Please Don't Wish Me a Merry Christmas - A Critical History of the Separation of Church and State

Nearly all discussions regarding the role of religion in American life build on two dominant assumptions: first, the separation of church and state is a constitutional principle that promotes democracy and equally protects the religious freedom of all Americans, especially religious outgroups; and second, this principle emerges as a uniquely American contribution to political theory. In Please Don't Wish Me a Merry Christmas, Stephen M. Feldman challenges both these assumptions. He argues that the separation of church and state primarily manifests and reinforces Christian domination in American society. Furthermore, Feldman reveals that the separation of church and state did not first arise in America, either at the time of the constitutional framing or later. In challenging the dominant story of the separation of church and state, Please Don't Wish Me a Merry Christmas follows the historical path of two institutions - the Christian church and the state - from the origins of Christianity forward to the present day. Feldman thus focuses on the workings of power in a specific context: he interprets the development of Christian social power vis-a-vis the state and religious minorities, particularly the prototypical religious outgroup, Jews.

Riassunto

Whether in the form of Christmas trees in town squares or prayer in school, fierce disputes over the separation of church and state have long bedeviled this country. This is the story of the separation of church and state. It interprets the development of Christian social power vis-a-vis the state and religious minorities, and more.

Dettagli sul prodotto

• Autori: Stephen M. Feldman, Martin Hart-Landsberg
• Con la collaborazione di: Stephen Feldman (Editore), Stephen M Feldman (Editore), Stephen M. Feldman (Editore)
• Editore: New York University Press
• Lingue: Inglese
• Formato: Tascabile
• Pubblicazione: 01.08.1998
• EAN: 9780814726846
• ISBN: 978-0-8147-2684-6
• Pagine: 408
• Dimensioni: 149 mm x 228 mm x 26 mm
• Peso: 531 g
• Serie: Critical America (New York Uni; Critical America
• Categorie: Saggistica > Storia > Altro; Scienze sociali, diritto, economia > Diritto > Diritto pubblico, amministrativo, costituzionale; Scienze umane, arte, musica > Religione / teologia > Cristianesimo