| The Challenge of Pluralism: Church and State in Six Democracies Contributor(s): Soper, J. Christopher (Author), Den Dulk, Kevin R. (Author), Monsma, Stephen V. (Author) |
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ISBN: 1442250429 ISBN-13: 9781442250420 Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers OUR PRICE: $107.91 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: January 2017 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Political Science | Comparative Politics - Religion | Religion, Politics & State - Political Science | Political Ideologies - Democracy |
| Dewey: 322.109 |
| LCCN: 2016043224 |
| Physical Information: 0.8" H x 6.1" W x 9.1" (1.15 lbs) 284 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - French - Cultural Region - British Isles - Cultural Region - Germany - Cultural Region - Benelux - Cultural Region - Australian |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: In a thoroughly revised and expanded edition that now includes France, this essential text offers a rigorous, systematic comparison of church-state relations in six Western nations: the United States, France, England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Australia. As successful and stable political democracies, these countries share a commitment to protecting the religious rights of their citizens. The book demonstrates, however, that each has taken substantially different approaches to resolving basic church-state questions. The authors examine both the historical roots of those differences and more recent conflicts over Islam and other religious minorities, explain how contemporary church-state issues are addressed, and provide a framework for assessing the success of each of the six states in protecting the religious rights of its citizens using a framework based on the ideal of governmental neutrality and evenhandedness toward people of all faiths and of none. Responding to the general confusion about the relationship between church and state in the West, this book offers a much-needed comparative analysis of a topic that is increasingly a source of political conflict. The authors argue that the US conception of church-state separation, with its emphasis on avoiding government establishment of religion, is unique among political democracies and discriminates against religious groups by denying religious organizations access to government services provided to other organizations. The authors persuasively conclude that the United States can learn a great deal from other Western nations in promoting religious neutrality and the free exercise of religion. |
Contributor Bio(s): Monsma, Stephen V.: - Stephen V. Monsma is a senior research fellow at the Henry Institute, Calvin College, and professor of political science emeritus at Pepperdine University. |
