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Book SynopsisIn The Religious Left and Church-State Relations, noted constitutional law scholar Steven Shiffrin argues that the religious left, not the secular left, is best equipped to lead the battle against the religious right on questions of church and state in America today. Explaining that the chosen rhetoric of secular liberals is poorly equipped to argu
Trade ReviewOne of Tikkun Magazine's 25 Recommended Titles for 2009 "The Religious Left and Church-State Relations offers a tour-de-force account of the First Amendment's religion clauses and how they should be interpreted. This is no dry academic exercise, but rather a direct response to conservatives who view supporters of church-state separation as uncaring, even hostile, toward organized religion. The book is a refutation by one who cares deeply."--Robert K. Vischer, Commonweal "The Religious Left is a valuable and provocative book. Scholars of law, religion, and politics will want to mull over Shiffrin's cogent and artfully argued conclusions. Shiffrin has made an important contribution to the literature at the evergreen intersection of constitutional and political theory. The seasoning and deep learning of Shiffrin's mind permeate the book's pages."--Marc O. DeGirolami, Journal of Law and Religion "Shiffrin has made an excellent contribution with this book, one on which he and others may now build."--Melissa Rogers, Journal of Church and State "Shiffrin presents an interesting argument in this volume: the religious Left is better equipped than the secular Left to challenge the religious Right on questions of church and state in the U.S... A useful book for students of constitutional law and religion in the U.S."--Choice
Table of ContentsPreface ix Introduction 1 PART I: THE PLURALISTIC FOUNDATIONS OF THE RELIGION CLAUSES 9 Chapter 1. Overview of Part I 11 Chapter 2. The Free Exercise Clause 16 The Court's Approach 16 Liberal Theory 17 Communitarian Theory 18 Free Exercise Values 20 Applying the Free Exercise Clause 23 Chapter 3. Establishment Clause Values 28 Liberty and Autonomy 29 Equality 30 Stability 31 Promoting Political Community 31 Protecting the Autonomy of Government 32 Protecting Churches 32 Promoting Religion 34 Chapter 4. Applying the Establishment Clause 41 Acceptable Deviations from Equality 42 Unacceptable Conformity with Equality: Equality in the Public School Classroom 54 Concluding Observations about Part I 58 PART II: THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE SOCIALIZATION OF CHILDREN: COMPULSORY PUBLIC EDUCATION AND VOUCHERS 61 Chapter 5. Compulsory Public Education 63 Pierce v. Society of Sisters: A Landmark Case 65 The Purposes of Public Education 68 The Limits of Compulsory Public Education 74 Constitutional? Sometimes. Good Public Policy? No. 80 Chapter 6. Vouchers 82 Are Vouchers Constitutionally Required? 82 Wise Policy for Preadolescents? 83 Should Vouchers Be Constitutionally Permitted for Religious Schools? 86 Concluding Observations about Part II 93 PART III . RELIGION AND PROGRESSIVE POLITICS 95 Chapter 7. Religion and Progressive Politics 97 Secular Liberalism 100 Religious Liberalism 106 Chapter 8. The Politics of Liberalism 110 The Relative Political Attractiveness of Secular and Religious Liberalism 110 Religion and American Party Politics 125 Grassroots Democracy, Liberal Politics, and Excessive Religious Hostility 127 Conclusion 134 Notes 137 Index 237
