Religion and the State in American Law

Abstract

Religion and the State in American Law provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of religion and government in the United States, from historical origins to modern laws and rulings. In addition to extensive coverage of the religion clauses of the First Amendment, it addresses many statutory, regulatory, and common-law developments at both the federal and state levels. Topics include the history of church-state relations and religious liberty, religion in the classroom, and expressions of religion in government. This book also covers the role of religion in specific areas of law such as contracts, taxation, employment, land use regulation, torts, criminal law, and domestic relations as well as in specialized contexts such as prisons and the military. Accessible to the general as well as the professional reader, this book will be of use to scholars, judges, practising lawyers, and the media.

Law and Religion in the History of the Early American State

“…Установленные Мейфлауэрским соглашением, подписанным первыми переселенцами, принципы равноправия, создания справедливых законов и общего правительства стали основой построения правовой и политической систем новых поселений и предполагали реализацию идеи естественных прав, равенства всех жителей Нового Света. Однако сам текст соглашения свидетельствовал об установлении государственной религии: «Мы, чьи имена написаны ниже ... предприняв во Славу Божью и продвижение христианской веры … путешествие с целью основания первой колонии…» 1 .…”

Judicial Review of Legislators’ Motives

“…This requirement is breached where an improper religious motive is 'primary' or 'predominant'. 109 As the three parts of the Lemon test are cumulative, the government will have failed at this point. 110 A different use of motive evidence was put forward in Hunter, 111 one of the equal protection cases discussed earlier.…”