Piety, Politics, and Pluralism: Religion, the Courts, and the 2000 Election

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.

Table of Contents:
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 4 Bush 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: The Smith 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?

About the Author :
Mary C. Segers is professor of political science at Rutgers University.

Review :
This outstanding collection sheds new light on both the role of religion in the 2000 presidential election and on broader issues of church and state. It makes a significant contribution to the literature on religion and politics in contemporary American society. This volume provides exceptional insight into two separate but equally significant phenomena that characterize the complex relationship between religion and politics in the United States. The volume is timely in its focus on the role played by religion in the 2000 presidential election, and it is enduring in its emphasis on the debate over the limits of American religious freedom. The authors present lively, accessible arguments that should stimulate students and scholars alike. Piety, Politics, and Pluralism is an excellent introduction to the American experience of religion in electoral politics and the courts. A rich blend of theory, description, and empirical evidence, the book is particularly strong on the 2000 presidential election. Recommended for genereal readers and upper-division undergraduates and above. Newcomers to the growing literature on religion in American politics will find much useful information and argumentation in this volume. Piety, Politics, and Pluralism is an excellent volume and makes a major contribution to the scholarship on the election of 2000. The careful reader will gain an increased understanding and appreciation for the multifaceted context in which religion and politics interwine in politics, public policy and public discourse, and benefit from the discussions provided by established names in the field.