Theological Perspectives for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: Public Intellectuals for the Twenty-First Century (New Approaches to Religion and Power)

Rather Than Wield Religion As A Weapon Or A Ruse In Irrational Appeals, The Book Attempts To Reimagine A Shared American Mythos And Ethos, By Reminding Us Of Our Shared Stake In Creating An America Committed To The Life Of All Peoples And Species And To The Full Developments Of Our Capabilities As An Exercise Of Liberty. Part I. Learning About Our Nation From La Lucha (the Struggle). The Indigenous Dream : A World Without An America / Andrea Smith -- Race, Religion, And The Pursuit Of Happiness / James H. Evans Jr. -- Pax Americana, Pax Humana / Sharon Welch -- Part Ii. Creative Practices That Emerge From Lo Cotidiano (the Everyday). The United States As A Responsible Member Of The Global Community : Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness When Globalized Militarization Matters / Keun-joo Christine Pae -- Living Sustainably Toward Social Justice : Asceticism Revisited / Paula M. Cooey -- Dead In The Water....again : Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness In The Twenty-first Century / Teresa Delgado -- Welcome To The Great American Middle-class : From The American Dream To Deep Solidarity / Joerg Rieger -- Political Theology : Reflecting On The Arts Of A Liberating Politics / Mark Lewis Taylor -- Part Iii. The Significance Of Fuerzas Para La Lucha (god-given Strength For The Struggle). Naming What We Want : Thoughts On Religious Vocabulary And The Desire For Quality Of Life / Anthony B. Pinn -- Redeeming Equality : Life, Liberty, And Alternatives To Obliviousness / Mary Mcclintock Fulkerson -- The Political Divide / Stephanie Y. Mitchem -- Revitalizing Us Civil Society By Reconceptualizing Civil Religion And Its Virtues / Rosemary P. Carbine -- Latinas' And Latinos' Understanding Of Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness / Ada María Isasi-díaz. Edited By Ada María Isasi-díaz, Mary Mcclintock Fulkerson, And Rosemary P. Carbine. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Given the constant public attention to the current challenges facing the U.S. as a nation and a people, this book embraces and enacts the moral, social, and political responsibility of academics to serve as public intellectuals, i.e. to upbuild and enhance the society which we inherit, in which we live, and which we envision for the future. Mostly theologians and ethicists, the authors explore new meanings of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" in an attempt to reconceptualize the meaning of key virtues and values that defined the basic founding self-understanding of the American people. Some of the essays address issues around globalization, racism, ethnoracism, immigration, poverty, militarism, gender, sexuality and connect these issues with their implications for the meaning of "life, liberty, and happiness." Others focus on these values themselves and their implications for public life. The logic of these essays is inspired by some of mujerista theologian Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz's characteristic convictions: the crucial role of learning from the experiences of others, especially disempowered groups, involved in la lucha or the struggle for justice; the centrality of lo cotidiano or the everyday for innovative epistemologies and ethics, or ways of knowing and living; and, the testimony of her life to the significance of fuerzas para la lucha or God-given strength for the struggle. Rather than wield religion as a weapon or a ruse in irrational appeals, the book attempts to reimagine a shared American mythos and ethos, by reminding us of our shared stake in creating an America committed to the life of all peoples and species, to the full developments of our capabilities as an exercise of liberty, and to the happiness that true solidarity can bring as we are and become a people for the common good Given the constant public attention to the current challenges facing the U.S. as a nation and a people, this book embraces and enacts the moral, social, and political responsibility of academics to serve as public intellectuals, i.e. to upbuild and enhance the society which we inherit, in which we live, and which we envision for the future. Mostly theologians and ethicists, the authors explore new meanings of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" in an attempt to reconceptualize the meaning of key virtues and values that defined the basic founding self-understanding of the American people. Some of the essays address issues around globalization, racism, ethnoracism, immigration, poverty, militarism, gender, sexuality and connect these issues with their implications for the meaning of "life, liberty, ande happiness." Others focus on these values themselves and their implications for public life. The logic of these essays is inspired by some of mujerista theologian Ada Mara Isasi-Daz's characteristic convictions: the crucial role of learning from the experiences of others, especially disempowered groups, involved in la lucha or the struggle for justice; the centrality of lo cotidiano or the everyday for innovative epistemologies and ethics, or ways of knowing and living; and, the testimony of her life to the significance of fuerzas para la lucha or God-given strength for the struggle. Rather than wield religion as a weapon or a ruse in irrational appeals, the book attempts to reimagine a shared American mythos and ethos, by reminding us of our shared stake in creating an America committed to the life of all peoples and species, to the full developments of our capabilities as an exercise of liberty, and to the happiness that true solidarity can bring as we are and become a people for the common good Front Matter....Pages i-xxviii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 The Indigenous Dream—A World without an “America”....Pages 3-12 Race, Religion, and the Pursuit of Happiness....Pages 13-22 Pax Americana, Pax Humana....Pages 23-33 Front Matter....Pages 35-35 The United States as a Responsible Member of the Global Community: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness When Globalized Militarization Matters....Pages 37-49 Living Sustainably toward Social Justice: Asceticism Revisited....Pages 51-60 “Dead in the Water....Again”: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness in the Twenty-First Century....Pages 61-69 Welcome to the Great American Middle Class: From the American Dream to Deep Solidarity....Pages 71-81 Political Theology: Reflecting on the Arts of a Liberating Politics....Pages 83-98 Front Matter....Pages 99-99 Naming What We Want: Thoughts on Religious Vocabulary and the Desire for Quality of Life....Pages 101-108 Redeeming Equality: Life, Liberty, and Alternatives to Obliviousness....Pages 109-120 The Political Divide....Pages 121-128 Revitalizing US Civil Society by Reconceptualizing Civil Religion and Its Virtues....Pages 129-144 Latinas’ and Latinos’ Understanding of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness....Pages 145-155 Afterword....Pages 157-158 Back Matter....Pages 159-184