Law and Religion in American History

This book provides a timely and tightly focused study of the many ways in which politically active Christians have attempted to influence public policy since the founding of the Republic, and the manner in which courts have responded to such efforts. McGarvie is categorical in his assertions that political activism to promote laws that embody religious principles breaches the intent of the Founding Fathers and the framers of the First Amendment to strictly separate church and state by creating distinct private and public spheres of activity. The author attempts to demonstrate that the religion clauses were intended only to promote freedom of conscience for individuals. He argues that courts, particularly during the past quarter century, have eroded both clauses by blurring the distinction between public and private spheres, extending rights to groups, and trying to accommodate religious beliefs and practices in ways that stray far beyond the need to protect personal conscience.

Conscience · First amendment · Free Exercise Clause · Political science · Politics · Private rights · Private sphere · Public sphere · Religious freedom · Separation of church and state · Sociology · State (computer science) · American Constitutional Law and Politics · Law · Mormonism, Religion, and History