Christianity and American DemocracyHugh Heclo proposes that Christianity, not religion in general, has been important for American democracy. Responding to his challenging argument, Mary Jo Bane, Michael Kazin, and Alan Wolfe criticize, qualify, and amend it. The result is a lively debate about a momentous tension in American public life. |
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Following from the March 2006 occasion, this book makes Heclo's lecture, the three commentaries, and Heclo's rejoinder available to a broader audience. It appears at a resonant juncture, for we live in a time when religiously motivated ...
Following from the March 2006 occasion, this book makes Heclo's lecture, the three commentaries, and Heclo's rejoinder available to a broader audience. It appears at a resonant juncture, for we live in a time when religiously motivated ...
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That is as it should be, and the broadened engagement will further realize the purpose of Harvard's Alexis de Tocqueville lectures and books—to carry forward in our own time and through our own explorations the questioning about America ...
That is as it should be, and the broadened engagement will further realize the purpose of Harvard's Alexis de Tocqueville lectures and books—to carry forward in our own time and through our own explorations the questioning about America ...
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(Instances where that is untrue could probably be assembled, but they would make a very small book.) Until we understand why governments could find it quite reasonable to couple religious heresy and political treason, ...
(Instances where that is untrue could probably be assembled, but they would make a very small book.) Until we understand why governments could find it quite reasonable to couple religious heresy and political treason, ...
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Contents
Democracy and Catholic Christianity | 145 |
Pluralism Is Hard Workand the | 167 |
Whose Christianity? Whose Democracy? | 185 |
Reconsidering Christianity and | 209 |
Notes | 243 |
Acknowledgments | 284 |
Other editions - View all
Christianity and American Democracy Hugh Heclo,Mary Jo Bane,Michael Kazin,Alan Wolfe Limited preview - 2009 |
Christianity and American Democracy Hugh Heclo,Mary Jo Bane,Michael Kazin,Alan Wolfe No preview available - 2007 |
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American Christianity American democracy American political appears authority become beginning believe Books called Catholic Catholicism century choices Chris Christian church citizens civil claims coming common conflict conservative consider continued Council culture democratic discussion doctrine early engagement equal establishment evangelical fact faith first follow forces freedom God’s groups growing Heclo helped hold hope human idea important individual issues John leaders leading least lecture less liberal living major matter mean ment moral movement natural never particular Party percent person political position practical present problem produced Protestant Protestantism Puritans question reason reform regarding reli religion religious religious liberty Republican revival schools secular seems sense simply Sixties social society spiritual teaching theology thing tion Tocqueville traditional true truth trying understanding United University Press values York
Popular passages
Page 38 - For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us.
Page 248 - Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of 165 men and citizens.
Page 246 - That religion or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence ; and, therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience ; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love and charity towards each other.
Page 246 - The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy, a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.
Page 248 - Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
Page 30 - The religion, then, of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate. This right is in its nature an unalienable right. It is unalienable because the opinions of men, depending only on the evidence contemplated by their own minds, cannot follow the dictates of other men. It is unalienable, also, because what is here a right towards men is a duty towards the Creator.
Page 79 - So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent — and often even vocal — sanction of things as they are.
Page 248 - Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion.
Page 248 - Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connexions with private and public felicity.
Page 27 - Almighty God hath created the mind free; that all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burdens, or by civil incapacitations, tend only to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness, and are a departure from the plan of the Holy Author of our religion...
Bibliographic information
| Title | Christianity and American Democracy The Alexis de Tocqueville Lectures on American Politics |
| Author | Hugh Heclo |
| Publisher | Harvard University Press, 2009 |
| ISBN | 0674027051, 9780674027053 |
| Length | 312 pages |
| Subjects | › › Political Science / Political Ideologies / Democracy Religion / Religion, Politics & State |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |