Liberty of Conscience

In one of greatest triumphs of the colonial and Revolutionary periods, the founders of the future US overcame religious intolerance in favour of a constitutional order dedicated to fair treatment for people's deeply held conscientious beliefs. This title presents a historical and conceptual study of the American tradition of religious freedom. The respect for religious difference has formed the bedrock of our nation and made equality possible. Yet today we are told that moral values",code for a government shaped by religious concerns,must be the keystone of our social compact. A rich and compelling chronicle of an essential idea, Liberty of Conscience tells the story of America's great tradition of religious freedom. Philosopher Martha Nussbaum's ambitious book is both a work of history and a pointed rejoinder to conservative efforts to break down barriers between church and state.