Synopses & Reviews
Warren Nord's thoughtful book tackles an issue of great importance in contemporary America: the role of religion in our public schools and universities. According to Nord, public opinion has been excessively polarized by those religious conservatives who would restore religious purposes and practices to public education and by those secular liberals for whom religion is irrelevant to everything in the curriculum. While he maintains that public schools and universities must not promote religion, he also argues that there are powerful philosophical, political, moral, and constitutional reasons for requiring students to study religion. Indeed, only if religion is included in the curriculum will students receive a truly liberal education, one that takes seriously a variety of ways of understanding the human experience.
Intended for a broad audience, Nord's comprehensive study encompasses American history, constitutional law, educational theory and practice, theology, philosophy, and ethics. It also discusses a number of current, controversial issues, including multiculturalism, moral education, creationism, academic freedom, and the voucher and school choice movements.
Review
An important achievement that should become a standard reference in years to come.
Washington Times
Review
It is hard to imagine a more reasonable book, yet it is also full of fresh insights.
Teaching, Theology, and Religion
Review
This is a book and a set of proposals to be taken very seriously indeed.
Washington Post
Review
Nord clearly wants to engage the interested general reader, not the specialist, and his conversational writing style helps him succeed.
Christian Science Monitor
Review
[A] thoughtful analysis of religion's role in public education.
Commonweal
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 435-458) and index.