| Rediscovering America's Sacred Ground: Public Religion and Pursuit of the Good in a Pluralistic America Contributor(s): McGraw, Barbara A. (Author) |
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ISBN: 0791457052 ISBN-13: 9780791457054 Publisher: State University of New York Press OUR PRICE: $90.25 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: April 2003 Annotation: Returning to the ideas of John Locke and the Founders themselves, Barbara A. McGraw examines the debate about the role of religion in American public life and unravels the confounded rhetoric on all sides. She reveals that no group has been standing on proper ground and that all sides have misused terminology (religion/secular), dichotomies (public/ private), and concepts (separation of church and state) in ways that have little relevance to the original intention of the Founders. She rediscovers a theology underlying the founding documents of the nation that is neither anyone's particular religion nor one requiring religion. Instead, it justifies freedom of conscience for all and provides a two-tiered public forum -- a civic public forum and a conscientious public forum -- for the debate itself and the actions that debate inspires. America's Sacred Ground -- this theology and its public forum -- determines the meaning of freedom and the ways in which Americans can pursue "the good": good government, good communities, good families, good relations between individuals, and good individuals from a plurality of perspectives. By exploring our past, McGraw answers the critical question, Who are we as a people and what do we stand for. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Political Science - Religion | Religion, Politics & State - History | United States - Revolutionary Period (1775-1800) |
| Dewey: 322.109 |
| LCCN: 2002042630 |
| Series: Suny Series, Religion and American Public Life |
| Physical Information: 0.78" H x 6.04" W x 9.48" (1.04 lbs) 259 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - 18th Century |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Returning to the ideas of John Locke and the Founders themselves, Barbara A. McGraw examines the debate about the role of religion in American public life and unravels the confounded rhetoric on all sides. She reveals that no group has been standing on proper ground and that all sides have misused terminology (religion/secular), dichotomies (public/private), and concepts (separation of church and state) in ways that have little relevance to the original intentions of the Founders. She rediscovers a theology underlying the founding documents of the nation that is neither anyone's particular religion nor one requiring religion. Instead, it justifies freedom of conscience for all and provides a two-tiered public forum--a civic public forum and a conscientious public forum--for the debate itself and the actions that debate inspires. America's Sacred Ground--this theology and its public forum--determines the meaning of freedom and the ways in which Americans can pursue "the good" good government, good communities, good families, good relations between individuals, and good individuals from a plurality of perspectives. By exploring our past, McGraw answers the critical question, Who are we as a people and what do we stand for? |
