Democracy and the new religious pluralism : based on a conference named The new religious pluralism and democracy, at Georgetown University in April 2005

Religious pluralism is everywhere in today's politics. Increased immigration flows, the collapse of communism, and the globalization of communications technologies have all fostered a wider variety of religious beliefs, practices, and organizations within and across democratic societies. This is true in both the United States and Europe, where growing and diverse minority communities are transforming the political landscape. As a result, controversies over such things as headscarves and depictions of Mohammed are unsettling a largely secular Europe, while a Christian majority in the US faces familiar questions about church-state relations amidst unprecedented religious diversity. Far from receding into the background, religious language pervades arguments around established issues such as abortion and capital punishment, and new ones such as stem cell research and same-sex marriage. In Democracy and the New Religious Pluralism , leading scholars from multiple disciplines explore these dynamics and their implications for democratic theory and practice. What are the contours of this new religious pluralism? What are its implications for the theory and practice of democracy? Does increasing religious pluralism erode the cultural and social foundations of democracy? To what extent do different religious communities embrace similar -- or at least compatible -- ethical and political commitments? By seeking answers to these questions and revealing religious pluralism as both a source of animosity and a potent force for peaceful engagement, this book offers a revealing look at the future of religion in democratic societies. Leading Scholars - Including Peter Berger, John Esposito, Robert Wuthnow, Martha Nussbaum, Diana Eck, Stanley Hauerwas, And Miroslav Volf - Examine The New Religious Pluralism And The Challenges It Poses For Democratic Societies On Both Sides Of The Atlantic. Introduction / Thomas Banchoff -- Pluralism, Protestantization, And The Voluntary Principle / Peter L. Berger -- Uneven Secularization In The United States And Western Europe / Pippa Norris And Ronald Inglehart -- Immigration And The New Religious Pluralism: A European Union/united States Comparison / José Casanova -- Transnational Struggle For Jewish Pluralism / Yossi Shain -- Politicians' Perceptions Of The Muslim Problem: The Dutch Example In European Context / Sam Cherribi -- America's Muslims: Issues Of Identity, Religious Diversity, And Pluralism / John L. Esposito -- Religious Diversity In A Christian Nation: American Identity And American Democracy / Robert Wuthnow -- Radical Evil In Liberal Democracies: The Neglect Of The Political Emotions / Martha C. Nussbaum -- Islam And The Republic: The French Case / Danièle Hervieu-léger -- Pluralism, Tolerance, And Democracy: Theory And Practice In Europe / Grace Davie -- American Religious Pluralism: Civic And Theological Discourse / Diana L. Eck -- Voice Of One's Own: Public Faith In A Pluralistic World / Miroslav Volf -- End Of Religious Pluralism: A Tribute To David Burrell / Stanley Hauerwas -- Stem Cell Politics, Religious And Secular: The United States And France Compared / Thomas Banchoff. Edited By Thomas Banchoff. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Religious pluralism is everywhere in today's politics. Increased immigration flows, the collapse of communism, and the globalization of communications technologies have all fostered a wider variety of religious beliefs, practices, and organizations within and across democratic societies. This is true in both the United States and Europe, where growing and diverse minority communities are transforming the political landscape. As a result, controversies over such things as headscarves and depictions of Mohammed are unsettling a largely secular Europe, while a Christian majority in the United States faces familiar questions about church-state relations amid unprecedented religious diversity. Far from receding into the background, religious language pervades arguments around established issues such as abortion and capital punishment, and new ones such as stem cell research and same-sex marriage In this book, a group of leading scholars--including Peter Berger, John Esposito, Robert Wuthnow, Martha Nussbaum, Diana Eck, Stanley Hauerwas, and Miroslav Volf--examines the new religious pluralism and the challenges it poses for democratic societies on both sides of the Atlantic. What are the contours of this new religious pluralism? What are its implications for the theory and practice of democracy? Does increasing religious pluralism erode the cultural and social foundations of democracy? To what extent do different religious communities embrace similar -- or at least compatible -- ethical and political commitments? By seeking answers to these questions, this book offers a revealing look at the future of religion in democratic societies ## Abstract This book examines the new religious pluralism and the challenges it poses for democratic societies on both sides of the Atlantic. What are the contours of this new religious pluralism? What are its implications for the theory and practice of democracy? Does increasing religious pluralism erode the cultural and social foundations of democracy? To what extent do different religious communities embrace similar — or at least compatible — ethical and political commitments? By seeking answers to these questions, this book offers a revealing look at the future of religion in democratic societies. The book offers a structured conversation about the social and political implications of the new religious pluralism.