Democratic Virtues of the Christian Right

Zusatztext "For all those interested in the mingling religion and politics, Shields' book has much to teach about the American political scene and the uses of deliberative democracy by religious groups committed to precepts whose ultimate source is their God." ---Nancy L. Honicker, Journal of American Studies of Turkey Informationen zum Autor Jon A. Shields is assistant professor of government at Claremont McKenna College. Klappentext Argues that religious conservatives have in fact dramatically increased and improved democratic participation and that they are far more civil and reasonable than is commonly believed. This title shows that the vast majority of Christian Right leaders encourage their followers to embrace deliberative norms in the public square. Zusammenfassung The Christian Right is frequently accused of threatening democratic values. But in The Democratic Virtues of the Christian Right , Jon Shields argues that religious conservatives have in fact dramatically increased and improved democratic participation and that they are far more civil and reasonable than is commonly believed. Shields interviewed leaders of more than thirty Christian Right organizations, observed movement activists in six American cities, and analyzed a wide variety of survey data and movement media. His conclusions are surprising: the Christian Right has reinvigorated American politics and fulfilled New Left ideals by mobilizing a previously alienated group and by refocusing politics on the contentious ideological and moral questions that motivate citizens. Shields also finds that, largely for pragmatic reasons, the vast majority of Christian Right leaders encourage their followers to embrace deliberative norms in the public square, including civility and secular reasoning. At the same time, Shields highlights a tension between participatory and deliberative ideals since Christian Right leaders also nurture moral passions, prejudices, and dogmas to propel their movement. Nonetheless, the Christian Right's other democratic virtues help contain civic extremism, sharpen the thinking of activists, and raise the level and tenor of political debate for all Americans. ...

Product details

• Authors: Jon Shields, Jon A. Shields, Shields Jon A.
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 22.02.2009
• EAN: 9780691137407
• ISBN: 978-0-691-13740-7
• No. of pages: 216
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political theories and the history of ideas; USA, Political Ideologies, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Process / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Ideologies / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Ideologies / Democracy, POLITICAL SCIENCE / History & Theory, RELIGION / Religion, Politics & State, Political science & theory, Religion & politics, Political structures: democracy, United States of America, USA, Religion and Politics, Political science and theory, Political ideologies and movements, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Religion, Politics & State