Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land: A History of Church and State in America
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Author Description
Should prayer be allowed in public schools? Should biology be taught according to Darwin or to the book of Genesis? Why is polygamy against the law? These are just a few of the questions that touch our lives directly and emerge out of the separation of church and state. In this volume, one of the most distinguished scholars of American religious history traces the complicated relationship of church and state from the early colonial period, through the unique American experiment in religious liberty after the Revolution, to the ongoing debate over religious issues in our schools and communities. Edwin Gaustad relates entertaining and edifying accounts of headline-grabbing court trials involving polygamy, witchcraft, and church taxation. He quotes moving passages from the speeches and writings of American Presidents and Supreme Court justices to prove that, to paraphrase Michelangelo, "religious liberty is made up of a series of trifles, but religious liberty is no trifle."
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
How has the complex, evolving relationship between religious institutions and the American state shaped the nation's legal and social landscape? Edwin S. Gaustad, a prominent scholar of American religious history, examines the historical trajectory of church-state relations from the colonial era to the modern day. He utilizes primary source documents, including presidential speeches and Supreme Court rulings, to argue that religious liberty remains a foundational yet contested element of the American experiment.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Historical analysis of the separation of church and state from the colonial period through the late 20th century.
- Examination of landmark court cases involving polygamy, witchcraft, and taxation.
- Primary source excerpts from American political and judicial leaders.
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide an exhaustive legal treatise on every modern constitutional amendment.
- It focuses primarily on the American context, excluding comparative international religious history.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and educators frequently cite this work as a balanced, accessible introduction to the historical tensions between faith and governance in the United States. Readers note that the prose is clear and well-suited for both academic study and general interest in American constitutional history.
Page Count:
185
Publication Date:
2003-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190290420
ISBN-13:
9780190290429
Religion
History
Politics
Church History
Sociology
American History
United States
Law
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