The Establishment Clause: Religion and the First Amendment

Examines the portion of the First Amendment providing for separation of church and state, discusses the history of the clause, and offers a modern interpretation

Like Levy's earlier work, this new book on the establishment clause of the First Amendment is exhaustively researched, forcefully and relentlessly argued. It traces the sources of disestablishment in the colonial experience, offers exegetical commentary on the relevant discussion at the constitutional convention and in the ratification contests, and insistently concludes that Congress, in writing the religious freedom clause, took the broad view, flatly prohibiting government support to religion in generali.e., to all denominations, without discrimination. Opponents argue that the Framers did not intend to forbid aid to all denominations on a nondiscriminatory basis. Levy takes on McCloskey, Corwin, Justices White, Burger, Rehnquist, the Attorney General, the President himself. It is no contest. The argument for absolute disestablishment has been made, once and for all. Milton Cantor, History Dept., Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.