
Contemporary Paganism : Minority Religions in a Majoritarian America.
Title:
Contemporary Paganism : Minority Religions in a Majoritarian America.
Author:
Barner-Barry, C.
ISBN:
9781403973382
Personal Author:
Physical Description:
1 online resource (256 pages)
Contents:
Cover -- Contents -- Preface -- Introduction: Majorities, Minorities, and Religious Diversity -- Chapter 1 The Historical and Legal Context -- Free Exercise as a Legal Concept -- The Native American Experience -- The Sherbert Test in the Post-Smith Era -- The Legal Status of Emerging and Minority Religions -- Chapter 2 The Emerging Pagan Movement in America -- Widely Shared Core Beliefs -- Men and Women in Paganism -- The Pagan Mythical Basis -- Pagan Identity -- Chapter 3 The Challenge of Christian Hegemony -- Accusations of Satanism -- Nontraditional Religious Identity and the Law -- The Judiciary -- Chapter 4 Paganism as a Religion -- The Legal Definition of Religion -- Places for Worship -- Ordination and Clergy Status -- Religious Holidays -- Chapter 5 The Other: Religious Diversity and the Social Order -- Child Raising and Conformity -- School System Enforced Conformity -- Public Appearance and Dress -- Chapter 6 Threats, Intimidation, and the Strategic Use of Fear -- Workplace Harassment and Deprival of Livelihood -- Vulnerable Businesses -- A Place to Live -- Violence -- Police: Friend or Foe? -- Chapter 7 Christian Privilege and the Perception of Entitlement -- Ceremonial Deism -- Ceremonial Deism in Practice -- Public School Involvement in Evangelism -- The Consequences of "Opting Out" -- The Theory of Privilege -- Chapter 8 Majoritarianism and Religion -- Notes -- References -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Y -- Z.
Abstract:
This book explores the legal bias in the United States against Paganism and other non-Christian religions. Despite being one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world, the U.S. legal system developed when the population was predominantly Christian. Built into the law is the tacit assumption that all religions and religious practices resemble Christianity. Using the Pagans as a case study, Barner-Barry shows how their experiences demonstrate that both the law affecting nondominant religions and the judiciary that interprets this law are significantly biased in favor of the dominant religion, Christianity. This creates legal problems, as well as problems of intolerance, for religions with significantly different practices. Special attention is given to a series of Supreme Court decisions interpreting the Freedom of Religion Clause in terms of neutrality and interpreting the Establishment Clause loosely and its impact on nondominant religions in the US.
Local Note:
Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2017. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.
Genre:
Electronic Access:
Click to View