"Professor Ledewitz has written a remarkable book that merits wide attention and careful reading. The book warms the heart of this scripture teacher, one who applauds the book and anticipates its major impact in time to come." -- Walter Brueggemann, William Marcellus McPheeters Emeritus, Professor of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary "This book offers a provocative analysis of the role of religion in American democracy and practical ideas about reducing the tensions it causes. Although sure to provoke controversy in some circles, it deserves to be taken seriously across the political spectrum." -- John C. Green, Senior Fellow, Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life "A skillful and even-handed account of the changes that religion has wrought over the past two decades on the American legal and political landscape. Ledewitz's portrait of American religious democracy perfectly captures the explosive impact of religious sentiments that overflow the secular boundaries assigned to contain them." -- David Walsh, Catholic University of America "Bruce Ledewitz offers a provocative account of the state of religion in America, and I hope the political world pays attention. He challenges liberals to stop fighting old battles and open up to the pluralistic views of God. He forces conservatives to battle for their policies without the benefit of cheap victories." -- US Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro "The most important change in our political life in the past thirty years has been our reawakening to the role that religion plays in American democracy. We have set aside the conceit that religious people are unthinking, unyielding, and intolerant in ways that disqualify them as political actors. They are just like us. In fact, they are us. Bruce Ledewitz explains how this realization came about, and asks how far it will, and should, go. His book is honest, perceptive, interesting and timely. Reading it would be a good way to begin the next election cycle." -- John Garvey, Dean, Boston College Law School
Bruce Ledewitz is Professor at Duquesne University School of Law and author of several journal articles and pieces for publications such as The Wall Street Journal , Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The New York Times, and other news outlets.
[A]merican Religious Democracy is worth reading. There is
increasing fermonth both in politics and in progressive religious
communities about how to respond to the assertiveness and political
domination of conservative evangelicals. Ledewitz has a unique view
of the matter and deserves to be heard in that debate.
*The Federal Lawyer*
Ledewitz's book, which is sure to be controversial because it
departs from the Supreme Court's jurisprudence as well as from the
prevailing secular viewpoint in this area, is a tour de force. He
writes clearly and comprehensibly, and his wide range of sources
show his great erudition. They include not only relevant cases and
law review articles but also Old and New Testament texts, political
scientists, legal philosophers, newspaper articles, and an
exhaustive list of recent books on religion in law and society….
Space here does not permit a description of how Ledewitz expands
and elaborates his religious democracy thesis, applying it to
current political and social issues not only in the United States
but also in the world. While they are unorthodox and subversive of
numerous traditional assumptions, Ledewitz's theses are cogently
and articulately argued. Those who are concerned with church-state
issues will certainly find much food for thought in this
provocative book.
*Touro Law Review*
In American Religious Democracy, Ledewitz relentlessly relieves
secularism's adherents of any lingering illusions about whether a
momentous page has been turned in the American experiment called
the United States of America….American Religious Democracy will
both challenge and inform all who take the time to read it. As one
who would be far more traditionally Christian in my faith
affirmations than Ledewitz, I found the book enormously helpful,
thought-provoking, and informative. It will be close at hand for
recurrent reference by me in the coming months and years.
*Journal of Law and Religion*
American Religious Democracy: Coming to Terms with the End of
Secular Politics announces that the wall between church and state
has crumbled--but also that a religious component of politics is
good for us.
*Pittsburgh City Paper*
The most attractive features of this book are its honesty and its
professionalism. Ledewitz hints at his opinion in many areas, but
avoids an in-your-face thrusting of the left-wing agenda. He
acknowledges the rights of religiously oriented voters to frame
their views in faith-based terms, and doesnt use the tactics of
condescension and bullying to silence them. He lays out the
landscape as he sees it and suggests a new direction. For orthodox
Catholics looking to understand how others view that landscape,
American Religious Democracy is a good place to start.
*New Oxford Review*
[A]n intelligent and refreshingly balanced view of the role of
religion and public life….With recent polls showing that
evangelicals have been shifting to the Democrats, American
Religious Democracy should be read by those of all political and
religious persuasions.
*The New York Post*
In the 2004 presidential election, says Ledewitz, the American
people decided that the government should endorse religion and that
religion would establish a basis for American public life. He asks
whether this endorsement is legitimate, if so how far it should go
in what forms it should take, and how secular voters and other
dissidents should come to terms with it. He hopes the losers will
embrace religious democracy as an opportunity for a political and
religious renewal.
*Reference & Research Book News*
Traces the decline of secularism in American political culture and
argues that since the presidential election of 2004, the United
States is best described as an emerging religious democracy.
*The Chronicle of Higher Education*
Ledewitz offers readers an engaging and thought-provoking account
of the strong bond between religion and politics in modern American
culture.
*Religious Studies Review*
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