Acknowledgments
PROLOGUE
1. TOWARD A DEBATE ON COMMON GROUND
At the Crossroads of the Twenty-First Century
Roots of the Conflict
Original Intent and the Religion Clauses: At the Core of the Debate
Entering the Fray
On Looking Back to Rediscover America's Moral Foundations
A Few Definitions
Part I. Looking Back to Rediscover America's Sacred Ground
2. REDISCOVERING THE ROOTS OF AMERICA'S SACRED GROUND IN JOHN LOCKE
John Locke: Prophet of America
Locke's Political Theology: Locating the Sacred Center in Each Individual's Relationship with God
The Social Contract as Society's Sacred Ground
Aiming for the Kingdom of God Requires "Just Bounds" between Civil Government and Churches
Rediscovering the Individual as the Sole Authority over Conscience and the Authentic Religious Community as a Free and Voluntary Call to Conscience
Setting the "Just Bounds" between Individual Conscience's Moral Choice and the State
Rethinking the Private/Public Dichotomy in Locke's Political Theology and the "Public" Role of Religion
Rediscovering the Moral Ground of Locke's Political Theology
Distinguishing Locke's Reasonable Christianity from His Political Theology
Creating the Political Context for the Realization of the True and the Good
3. THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION: ESTABLISHING AMERICA'S SACRED GROUND
Rediscovering John Locke in the Revolutionary Spirit
Rediscovering the Religious Roots of the American Political System
The States: Toward Government that Ensures Freedom of Conscience and Seeks to Promote a Good Society
The United States: Toward Government that Ensures Freedom of Conscience and Creates the Context for the Search for the True and the Good
Exploring the Theological Terrain of America's Sacred Ground
Comparing the Moral Terrain of America's Sacred Ground with the Moral Order of Overarching Worldview Approaches to Government
The Civic and Conscientious Morality of the Two-Tiered Public Forum
The Role of Religion in the Public Forum and in the Pursuit of the Good
America's Sacred Ground: The Foundation for Pluralism and Multiculturalism that Refutes the Claims of Moral Relativity
America's Sacred Ground as the Common Good: Where Religious Voices are Prominent and Truth Can Shift for Herself
Part II. Rooting the Contemporary Debate in Sacred Ground
4. TAKING SIDES AND LOOKING LEFT
Unraveling the Contemporary Debate
Embracing the Fears at the Extremes: Left and Right
Reconsidering the Secular Left from the Perspective of America's Sacred Ground
John Rawls: Compromising America's Sacred Ground with Public Reasons
5. LOOKING RIGHT
Reconsidering the Religious Right from the Perspective of America's Sacred Ground
Accommodation: Compromising America's Sacred Ground by Mediating the Extremes
6. GROUNDING THE DEBATE
Sifting through the Confusion in the Contemporary Debate
Reorienting the Debate to Aim for the Good
CONCLUSION: AMERICA'S SACRED GROUND: OUR CIVIC FAITH
Appendix A. A Few Definitions
Appendix B. Freedom of Conscience in Revolutionary Period Constitutions and Declarations of Rights
Appendix C. Drafts of the Religious Clauses Proposed in the Debates of the First Congress
Notes
Suggested Readings
Index