and other dissidents should come to terms with it. He hopes the losers will embrace religious democracy as an opportunity for a political and religious renewal.
—Reference & Research Book News May 2007

Endorsement From Walter Brueggemann
William Marcellus McPheeters Emeritus
Professor of Old Testament
Columbia Theological Seminary: Professor Ledewitz has written a remarkable book that merits wide attention and careful reading. The book warms the heart of this scripture teacher, one who applauds the book and anticipates its major impact in time to come.
Endorsement From John C. Green,
Senior Fellow, Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: This book offers a provocative analysis of the role of religion in American democracy and practical ideas about reducing the tensions it causes. Although sure to provoke controversy in some circles, it deserves to be taken seriously across the political spectrum.
Endorsement From David Walsh,
Catholic University of America: A skillful and even-handed account of the changes that religion has wrought over the past two decades on the American legal and political landscape. Ledewitz's portrait of American "religious democracy" perfectly captures the explosive impact of religious sentiments that overflow the secular boundaries assigned to contain them.
Endorsement From US Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro: Bruce Ledewitz offers a provocative account of the state of religion in America, and I hope the political world pays attention. He challenges liberals to stop fighting old battles and open up to the pluralistic views of God. He forces conservatives to battle for their policies without the benefit of cheap victories.
Endorsement From John Garvey, Dean
Boston College Law School: The most important change in our political life in the past thirty years has been our reawakening to the role that religion plays in American democracy. We have set aside the conceit that religious people are unthinking, unyielding, and intolerant in ways that disqualify them as political actors. They are just like us. In fact, they are us. Bruce Ledewitz explains how this realization came about, and asks how far it will, and should, go. His book is honest, perceptive, interesting and timely. Reading it would be a good way to begin the next election cycle.

Description: The most significant, public religious issue confronting America today is the relationship between Church and State. Secular opinion holds that the rise of religion in the public square is a threat to our democracy that must be resisted. American Religious Democracy argues that this position, although understandable, is misguided. American political life after the 2004 Presidential election is best understood as a religious democracy, though not of a fundamentalist variety. This book explains the decline of secular democracy, describes some of the legal, political and religious implications of this new religious democracy and, finally, and invites secular voters to participate in religious democracy. The 2004 election clearly showed that a substantial number of voters in America now vote the way they do for what they consider to be religious reasons and that, as a result of their voting, government policy is changing to reflect their religious commitments. The result has been the creation of a religious democracy. However,taking part in a religious democracy, for Americans especially, requires a new understanding of what religion means in a public and political sense. Ledewitz takes a reasoned, yet lively approach to the subject, promoting a a new understanding of what religious democracy is and how secularists can and should participate. Looking at the Constitution, the current nature of politics and religion, and public attitudes toward capitalism, the environment, technology, women's rights, and international relations, the author is able to construct a clearer picture of the religious and political landscape in America today.

LC Card Number: 2007000053

LCC Class: BR516

Dewey Class: 322

PDF Catalogs:
Praeger Politics 2007.pdf


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