THE FIRST AMENDMENT

by William H. arnell ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 14, 1964

Subtitled ""The History of Religious Freedom in America,"" this carefully thought out book is a study of the complex basis for the relationship between Church and State in our nation. The opinion of the author is that the famous proscription in the first article of our Bill of Rights against ""an establishment of religion"" was not the product ""of indifference to religion"" but rather the exact opposite, ""a logical outcome of the Protestant Reformation and its ensuing developments."" In order to prove his case-- that there is a ""deep and usually disregarded relationship between the Christian Church and the American State""--he has thus had to begin his investigation with the Middle Ages and work, gradually and subtly but with persuasive conviction, up through the history of religion in the Colonies, the enactment of the Fourteenth Amendment, and as far as the Supreme Court decisions on Bible-reading and reciting the Lord's Prayer in public schools. Much of the argument seems exceedingly close: most is necessarily so. The conclusion, that a ""doctrinaire interpretation"" of the no-establishment clause would render the free-exercise clause inoperative, and vice-versa, and thus that each must be accommodated to ""the rule of reason and justice,"" is convincingly presented and offers a cogent approach to the currently raging dispute.

Pub Date: Aug. 14, 1964

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1964

Categories: NONFICTION