Politics, Religion, and the Common Good

The future of America, in many ways, depends upon an understanding of the proper role of religion in our shared life as a republic. Discussions and debates on the topic have too often generated noise, platitudes, stereotypes, name-calling, and the distortion of vitally important issues, instead of constructive conversation among citizens--until now. Of all the voices commenting about American religion today, none is more credible or better known than that of historian Martin E. Marty. A respected scholar, author, editor, and media commentator, he has-perhaps better than anyone else in the field-a deep grasp on the complex issues surrounding public religion.

Acknowledgments. Introduction: Tools for Moving from Argument to Conversation. 1. Handle with Care: The Case Against Public Religion. 2. Worth the Risk: Public Religion and the Common Good. 3. The Individual Citizen, Formed and Mobilized by Faith. 4. The Declining Political Power of Traditional Institutions. 5. The Flourishing of Religious Special Interest Groups. 6. An Invitation to All Religious People: Join the Political Conversation. Notes. References. The Author. About the Public Religion Project. Index.