Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2001
Abstract
This Article addresses the extent to which officials and citizens should rely directly on their religious convictions to reach political judgments and make political arguments. Reviewing opposing "exclusive" and "inclusive" positions, this Article suggests that officials generally should not articulate arguments in religious terms. Many officials should have a greater freedom to rely on religious bases of judgments, and private citizens should not regard themselves as constrained in the manner of officials. This approach, defended initially from the perspective of detached political philosophy, fits comfortably with a variety of overarching religious views. The constraints it suggests should be regarded as a matter of principle, not merely counsels of prudence. Finally, this Article defends, with qualifications, the idea that members of the clergy who intend to remain active in that role should not run for important political offices.
Disciplines
American Politics | Law | Religion Law
Recommended Citation
Kent Greenawalt,
Religion and American Political Judgments,
36
Wake Forest L. Rev.
401
(2001).
Available at:
https://scholarship.law.columbia.edu/faculty_scholarship/3483