American scholars of history, religious studies, Jewish studies, law, and other disciplines reflecting the pluralism of the American Jewish community comment on the role of religion in American society. Among the topics are the liberal social contract and the privatization of religion, a Jewish policy on church-state relations, and rethinking American secularism and religious pluralism after 9/11. The chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Commonwealth contributes an afterword. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
This book explores the often controversial topic of how religion ought to relate to American public life. The sixteen distinguished contributors, both Jewish and Christian, reflect on the topic out of their own disciplines-which include social ethics, political theory, philosophy, law, history, theology, and sociology.