by Ronald F. Thiemann (1996)
Prayer in public schools, abortion, gay and lesbian rights - these bitterly divisive issues dominate American politics today, revealing deep disagreements over basic moral values. In a highly readable account that draws on legal arguments, political theory, and philosophy, Ronald F. Thiemann explores the proper role of religious convictions in American public life. He proposes that religion can and should play an active, positive part in our society even as it maintains a fundamental commitment to pluralist, democratic values. Arguing that both increased secularism and growing religious diversity since the 1960s have fragmented commonly held values, Thiemann observes that there has been an historical ambivalence in American attitudes towards religion in public life. He proposes abandoning the idea of an absolute wall between church and state and all the conceptual framework built around that concept in interpreting the First Amendment. He returns instead to James Madison's views and the Constitutional principles of liberty, equality, and toleration. Refuting both political liberalism (as too secular) and communitarianism (as failing to meet the challenge of pluralism), Thiemann offers a new definition of liberalism that gives religions a voice in the public sphere as long as they heed the Constitutional principles of liberty, equality, and toleration or mutual respect. . The American republic, Thiemann notes, is a constantly evolving experiment in constructing a pluralistic society from its many particular communities. Religion can act as a positive force in its moral renewal, by helping to shape common cultural values. All those interested in finding solutions to today's divisive political discord, in finding ways to disagree civilly in a democracy, and in exploring the extent to which religious convictions should shape the development of public policies will find that this book offers an important new direction for religion and the nation.
Robert Benne
Encouragees church bodies and individual believers to step beyond noisy rhetoric, offering practical help in identifying core Christian beliefs, deciding which can and should influence public policy, and translating those beliefs into political action.
Robert Booth Fowler, Allen D. Hertzke
"Fowler and Hertzke provide a lively and straightforward treatment of the politics of religion in American public life today. They provide the historical and sociological context, as well as the range of strategic choices open to different religious actors, to enable the reader to reach informed and balanced judgments about the role of religion in politics."--BOOK JACKET.
M.J. Akbar
"The Shade of Swords is the very first cohesive history of jihad, written by one of India's leading journalists and writers. In this new paperback edition, updated to show how and why Saddam Hussein repositioned himself as a jihadi against America, M.J. Akbar explains the struggle between Islam and Christianity. Placing recent events in a historical context, he tackles the tricky questions of what now for jihad following the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime."--Jacket.
Rafik Schami
Über dem Tor der Pauluskapelle in Damaskus hängt eines Morgens ein Toter. Bei dem Ermordeten handelt es sich um einen muslimischen Offizier. Als Kommissar Barudi die Witwe verhören will, wird ihm der Fall vom Geheimdienst entzogen. Heimlich recherchiert er weiter und findet das Tatmotiv: eine Blutfehde zwischen den Clans der Muschtaks und der Schahins. In vielerlei Facetten schildert Schami den eskalierenden Wahnsinn von Hass und Gewalt und die akute Bedrohung für den, der sich dem Diktat der Sippe nicht beugt. Zugleich erzählt er in poetischen Geschichten von einer Liebe, die eigentlich nicht sein darf, weil Versöhnung nicht vorkommt in den alten Familienstrukturen, und vom Mut der Liebenden, denen der Tod droht und die dennoch die Unterdrückung ihrer Leidenschaft nicht zulassen wollen.