Religious Commitment and Secular ReasonCambridge University Press, 2000 M03 13 Many religious people are alarmed about features of the current age - violence in the media, a pervasive hedonism, a marginalization of religion, and widespread abortion. These concerns influence politics, but just as there should be a separation between church and state, so should there be a balance between religious commitments and secular arguments calling for social reforms. Robert Audi offers a principle of secular rationale, which does not exclude religious grounds for action but which rules out restricting freedom except on grounds that any rational citizen would accept. The book describes the essential commitments of free democracy, explains how religious and secular moral considerations can be integrated to facilitate co-operation in a world of religious pluralism, and proposes ideals of civic virtue that express the mutual respect on which democracy depends. Audi offers a balanced and sophisticated treatment of the relations between religion and politics in a modern, secular society. |
From inside the book
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Page i
... discussion should take account of it . John Haldane , University of St. Andrews Audi has been one of the most thoughtful , provocative voices addressing this issue . . . . essential reading for all who would think clearly about re ...
... discussion should take account of it . John Haldane , University of St. Andrews Audi has been one of the most thoughtful , provocative voices addressing this issue . . . . essential reading for all who would think clearly about re ...
Page ix
... discuss religion and that thoughtful citizens should discuss politics . It is perhaps not in- evitable , but it is altogether appropriate , for a liberal democracy - a free and democratic society - in which religion is a major cultural ...
... discuss religion and that thoughtful citizens should discuss politics . It is perhaps not in- evitable , but it is altogether appropriate , for a liberal democracy - a free and democratic society - in which religion is a major cultural ...
Page x
... discuss a number of other the- orists addressing the same range of problems ; in this respect , too , this book advances and clarifies my position , though even here I avoid lengthy discussions of the literature and often respond to ...
... discuss a number of other the- orists addressing the same range of problems ; in this respect , too , this book advances and clarifies my position , though even here I avoid lengthy discussions of the literature and often respond to ...
Page xi
... discussions are couched in as plain language as I could find , and the general movement of the book should be clear to ... discussion partner , has provided material appearing in various places in Chapters 2 through 6. Chapter 6 incor ...
... discussions are couched in as plain language as I could find , and the general movement of the book should be clear to ... discussion partner , has provided material appearing in various places in Chapters 2 through 6. Chapter 6 incor ...
Page xii
... discussions of earlier versions of the entire manu- script I am grateful to Stephen Kershnar , Brian Lepard , and James B. Murphy . I have also benefited much from the comments of Larry Alexander , William Alston , Theodore Blumoff ...
... discussions of earlier versions of the entire manu- script I am grateful to Stephen Kershnar , Brian Lepard , and James B. Murphy . I have also benefited much from the comments of Larry Alexander , William Alston , Theodore Blumoff ...
Contents
3 | |
The Separation of Church and State | 31 |
ChurchState Separation and the Justification | 59 |
PART | 79 |
Toward Integration | 116 |
PART THREE | 143 |
Religious Conviction and Political Activism | 181 |
Ethics Religion and Democracy | 209 |
Notes | 217 |
Index | 253 |
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Common terms and phrases
abortion action adequate secular reason appropriate argue basic basis believe Chapter civic virtue clergy coercion coercive conception concern conduct conscientious consider constitutes discourse discussion evidentially facie obligation fetus free and democratic freedom gious governmental human ideals imply important individuals innocent instance institutions intuitionism issue John Rawls justified Kantian Kent Greenawalt kind laws or public least liberal democracy ligious major matter moral principles neutrality principle Nicholas Wolterstorff non-religious notion omnibenevolent one's personhood plausible position preference premises presumption presumption of innocence principle of secular public policy Public Reasons question Rawls relevant religion religious arguments religious citizens religious commitments religious considerations religious grounds religious obligation religious reasons require restrict Robert Audi role secular motivation secular rationale sense separation of church social sociopolitical standards tend theism theo-ethical equilibrium theological theory Thomas Nagel tion tradition utilitarian violence virtue ethics vote W. D. Ross