America as a ‘Christian Nation’ — A Conversation with Experts on Religion, History, Law and the Constitution

One year before the 2012 election, the role of religion in our public life is already a hot topic in the presidential race.  The idea that America is, or should be, a “Christian nation” is taught by Religious Right figures such as “historian” David Barton.  Prominent Religious Right advocates, including some closely associated with presidential candidates Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann and Newt Gingrich, insist that law and government must be run according to their interpretations of the Bible. This includes declaring a religious basis for far-right approaches to government and economics and demanding public policies that undermine constitutional principles like church-state separation and equality under the law.  Some have even claimed that only Christians, not members of minority faiths, were meant by the founding fathers to be protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. 

What do “Christian Nation” advocates get wrong about American history and the role of religion in public life, and what are the implications of their policy demands?  Join us for a conversation with scholars on religion, history and the Constitution.

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