democracy, secularism, and conversion Scherer, Matthew. 1977- creator text bibliography enk USA Cambridge University Press c2013 2013 monographic eng

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x, 240 pages ; 24 cm. "Secularism is often imagined in Thomas Jefferson's words as 'a wall of separation between Church and State'. This book moves past that standard picture to argue that secularism is a process that reshapes both religion and politics. Borrowing a term from religious traditions, the book goes further to argue that this process should be understood as a process of conversion. Matthew Scherer studies Saint Augustine, John Locke, John Rawls, Henri Bergson and Stanley Cavell to present a more accurate picture of what secularism is, what it does, and how it can be reimagined to be more conducive to genuine democracy"-- Machine generated contents note: Introduction: beyond the separation of church and state: secularism as conversion; 1. The authorized narrative and crystalline structure of conversion in Augustine's Confessions; 2. Toleration and conversion in Locke's letters: it is 'above all things necessary to distinguish'; 3. The crystalline structure of conversion: Henri Bergson's Two Sources; 4. Saint John (Rawls), the miracle of secular reason; 5. The wish for a better life: Stanley Cavell's critique of the social contract; Conclusion: 6. From Supernovas into The Deep: secularism as conversion, a conversion of secularism Matthew Scherer. Includes bibliographical references and index. Secularism Religion and politics Political Science / History & Theory BL2747.8 .S26 2013 322/.1 POL010000 9781107026094(hbk) : 2012036776 http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy1302/2012036776-b.html http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy1302/2012036776-d.html http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy1302/2012036776-t.html http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy1302/2012036776-b.html http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy1302/2012036776-d.html http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy1302/2012036776-t.html DLC 150206 20250312110246.0 17459749 eng