Church-State Issues in America Today [Three Volumes] (Praeger Perspectives)

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Church-State Issues in America Today [Three Volumes] (Praeger Perspectives)

By Ann W. Duncan, Steven L. Jones


  



Publisher: Praeger Publishers
Number Of Pages: 840
Publication Date: 2007-12-30
ISBN-10 / ASIN: 0275993671
ISBN-13 / EAN: 9780275993672
Binding: Hardcover



Product Description:

Church and state issues are in the news now more than ever before. Political and religious leaders alike are negotiating on shaky ground as they balance their religious/moral and political perspectives with their roles as leaders. New technologies push the boundaries of moral consensus by creating new controversies such as those involving stem-cell research and medical measures to sustain or end the lives of the terminally ill. The Supreme Court continues to work to clarify the fuzzy line between religion and politics as it addresses cases regarding abortion, school prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, among other issues. Further controversies only lead to further divisions among Americans. At the beginning of the 21st century, there are as many interpretations of this separation as there are interpretations of particular issues such as abortion or school vouchers. This three-volume collection summarizes the history and current status of issues involving the separation of church and state through chapters examining the backgrounds, relevant constitutional concerns, and variety of perspectives on specific controversies. Framed by a general discussion of the history of the separation between church and state and through careful attention to subjects such as capital punishment, gay marriage, and clergy support of political leaders, there emerges an incredibly complex, enlightening, and provocative picture for anyone with an interest in the unique nature of religion in the United States of America.




Summary: Noteworthy Addition to The Church-State Literature
Rating: 5

Church-State Issues in America Today is a well conceived and nicely executed group of essays about politically consequential matters of religion. Praeger is a well regarded publisher of books on religion and politics. With this new release Praeger provides a timely three-volume set bound beautifully front and back and printed on high quality paper. The essays strike a good balance between the technical aspects of the issues and their social or policy ramifications. That said, I must disclose that I have a chapter in volume one. However, I receive no royalties from sales of the set.

Each chapter is written by one or more subject matter experts. While a few professors of large reputation are contributors to the publication, most of the scholars are in the front half of their academic careers. There is variation in the richness of the essays with some being primarily descriptive while others are analytical and theoretically inquisitive. All of the chapters are accessible to the educated layperson, little technical jargon being evident except where First Amendment jurisprudence makes it inescapable. For the most part the chapters are labors of love, the authors making full use of the opportunity to distinguish their writing craft, knowledge and insights.

Volume One is entitled \"Religion and Government.\" It includes foundational essays on church-state relationships and also contains both theoretical and historical chapters. Subject matter ranges from the public expression of faith by political leaders to the internationalization of church-state issues and the limits of free exercise. Some of the chapters have cutting edge material seldom written so informatively.

Volume Two is entitled \"Religion, Family, and Education.\" Here the reader finds essays on the creation-evolution debate as it pertains to public schools, student religious expression, school vouchers, religion in higher education, and more. While there is some overlap between essays, it reads more like interplay than repetition, each contributor having his or her own approach to describing and sometimes evaluating the work of the High Court.

Volume Three is entitled, \"Religious Convictions and Practices in Public Life.\" A bit thicker than volume two (an additional 100 pages), its essays range from the abortion debate to same-sex marriage, the stem cell debate, biomedical ethics, illegal immigration, religious environmentalism and more. Like the other volumes, it has a short appendix of highlighted court cases to help newer students of First Amendment jurisprudence. All said, this set contributes measurably to our understanding of religion and politics in America.


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