A Nation Under God?: The ACLU and Religion in American PoliticsRowman & Littlefield Publishers, 8. sep. 2005 - 264 sider 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 |
Inni boken
Resultat 1-5 av 25
Side 12
... rulers - and laws - that were to be obeyed . But these laws were regarded as laws for a variety of reasons , ancient custom or tradition being foremost . And the di- vine law - the characteristic form of all law in the ancient world ...
... rulers - and laws - that were to be obeyed . But these laws were regarded as laws for a variety of reasons , ancient custom or tradition being foremost . And the di- vine law - the characteristic form of all law in the ancient world ...
Side 21
... Ruler of the Universe has established , as the law of His eternal govern- ment . " Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself ; " and " Whatso- ever ye would that men should do to you , do ye even so to them . " These are the Scripture ...
... Ruler of the Universe has established , as the law of His eternal govern- ment . " Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself ; " and " Whatso- ever ye would that men should do to you , do ye even so to them . " These are the Scripture ...
Side 26
... Rulers and their Subjects , and can be none otherwise . Because Rulers , receiv- ing their authority originally and solely from the people , can be rightfully possessed of no more than these have consented to , and conveyed to them ...
... Rulers and their Subjects , and can be none otherwise . Because Rulers , receiv- ing their authority originally and solely from the people , can be rightfully possessed of no more than these have consented to , and conveyed to them ...
Side 28
... rulers , and their liberty will soon be lost . What's more , the American Founders understood that republican gov- ernment requires not just one but four kinds of civic virtue : First , the people must know and be devoted to the ...
... rulers , and their liberty will soon be lost . What's more , the American Founders understood that republican gov- ernment requires not just one but four kinds of civic virtue : First , the people must know and be devoted to the ...
Side 37
... Ruler of the Universe . " Iowa's Constitution refers to " the Supreme Being . " And the preamble to Maine's Constitution invokes the " goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe . " Only two state constitutions , Or- egon and ...
... Ruler of the Universe . " Iowa's Constitution refers to " the Supreme Being . " And the preamble to Maine's Constitution invokes the " goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe . " Only two state constitutions , Or- egon and ...
Innhold
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 |
Andre utgaver - Vis alle
A Nation Under God?: The ACLU and Religion in American Politics Thomas L. Krannawitter,Daniel C. Palm Begrenset visning - 2005 |
A Nation Under God?: The ACLU and Religion in American Politics Thomas L. Krannawitter,Daniel C. Palm Ingen forhåndsvisning tilgjengelig - 2005 |
Vanlige uttrykk og setninger
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