State Religious Education and the State of Religious Life

This book explores recent calls to increase instruction of the Bible in American public schools. The work develops a distinctive philosophical and trans-Atlantic assessment of these proposals by critiquing European approaches to religious education and by reviewing the role of religion in contemporary democracies. The work will spark debate among political scientists policy experts Religious Education instructors theologians and social and educational theorists. Ignorance of the Bible cuts us off from our history and our cultural heritage. Yet state religious education carries dangers not least for religion itself. This superb book by two authors well-versed in these problems on both sides of the Atlantic points a way forward. --Roger Trigg Ian Ramsey Centre University of Oxford This book represents a sober and objective analysis of the movement to adopt Bible courses in the public schools. Those who are interested in the movement and church/state issues will find the work essential reading as providing an invaluable source of information about the situation in America and Europe and a compelling argument that demands attention and some compromise from both sides of the debate in the present cultural war. --Stephen Strehle Professor Christopher Newport University VA The use of the no establishment clause of the Constitution to expel Bible education from state schools threatens to leave Americans without the most important spiritual anchor that has been provided to them. In this strongly argued book Liam Gearon and Joseph Prudhomme mount a persuasive case not only against the misreading of the Constitution by secularist fanatics but also in favor of the Bible as the true foundation of Americas secular culture. --Sir Roger Scruton acclaimed philosopher author of over 40 books in aesthetics philosophy and political thought Joseph Prudhomme is Director of the Institute for Religion Politics and Culture Associate Professor of Political Science and Instructor in Religion at Washington College in Chestertown MD. Liam Francis Gearon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Education and a Senior Research Fellow at Harris Manchester College University of Oxford. He is the author and/or editor of over thirty books in politics literature education and the study of religion.