The Secular State Under Siege : Religion and Politics in Europe and America

"Throughout human history, religion and politics have entertained the most intimate of connections as systems of authority regulating individuals and society. While the two have come apart through the process of secularization, secularism is challenged today by the return of public religion. This cogent analysis unravels the nature of the connection, disconnection, and attempted reconnection between religion and politics in the West. In a comparison of Western Europe and North America, Christianity and Islam, Joppke advances far-reaching theoretical, historical, and comparative-political arguments. With respect to theory, it is argued that only a "substantive" concept of religion, as pertaining to the existence of supra-human powers, opens up the possibility of a historical-comparative perspective on religion. At the level of history, secularization is shown to be the distinct outcome of Latin Christianity itself. And at the level of comparative politics, the Christian Right in America which has attacked the "wall of separation" between religion and state and Islam in Europe with the controversial insistence on sharia law and other "illiberal" claims from some quarters are taken to be counterpart incarnations of public religion and challenges to the secular state. This clearly argued, sweeping book will provide an invaluable framework for approaching an array of critical issues at the intersection of religion, law and politics for advanced students and researchers across the social sciences and legal studies, as well as for the interested public"-- Provided by publisher Title page......Page 5 Copyright page......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 Introduction: Religion as Structure and as Actor......Page 9 Religion, Politics, Secular State: An Introduction......Page 13 Religious Evolution......Page 16 Religion as alienation: Marx......Page 20 Religion as neurosis: Freud......Page 21 The function of religion: Durkheim......Page 25 Comparative religions: Weber......Page 30 After the Classics: “Secularization” and Problems of Defining and Demarcating the Religious......Page 39 Conclusion: Religion and Politics, Historical and Phenomenological......Page 44 “Secularization” as Contested Concept......Page 50 Etymology......Page 55 The gospel of Jesus......Page 57 Dualism......Page 58 The church......Page 60 Natural law......Page 62 Legal pluralism......Page 65 No Dark Age: Medieval Christian Civilization......Page 67 Cultural impact: “modern religiosity”......Page 71 Institutional impact: the “Confessional Age”......Page 75 Nationalism......Page 78 Varieties of Secularization......Page 80 America versus Europe......Page 82 Intra-European varieties......Page 84 A Second Confessional Age?......Page 85 “Laicization” versus “secularization”......Page 88 The irony of Christian Democracy......Page 89 Conclusion......Page 91 3: Challenge to the Secular State (I): The Christian Right in America......Page 94 Legal Secularism......Page 100 The Rise of the Christian Right......Page 109 Toward Legal Theocracy?......Page 118 Repudiating Christian extremism......Page 119 The ambivalent defense of secularism in the public classroom......Page 122 Breaching the wall: access and funding......Page 126 Battering the wall: symbols......Page 128 Conclusion......Page 133 4: Challenge to the Secular State (II): Islam in Europe......Page 136 Two Civilizations......Page 142 Islamic Elite Discourse: European Muslims as a “Minority” or as “Citizens”......Page 146 European Muslims as a “minority”......Page 147 European Muslims as “citizens”......Page 150 The Paradox of Liberalism......Page 156 Women......Page 158 Non-Muslims......Page 160 Rights......Page 162 Ordinary Muslim Views: “Demos” versus “Eros”......Page 164 Why “Eurabia” Will Not Be......Page 168 Sharia in the West?......Page 169 Conclusion......Page 175 Conclusion: Islam and Christianity in the Secular State......Page 180 The Islamic Veil......Page 181 The Christian Crucifix......Page 184 The Intractable Dilemma: Religion versus Liberalism......Page 190 Courts, Courts, Courts . . . and Politics?......Page 194 Notes......Page 196 References......Page 213 Index......Page 230 EULA......Page 245 Throughout Human History, Religion And Politics Have Entertained The Most Intimate Of Connections As Systems Of Authority Regulating Individuals And Society. While The Two Have Come Apart Through The Process Of Secularization, Secularism Is Challenged Today By The Return Of Public Religion. This Cogent Analysis Unravels The Nature Of The Connection, Disconnection, And Attempted Reconnection Between Religion And Politics In The West.in A Comparison Of Western Europe And North America, Christianity And Islam, Joppke Advances Far-reaching Theoretical, Historical, And Comparative-political Arguments. With Respect To Theory, It Is Argued That Only A Substantive Concept Of Religion, As Pertaining To The Existence Of Supra-human Powers, Opens Up The Possibility Of A Historical-comparative Perspective On Religion. At The Level Of History, Secularization Is Shown To Be The Distinct Outcome Of Latin Christianity Itself. And At The Level Of Comparative Politics, The Christian Right In America Which Has Attacked The Wall Of Separation Between Religion And State And Islam In Europe With The Controversial Insistence On Sharia Law And Other Illiberal Claims From Some Quarters Are Taken To Be Counterpart Incarnations Of Public Religion And Challenges To The Secular State.this Clearly Argued, Sweeping Book Will Provide An Invaluable Framework For Approaching An Array Of Critical Issues At The Intersection Of Religion, Law And Politics For Advanced Students And Researchers Across The Social Sciences And Legal Studies, As Well As For The Interested Public-- Introduction: Religion As Structure And As Actor -- Religion In Social And Political Theory -- Secularization And The Long Christian Exit -- Challenge To The Secular State (i) : The Christian Right In America -- Challenge To The Secular State (ii) : Islam In Europe -- Conclusion.: Islam And Christianity In The Secular State. Christian Joppke. Machine Generated Contents Note: Introduction: Religion As Structure And As Actor Chapter 1: Religion In Social And Political Theory Chapter 2: Secularization And The Long Christian Exit Chapter 3: Challenge To The Secular State (i): The Christian Right In America Chapter 4: Challenge To The Secular State (ii): Islam In Europe Conclusion: Islam And Christianity In The Secular State Endnotes Bibliography. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.