The Religious Test: Why We Must Question the Beliefs of Our Leaders

by Damon Linker

A manifesto seeking to exhort both believers and atheists to behave better in the public sphere. The Constitution states that “no religious test” may keep a candidate from aspiring to political office. Yet, since John F. Kennedy used the phrase to deflect concerns about his Catholicism, the public has largely avoided probing candidates’ religious beliefs. Is it true, however, that a candidate’s religious convictions should be off-limits to public scrutiny?

Damon Linker doesn’t think so, and in this book he outlines the various elements of religious belief―including radical atheism―that are simply incompatible with high office, and sometimes even active citizenship, in a democracy. In six forceful chapters he enlightens us to the complicated interrelations between churches and states, consistently applying a political litmus test to a range of theological views. Along the way, he clearly explains, among other topics, why the government in a religiously tolerant society must not promote a uniform, absolute code of ethics and behavior; why the conviction that America is worthy of divine attention is dangerous; and why the liberal position on the political deregulation of sex is our nation’s only hope for conciliation.

In this provocative, hard-hitting manifesto, Linker exhorts both believers and atheists to behave better in the public sphere, and he offers a carefully charted road map for doing so.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Religion

256 pages, Hardcover

First published July 20, 2010

About the author

Damon Linker is a contributing editor for the New Republic and is a Senior Writing Fellow in the Center for Critical Writing at the University of Pennsylvania. He lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two children.

Reviews

[Chris Beckstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book on a whim because the title was interesting and I expected it to challenge my thinking (I expected to disagree with most of its content). It certainly did challenge my thinking, and in more ways than I anticipated. I did not disagree with much of it.

A great many pages were spent detailing the religious history in the United States, which I'd heard before but never in such relevant detail. All the time Linker spent with the past paid off when he discussed our current political and religious situation, all the more important after the election we just had.

It was interesting to hear a critique of the New Atheists from a perspective other than Christian apologetics. Linker brought up many valid points about the New Atheist movement, specifically the implication that wanting to eradicate religion from humanity violates one of the most important principles of our society: an individual's liberty.

The title is a little strange, because I'm still not sure why we must question the beliefs of our leaders; unless I'm being really dense and somehow missed that paragraph.

A lot to think about. I thoroughly recommend this fantastic book to anyone interested in diving into the convergence of religion, politics, and a truly free society.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Linker presents an interesting argument about the place of religious beliefs and our elected leaders. While his position allows for strong religious beliefs held by our leaders, he does make a compelling case that some beliefs, particularly many currently espoused by today's evangelical Christians, may in fact create conflicts that cause those elected officials to disregard the essential separation of church and state, a bedrock of our democratic principles. This book is definitely worth reading and considering as tea party conservatives seem to make a completely different kind of religious test a requirement for election,

Linker's six political commandments:
Grant to others the religious freedom granted you.
Place no authority above the constitution.
Honor worldly knowledge.
Do not presume to know God's providence.
Do not covet sexual consensus.
Do not preach intolerance in the name of freethinking.

Worth a good read and serious thought.

[Jon Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This read like a long (very long) introduction to some other book which never seemed to materialize. And the animosity to the "new atheists" (as he kept referring to Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, et al) had me wondering if they threw a party and neglected to invite him. He seemed to bear them quite a grudge.

Another good pass at the ms by an editor might have helped to tighten the prose--there were definitely long bits that seemed to plod along. Still, despite its shortcomings it proved a serviceable apologetic for the moderate cause.

[The American Conservative]

'This is really a book about the alleged danger posed by Christian conservatives. There are more of them, some do want to be leaders, and it’s possible to imagine a few awkward moments in public life if they were to rise to the top. Even so, readers need not fear that the republic is in danger.'

Read the full review, "Fear of God," on our website:
http://www.theamericanconservative.co...