Worldly Politics and Divine Institutions: Contemporary Entanglements of Faith and Government

The institutional entanglement of religion and government takes many forms, including direct governmental funding of religious associations, legal recognition, and governmental endorsement of religious symbols in public spaces. This entanglement remains contentious in many democratic countries today. Worldly Politics and Divine Institutions explores the entanglement of religion and government in a comparative analysis of four cases within democratic countries, such as the British Jewish Free School (JFS) case, the European Court of Human Rights decision in Martinez, the Lautsi case, and the Bladensburg World War I Memorial (Peace Cross) case.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 12 June 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The institutional entanglement of religion and government manifests in various forms, including direct governmental funding of religious associations, legal recognition, and governmental endorsement of religious symbols in public spaces. This intricate relationship continues to be a source of contention in many democratic countries, particularly in Europe and North America, where governments are increasingly involved in religious matters. In his book, "Worldly Politics and Divine Institutions," author Perez delves into the complex entanglement of religion and government by examining four cases within democratic countries. These cases include the British Jewish Free School (JFS) case, where the U.K. Supreme Court compelled a government-funded faith school to alter its admission policies; the European Court of Human Rights decision in Martinez, where the Catholic church retained its right to dismiss religion teachers within the Spanish public school system; the Lautsi case, where the Italian government successfully defended its policy of mandating a crucifix in all public school classrooms at the European Court of Human Rights; and the case of the Bladensburg World War I Memorial (also known as the Peace Cross) in Maryland, where the U.S. Supreme Court determined that the cross's public placement and maintenance funding did not violate the non-establishment clause of the First Amendment.

Perez's book offers a novel framework for understanding these cases, highlighting how they create complex, hybrid religious-statist institutions. He argues that these cases challenge traditional understandings of the separation of church and state and suggest that the boundaries between these two domains are not always clear-cut. The book provides valuable insights into the legal and political implications of the entanglement of religion and government and is essential reading for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the complex relationship between these two powerful forces.

Weight: 420g
Dimension: 161 x 244 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197579718