Religion in America a Political History Lacorne Review

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· 16 ratings · 4 reviews

Commencement your review of Religion in America: A Political History

Jun 10, 2014 Ellen Hampton rated it it was amazing

This is a potent analysis of the role of faith in the American political landscape, peculiarly pointing out the nuance in specific areas that are oft misinterpreted at face value. Denis Lacorne is a French professor of political science whose informed outsider view brings the distance required to tease out cardinal threads of American culture from the larger political weave. His analysis of presidents and presidential candidates' utilize of religion in campaigning and positioning in t This is a stiff assay of the part of religion in the American political mural, specially pointing out the nuance in specific areas that are frequently misinterpreted at face value. Denis Lacorne is a French professor of political science whose informed outsider view brings the distance required to tease out key threads of American culture from the larger political weave. His analysis of presidents and presidential candidates' use of religion in candidature and positioning in the culture is astute and enlightening. At the aforementioned time, Lacorne'due south perspective leads to a long assay of the French historiography on American religiosity, just then declines to develop a full comparison of the two nations' positions on secularity in governance, which IMHO would have been useful. He does a practiced job of revealing the exaggerated shadow of the Puritans, specially as seen from abroad (the French blame annihilation remotely bourgeois near American society on the Puritans). Information technology would have been interesting to consider regional differences of religion in politics, but perhaps that would require another book! All told, an excellent and insightful await at the crossroads of American religion and politics. ...more than

This is an odd book. The title is misleading since a large part of the book is really nigh organized religion in America AS SEEN Past French writers thoughout the country's history. Then this is non a proficient place to start if you are looking for a straight history though I learned some interesting things from it most faith in America.

"It is thus possible to engagement precisely the symbolic intrusions of organized religion into the political sphere: 1776, the "Creator" in the Declaration of Independence; 1862, the motto

This is an odd volume. The title is misleading since a large role of the book is actually about faith in America AS SEEN Past French writers thoughout the country'due south history. Then this is not a good place to starting time if y'all are looking for a direct history though I learned some interesting things from information technology virtually religion in America.

"It is thus possible to date precisely the symbolic intrusions of religion into the political sphere: 1776, the "Creator" in the Annunciation of Independence; 1862, the motto "In God We Trust" on coins; 1954, the improver of "Under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance; 1956, transformation of the motto on coins into a national motto. And it was major events—the War of Independence, the Civil War, and the Cold War—that precipitated the adoption of these symbolic measures, by reviving faith among political elites. The formulas called, information technology should be noted, are more deist than Christian in nature. The divinity invoked is e'er an abstract and disembodied God." 141

"The Founders frequently stated that American commonwealth was not Christian. The best evidence of this is i of the first treaties, unanimously ratified past the U.S. Senate during the Adams administration, the Treaty of Tripoli, signed by the president on June 10, 1797. Article Ii of the treated provided:
Every bit the government of the U.s.a. of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion—as it has in itself no grapheme of enmity against the laws, religion or serenity of Musselman—and as the said States never take entered into whatsoever war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries." 146

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May 03, 2012 Doug Diegert rated it it was amazing

This volume gives the French intellectual view of the coaction of religion and politics in America, from Voltaire to the publishing engagement of 2011. The author, Denis Lacorne, is a French commentator with a doctorate in political science from Yale.

It attempts to be somewhat scholarly, with extensive finish notes and some jargon. But I found it a fairly easy and entertaining read.

There is a constant focus on the separation, or lack of separation, between church and state. He also organizes around a di

This volume gives the French intellectual view of the interplay of religion and politics in America, from Voltaire to the publishing date of 2011. The writer, Denis Lacorne, is a French commentator with a doctorate in political science from Yale.

It attempts to be somewhat scholarly, with extensive end notes and some jargon. Simply I found it a adequately easy and entertaining read.

There is a abiding focus on the separation, or lack of separation, between church building and state. He also organizes around a dichotomy of how American government relates to organized religion: either as a secular regime that excludes religion, or a authorities based on an "American Creed", a mixture of conventionalities in hard work, freedom and Christian religion.

This book is too fairly concise, at 169 pages not including notes and bibliography. I appreciate that a lot.

Highly recommended.

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If a survey of French thought near the part of religion in America sounds interesting to you, then this volume will do the trick. The writing is accessible, the criticism, fact correction, and context is helpful, and information technology'due south a quick read. If a survey of French thought about the role of religion in America sounds interesting to you, and so this volume will exercise the trick. The writing is accessible, the criticism, fact correction, and context is helpful, and it's a quick read. ...more