A Nation Under God?: The ACLU and Religion in American PoliticsRowman & Littlefield Publishers, 08.09.2005 - 264 Seiten A Nation Under God? raises the question of why the ACLU relentlessly attacks public expressions of mainstream religious faith. The answer, according to the book's argument, is that the work of the ACLU is informed by a larger political project-modern liberalism-to transform American government and society into an administrative-welfare state. Modern liberalism requires two decisive changes in American politics if it is to be successful: First, the government of limited powers mandated by the Constitution must become a government of unlimited powers and scope. Second, free, self-reliant, and independent citizens must become dependent on and understand themselves as subservient to government. The ACLU's drive to remove religion and morality from the public square advances both goals. Limited, constitutional government rests on the idea that rights come from God; the power of government should be limited commensurate to the limited purpose of legitimate government: to protect our natural, God-given rights. With God removed from the public square, it becomes much easier politically to argue that government is the source of rights, and that every expansion of government power is tantamount to an expansion of rights. Further, self-reliant citizens are not in need of and are unlikely to support large government welfare programs. But self-reliancy is largely a function of self-control and moral responsibility. Immoral and irresponsible citizens are incapable of providing for themselves and their families. Driving God and morality out of the public square serves to break down public morality, which in turn creates classes of citizens who are dependent on government assistance and regulation. Through endless litigation against public expressions of religion and morality and its distorted interpretations of the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses, the ACLU reveals its real agenda and its real allegiance, which is not to the Constitution or Bill of Rights, but to a radical liberal ideology that seeks |
Im Buch
Ergebnisse 1-5 von 19
Seite 11
... regime in Western civilization to do this , and for that reason it is , in its principles or speech ... the best regime . -Harry V. Jaffa , The American Founding as the Best Regime In order to better understand the question of religion ...
... regime in Western civilization to do this , and for that reason it is , in its principles or speech ... the best regime . -Harry V. Jaffa , The American Founding as the Best Regime In order to better understand the question of religion ...
Seite 13
... God " —that provide the only ground for a regime in which one can be a good citizen , and a good man of religious faith , simultaneously . While the ultimate claims of reason and revelation can never be Religion and Politics 13.
... God " —that provide the only ground for a regime in which one can be a good citizen , and a good man of religious faith , simultaneously . While the ultimate claims of reason and revelation can never be Religion and Politics 13.
Seite 14
... regime of majority rule and minority rights possible — a regime where those who live under laws participate in making the laws , and where no citizen is excluded because of his religious faith . ++++++ The problem of political ...
... regime of majority rule and minority rights possible — a regime where those who live under laws participate in making the laws , and where no citizen is excluded because of his religious faith . ++++++ The problem of political ...
Seite 15
... regime . A good citizen in Hitler's Germany would be a bad citizen elsewhere . But whereas good citizen is relative to the regime , good man does not have such a relativity . The mean- ing of good man is always and everywhere the same ...
... regime . A good citizen in Hitler's Germany would be a bad citizen elsewhere . But whereas good citizen is relative to the regime , good man does not have such a relativity . The mean- ing of good man is always and everywhere the same ...
Seite 16
... regime and the virtues required by Aristotle's understanding of the good man , are nearly identical . A good American may or may not become a philosopher in the strict Aristotelian sense . But the principles of the American Founding do ...
... regime and the virtues required by Aristotle's understanding of the good man , are nearly identical . A good American may or may not become a philosopher in the strict Aristotelian sense . But the principles of the American Founding do ...
Inhalt
1 | |
11 | |
25 | |
THE PROGRESSIVE REJECTION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE AMERICAN FOUNDING | 45 |
THE BIRTH OF THE ACLU AND THE RISE OF MODERN LIBERALISM | 57 |
BUILDING THE WALL OF SEPARATION THE ACLU TAKES RELIGION TO COURT | 67 |
IMMORAL RELIGION? THE ACLUs SELECT DEFENSE OF RELIGIOUS FREE EXERCISE | 93 |
CONCLUSION | 115 |
GEORGE WASHINGTON FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS 1789 | 169 |
GEORGE WASHINGTON THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION 1789 | 173 |
GEORGE WASHINGTON LETTER TO THE HEBREWS AT NEWPORT 1790 | 175 |
GEORGE WASHINGTON FAREWELL ADDRESS 1796 | 177 |
JAMES MADISON A MEMORIAL AND REMONSTRANCE 1785 | 193 |
THOMAS JEFFERSON VIRGINIA STATUTE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY 1786 | 201 |
THOMAS JEFFERSON LETTER TO THE DANBURY BAPTISTS 1802 | 205 |
SAMUEL WEST SERMON ON THE RIGHT TO REBEL AGAINST GOVERNORS 1776 | 207 |
DOCUMENTS FROM THE FOUNDING ON RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY | 127 |
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IN CONGRESS JULY 4 1776 | 129 |
NORTHWEST ORDINANCE 1787 | 135 |
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION 1787 | 137 |
STATE CONSTITUTIONS ACKNOWLEDGING GOD | 139 |
SAMUEL COOPER SERMON ON THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE MASSACHUSSETTS CONSTITUTION 1780 | 229 |
ABOUT THE AUTHORS | 243 |
INDEX | 245 |
Andere Ausgaben - Alle anzeigen
A Nation Under God?: The ACLU and Religion in American Politics Thomas L. Krannawitter,Daniel C. Palm Eingeschränkte Leseprobe - 2005 |
A Nation Under God?: The ACLU and Religion in American Politics Thomas L. Krannawitter,Daniel C. Palm Keine Leseprobe verfügbar - 2005 |
Häufige Begriffe und Wortgruppen
ACLU ACLU's Amendment American Founding American Political argued authority Baldwin Bill of Rights blessings Christian church citizens civil government Claremont Institute Commerce Clause common Congress Creator decision Declaration of Independence defend dictates divine duty equal ernment establish this Constitution Establishment Clause establishment of religion exercise of religion faith Founders Free Exercise Clause free government free speech freedom grateful to Almighty happiness Harry Jaffa Ibid idea Jaffa Jefferson Justice justify practices inconsistent law of nature Lemon test Leo Strauss Madison magistrates mankind means ment mode of worship modern liberalism moral relativism nation natural rights obey ordain and establish person place of worship political philosophy prayer principles progressive progressivism prohibiting promote protection reason regime religion and morality religious belief religious liberty religious test rights of conscience RLUIPA Roger Nash Baldwin rulers Samuel West sect secure Supreme Court Ten Commandments Thomas tion tyranny violate Virginia virtue