Faith in Politics [Paperback]

A. James Reichley (Author), James Reichley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2002

Americans have always been, as Justice William Douglas repeatedly pointed out in the Supreme Court opinions he wrote in the 1950s, "a religious people." According to contemporary polls, about 85 percent of Americans identify with some religious faith and more than 40 percent say they attend religious services at least once a week. In recent years, religious observance - and even religious belief - have become important factors influencing voter choice. Active participation in electoral politics by some religious groups has fueled apprehensions that the traditional separation of church and state may be threatened. A. James Reichley explores the questions and conflicting positions surrounding the relations between religion and politics in this volume, drawing upon his previous work "Religion in American Public Life". In "Faith in Politics" he explores the history of religion in American public life and considers some practical and philosophic questions affecting future participation by religious groups in the formation of public policy.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A. James Reichley is a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute at Georgetown University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 420 pages
• Publisher: Brookings Institution Press (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815773730
• ISBN-13: 978-0815773733
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,453,214 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Faith in the United State's Public Sphere, December 28, 2006

By 

H. Chambers "Poli-Sci Student" (American West) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Faith in Politics (Paperback)

This book stands out for several reasons:

1. The age-old question of politics, particularly American politics is where exactly faith and government should interact. Religion is a human function and politics is a human science - the logical conclusion then is that until we can remove humans from politics there will always be an element of the religious. Reichley understands this and offers several theoretical blueprints for how a society might combine the two. Somewhere in the mix you will find how the US typically combines faith and politics... and YES they are definitely complicated by the 1st Amendment, justifiably so.

2. This book is full of helpful and colorful examples taken out of US history up to the present. This technique makes the book very readable and relatable.

3. It should be noted that this text is from an US perspective and does not include ideas, theories, or examples from other governments.

4. Bottom-line - a very well-rounded book, easier to read then most, and as comprehensive and historically accurate as any you'll find.