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Summer 2017 | Volume 35, Issue 2
Rethinking Civil Religion
In this issue we want to suggest there are expressions of civil religion that deserve serious consideration because, as implausible as it might seem, civil religion is an irreplaceable moral source of civil society. And conversely, the biblical vision of our human calling to tend the earth and love our neighbours—a calling that is renewed by the gospel, not superseded—propels us into social concern for the societies in which we find ourselves.
- 02
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Editorial: Reconsidering "Civil Religion"
What if religious communities are the best hope for renewing liberal democracy?
- 06
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World View
An annotated reading of your world.
- 11
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Headquarters: Work & Economics
Updates from Cardus on the renewal of North America's social architecture.
- 12
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The Headscarf: Islam's Gift to Western Democracy
Learning to welcome Islam is a way to relearn what democracy is about.
- 20
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Sacred Heritage, Sacred History
As Canada approaches its sesquicentennial, an American historian recalls lessons learned at their bicentennial.
- 28
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Filth Therapy: A Cunning Word
A question in the novels of Robertson Davies: What ways of Wisdom have been discarded by modern Knowledge?
- 37
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Can States Be Christian?
Political philosopher Jonathan Chaplin helps us think about civil religion by making things more complicated.
- 48
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L'Etat, C'Est Toi
Why proclaiming Christ as King provides the basis for religious freedom for those who don't.
- 54
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Do We Need a Foreign Policy Pope?
The trouble with trying to discern orthodoxy from heresy in civil religion.
- 58
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A Form of Godliness
Why civil religion won't save us from religious nationalism or radical secularism.
- 64
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The Commons: Cultivate Your Calling
A word of advice to recent graduates.
Contributors to this Issue
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Alan Jacobs Alan Jacobs is Distinguished Professor of the Humanities in the Honors Program at Baylor University. Bio -
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Andrew Bennett Rev. Dr. Andrew P.W. Bennett is Director of the Cardus Religious Freedom Institute. Bio -
Brian Dijkema Brian Dijkema is the Vice President of External Affairs with Cardus, and an editor of Comment. Bio -
Eric Miller Eric Miller is professor of history and the humanities at Geneva College, in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. Bio -
James K.A. Smith James K.A. Smith was the editor-in-chief of Comment from 2013-2018, and teaches philosophy at Calvin College. He is the new editor-in-chief of Image Journal. Bio -
Jonathan Chaplin Jonathan Chaplin is former Director of the Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics. Bio -
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Robert Joustra Robert Joustra, Ph.D., teaches politics & international studies at Redeemer University College. Bio -
Susan Wise Bauer Susan Wise Bauer is the author of The Story of Western Science: From the Writings of Aristotle to the Big Bang Theory. Bio
