TY - BOOK ID - 77885099 TI - Constitutional Faith PY - 2011 SN - 1283290928 9786613290922 1400839874 9781400839872 9781283290920 9780691152400 0691152403 069107769X 9780691077697 0691023212 9780691023212 6613290920 PB - Princeton, NJ DB - UniCat KW - Constitutional history KW - Constitutional law KW - Moral and ethical aspects KW - Religion and law KW - Religious aspects. KW - American political community. KW - American religion. KW - Catholics. KW - Christian doctrine. KW - Protestants. KW - U.S. Constitution. KW - US Constitution. KW - affirmation. KW - civil religion. KW - constitutional faith. KW - constitutional worship. KW - law professors. KW - law school. KW - law. KW - loyalty. KW - marriage. KW - morality. KW - oaths. KW - quasi-religious system. KW - religious faith. KW - rule of law. UR - https://www.unicat.be/uniCat?func=search&query=sysid:77885099 AB - This book examines the "constitutional faith" that has, since 1788, been a central component of American "civil religion." By taking seriously the parallel between wholehearted acceptance of the Constitution and religious faith, Sanford Levinson opens up a host of intriguing questions about what it means to be American. While some view the Constitution as the central component of an American religion that serves to unite the social order, Levinson maintains that its sacred role can result in conflict, fragmentation, and even war. To Levinson, the Constitution's value lies in the realm of the discourse it sustains: a uniquely American form of political rhetoric that allows citizens to grapple with every important public issue imaginable. In a new afterword, Levinson looks at the deepening of constitutional worship and attributes the current widespread frustrations with the government to the static nature of the Constitution. ER -