About Piety & Politics
In his new book, Piety & Politics: The Right-Wing Assault on Religious Freedom, the Rev. Barry W. Lynn explains why the Religious Right’s dream for America is a nightmare.
“The author calmly demonstrates the twisted logic and outright hypocrisy of the right….While his opponents in the ‘culture war’ relentlessly fan the passions of their followers, offering the faithful a self-image of persecution and martyrdom, Lynn maintains a reasonable demeanor, largely foregoing cheap shots and one-liners….Essential reading.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State and a Christian minister, deplores Religious Right attempts to demolish the wall between church and state. A strong defense of secular government, Piety & Politics argues that true religion doesn’t need the government’s assistance, and in a nation of many faiths, it’s impractical and inappropriate to foster specific doctrines in the government or teach them in public schools.
Lynn’s book examines the proper role of religion in public schools. He explains why tax support for religious endeavors is dangerous. He looks at government endorsement of religious symbols and concludes they hurt genuine faith. Lynn discusses issues of reproduction, privacy and gay rights and others, in each case explaining why the Religious Right’s perspective is counter to the American spirit of freedom.
As a Christian minister speaking out against the Religious Right, Lynn has incurred the wrath of Falwell, Robertson & Co. (Robertson once called Lynn “lower than a child molester.”) But Lynn has continued to take on these radicals calmly and rationally, using their own words to demonstrate their hostility to freedom.
Lynn calls for a society where the government respects persons of all religious views and those who follow no particular spiritual path. He asserts that government meddling in religion is unworkable, undesirable and unhealthy for the life of the church.
Published by Harmony Books, a division of Random House, Piety & Politics lays out a strong manifesto in defense of a great American principle separation of church and state. Lynn educates Americans about what is at stake, explains why it is crucial that we maintain that separation and galvanizes readers to defend anew the time-honored principle of religious liberty for all.