Religion in Politics Constitutional and Moral Perspectives [Paperback]

Most Americans are religious believers. Among these there is disagreement about many fundamental religious/moral matters. Because the United States is both such a religious countryandsuch a religiously pluralistic country, the issue of the proper role of religion in politics is extremely important to political debate.

InReligion in Politics, Michael Perry addresses a fundamental question: what role may religious arguments play, if any, either in public debate about what political choices to make or as a basis of political choice? He is principally concerned with political choices that ban or otherwise disfavor one or another sort of human conduct based on the view that the conduct is immoral. He divides the controversy into two debates: theconstitutionallyproper role of religious arguments in politics, and a related, but distinct, debate about themorallyproper role.

Perry concludes that political choices about the morality of human conduct should not be based on religion. The newest work by one of the most important constitutional theorists writing today,Religion in Politicsis sure to spark a new debate on the subject.

...a highly informative exposition --Perspectives on Political Science

Perry's attempt to clarify is undoubtedly worthwhile, and probably useful as well, and can be recommended for such purposes. --Bimonthly Review of Law Books

In a field known for its confusions and contradictions, Perry's work stands out. He stakes his ground-for a bounded religious role in politics-with boldness, clarity, elegant simplicity, and power. This is one of the most rigorous and cogent analyses of the fundamental questions in the field that I have seen. Whether one agrees with Perry or not,Religion and Politicsis a book that cannot be ignored. --Laura S. Underkuffler,Duke University

Over the last decade, Michael Perry has distinguished hilc&