The Democratic Virtues of the Christian Right / / Jon A. Shields.
The Christian Right is frequently accused of threatening democratic values. But in The Democratic Virtues of the Christian Right, Jon Shields argues that religious conservatives have in fact dramatically increased and improved democratic participation and that they are far more civil and reasonable...
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Superior document: | Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter PUP eBook-Package 2000-2015 |
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Place / Publishing House: | Princeton, NJ : : Princeton University Press, , [2009] ©2009 |
Year of Publication: | 2009 |
Edition: | Course Book |
Language: | English |
Online Access: | |
Physical Description: | 1 online resource :; 2 line illus. 19 tables. |
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Other title: | Frontmatter -- Contents -- Tables and Figures -- Acknowledgments -- INTRODUCTION -- 1. Democratic Education in the Christian Right -- 2. Christian Radicalism -- 3. The Varieties of Pro-Life Activism -- 4. Deliberation and Abortion Politics -- 5. Reviving Participatory Democracy -- 6. Participation, Deliberation, and Values Voters -- Notes -- Index |
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Summary: | The Christian Right is frequently accused of threatening democratic values. But in The Democratic Virtues of the Christian Right, Jon Shields argues that religious conservatives have in fact dramatically increased and improved democratic participation and that they are far more civil and reasonable than is commonly believed. Shields interviewed leaders of more than thirty Christian Right organizations, observed movement activists in six American cities, and analyzed a wide variety of survey data and movement media. His conclusions are surprising: the Christian Right has reinvigorated American politics and fulfilled New Left ideals by mobilizing a previously alienated group and by refocusing politics on the contentious ideological and moral questions that motivate citizens. Shields also finds that, largely for pragmatic reasons, the vast majority of Christian Right leaders encourage their followers to embrace deliberative norms in the public square, including civility and secular reasoning. At the same time, Shields highlights a tension between participatory and deliberative ideals since Christian Right leaders also nurture moral passions, prejudices, and dogmas to propel their movement. Nonetheless, the Christian Right's other democratic virtues help contain civic extremism, sharpen the thinking of activists, and raise the level and tenor of political debate for all Americans. |
Format: | Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web. |
ISBN: | 9781400830107 9783110662580 9783110442502 9783110459531 |
DOI: | 10.1515/9781400830107 |
Access: | restricted access |
Hierarchical level: | Monograph |
Statement of Responsibility: | Jon A. Shields. |