Politics
Editors
William H. Swatos
Document Type
Chapter
Publication Date
1998
Publication Title
The Encyclopedia of Religion and Society
Publisher
AltaMira Press
Publisher Location
Walnut Creek, CA
First page number:
366
Last page number:
369
Abstract
Intermittently throughout American history, religious belief and practice have been an important source of political conflict. The occasional, and occasionally intense, nature of religious politics in the United States may be attributable to the unique role that religion plays in the life of the American nation. On one hand, religious belief and observance are quite widespread in the United States; relative to other industrialized nations, the U.S. population is highly religious. On the other hand, as a constitutional principle, religion is regarded as a separate sphere of activity from politics and government. Although the exact nature of church-state separation is a frequent topic of debate, few would dispute the principle itself.
Disciplines
American Politics | Political Science | Religion
Language
English
Repository Citation
Jelen, T. G.
(1998).
Politics. In William H. Swatos,
The Encyclopedia of Religion and Society
366-369.
Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press.
COinS