Piety, Politics, and Pluralism

Piety, Politics, and Pluralism skillfully confronts the question: Is liberal democracy hostile to religion or is it compatible with the rights of believers? Prominent scholars analyze the controversy about religious freedom by examining two areas at the intersection of religion and politics in contemporary American society: the Supreme Court's 1990 decision in Oregon v. Smith and the events of the 2000 presidential campaign. Their essays remind us that in an increasingly pluralistic society, Americans must work continually to reconcile religious commitment and political obligation.

Piety, Politics, and Pluralism skillfully confronts the question: Is liberal democracy hostile to religion or is it compatible with the rights of believers? Prominent scholars analyze the controversy about religious freedom by examining two areas at the intersection of religion and politics in contemporary American society: the Supreme Court's 1990 decision in Oregon v. Smith and the events of the 2000 presidential campaign. Their essays remind us that in an increasingly pluralistic society, Americans must work continually to reconcile religious commitment and political obligation. Piety, Politics, and Pluralism is a groundbreaking work that will be indispensable to students of religion and politics, American politics, and constitutional law.

Chapter 1 Religion and Liberal Democracy: An American Perspective
Part 2 The Role of Religion in the 2000 Presidential Election
Chapter 3 The Extraordinary Election of 2000
Chapter 4Bush vs. Gore: Judicial Activism, Conservative Style
Chapter 5 The Christian Right in the 2000 GOP Presidential Campaign
Chapter 6 Catholics and the 2000 Presidential Election: Bob Jones University and the Catholic Vote
Chapter 7 Stealth Politics: Religious and Moral Issues in the 2000 Election
Chapter 8 A Historic First: The Lieberman Nomination
Part 9 Religious Liberty in a Pluralistic Society: TheSmith Case
Chapter 10 Evolving Standards under the Free Exercise Clause: Neutrality or Accomodation?
Chapter 11 The Constitutional Context of Religious Liberty in the United States
Chapter 12 Political Culture, Political Structure, and Political Conflict: The Persistence of Church-State Conflict in the United States
Chapter 13 Public Attitudes on Church and State: Coexistence or Conflict?