Readers of First Things will no doubt be interested in an upcoming event featuring longtime contributors and board members David Novak and George Weigel. The good Rabbi will be at Georgetown University on January 21 to discuss with Weigel, Tom Farr, and William Galston his latest book, In Defense of Religious Liberty. From the event’s website:
William James once quipped that “in this age of toleration,” no one “will ever try actively to interfere with our religious faith, provided we enjoy it quietly with our friends and do not make a public nuisance of it.” Unfortunately — at least for the privatizers and the secularists — religion is a very public matter for a simple reason: most religions make definitive moral claims that implicate the common good. So says Rabbi David Novak in his new book about religious liberty, why it is endangered, and why it should be protected. His is not, however, a book about attacks on religiousfreedom in Saudi Arabia or China. It is about liberal democracies such as the United States and Canada, where religious actors andinstitutions are increasingly vulnerable because of their public dissent to emerging laws and norms on issues like same-sex marriage. Novak, a Professor of Jewish Studies and Philosophy at the University of Toronto, will discuss the perils and the remedies – including the need to ground democratic religious liberty once again (as did America’s founders) in divine law.
You can register for the event here.
For First Things‘ own discussion of Novak’s important book, be sure to check out Rick Garnett’s review, which appeared last month.
January 9th, 2010 | 10:24 pm
The notion that religious freedom is threatened in the U.S. is utterly delusional. The first amendment to the constitution not only protects the right to religious belief, but also protects the right for religious organizations to engage in political lobbying as much as any other organization. As long as the U.S. constitution is intact, religious freedom is protected in the U.S.
January 11th, 2010 | 8:34 am
Don’t be so sure Lindsey. I live in Canada and our constitution also protects religious liberties. But those liberties have been eroded at a remarkable pace in the past few years. Nice in theory but when you are dealing with determined zealots who cannot tolerate the notion of God and responsiblility, be prepared for anything.
Regards from Canada.
Tony
January 11th, 2010 | 12:54 pm
Anthony,
My comments were limited to the U.S.
However, I have heard about the situation in Canada and I agree with you. For one, Canada has these kangaroo courts called “human rights commissions” that effectively preempt freedom of speech, among other things. Mark Steyn had a run-in with one of these kangaroo courts a few years ago. The situation in the U.K. is far worse.
My impression is that Canada is essentially a European country in North America.
January 11th, 2010 | 1:47 pm
What do you think about the situation for Creationists in the US science classroom? I was over at the Intelligent Design discussions, but saw this thread and thought it might be an appropriate place to ask the opinions of others. I feel science is a part of their religion and should not be subject to the separation that others claim is necessary and as the courts seem to have been doing as in the ID trial in Dover, PA, but I am no expert on this subject.
January 11th, 2010 | 6:48 pm
I don’t know because I have not paid any attention to it. Others here may have useful comments about it.
Links
Blogs
Find Us
Contact