Religious Pluralism, Globalization, and World Politics

Religious Pluralism, Globalization, and World Politics by Thomas Banchoff

Religious pluralism is everywhere in today's politics. Increased immigration flows, the collapse of communism, and the globalization of communications technologies have all fostered a wider variety of religious beliefs, practices, and organizations within and across democratic societies. This is true in both the United States and Europe, where growing and diverse minority communities are transforming the political landscape. As a result, controversies over such things as headscarves and depictions of Mohammed are unsettling a largely secular Europe, while a Christian majority in the US faces familiar questions about church-state relations amidst unprecedented religious diversity. Far from receding into the background, religious language pervades arguments around established issues such as abortion and capital punishment, and new ones such as stem cell research and same-sex marriage. In Democracy and the New Religious Pluralism, leading scholars from multiple disciplines explore these dynamics and their implications for democratic theory and practice. What are the contours of this new religious pluralism? What are its implications for the theory and practice of democracy? Does increasing religious pluralism erode the cultural and social foundations of democracy? To what extent do different religious communities embrace similar -- or at least compatible -- ethical and political commitments? By seeking answers to these questions and revealing religious pluralism as both a source of animosity and a potent force for peaceful engagement, this book offers a revealing look at the future of religion in democratic societies.

A remarkable contribution to the study of religion in the public sphere. . At its core, the book opens up profound discussions, not so much on the neutrality of the state, but rather on the conditions surrounding the many essential collaborations between states, secular organizations and religious groups. * Religion *

A native of Providence, RI, Banchoff has been teaching at Georgetown since 1993, where he now serves as Director of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. Banchoff's current research addresses the intersection of science, religion, and politics in the context of globalization.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780195323412
ISBN 10	0195323416
Title	Religious Pluralism, Globalization, and World Politics
Author	Thomas Banchoff
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Oxford University Press Inc
Year published	2008-11-20
Number of pages	360
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.