Charles Haynes, Philip Hamburger, and Cheryl Crazy Bull — Religious Liberty in America: The Legacy of Church and State

On Being with Krista Tippett

On Being Studios

Sociology, Spirituality, Religion & Spirituality, Krista Tippett, Arts, Culture, On Being, Society, Society & Culture, Science, Social Sciences

4.7 • 10.2K Ratings

🗓️ 1 July 2003

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

At the center of our history of church and state is a troublesome irony. What began as an attempt to guarantee religious tolerance in the new world has at various times been commandeered by the most chauvinistic movements America has known. In spite of this, religious liberty has survived as an American ideal—one which we continue to test. We live in a world of increasing religious pluralism—diversity beyond the imagining of our nation’s founders—which suggests fresh nuance to the meaning of religious liberty. This much is clear: our modern conversation has few connections to the social, political, and religious impulses that led to the First Amendment. Host Krista Tippett and her guests revisit the history and meaning of separation in thought-provoking and, at times, unsettling ways. Charles Haynes talks about his work in the American public school system—the arena in which our modern debates often center. Philip Hamburger describes his research into the surprising, and largely forgotten, origins of separation of church and state. And, Cheryl Crazy Bull speaks about the loss and reemergence of religious expression in tribal public life.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Speaking of faith is supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts, investing in ideas, returning results,
0:05.7	PewTrusts.com.
0:07.7	Additional support is provided by the John Templeton Foundation and the Corporation for
0:12.1	Public Broadcasting.
0:15.2	This is Speaking of Faith, Conversation about Belief, Meaning, Ethics, and Ideas.
0:20.5	I'm Krista Tippett.
0:27.0	Religion, or at least religious rhetoric, has staked its place in the 2004 presidential
0:32.8	election.
0:34.0	For the next two weeks on Speaking of Faith, we'll step back from the sound bites and
0:38.5	explore how America got to this point.
0:42.3	Next week, we'll present a conservative and a liberal view on what this election is
0:46.6	telling us about the influence and substance of religion and American public life.
0:51.5	Today, we'll look at the larger principle of the separation of church and state.
0:56.8	Some worry that this principle is threatened by a culture that seems to expect mandatory
1:01.5	religious pronouncements from political candidates.
1:04.8	The voices of this hour revisit the history and meaning of separation in thought-provoking
1:10.0	and at times unsettling ways.
1:13.1	At the center of our history of church and state is a troublesome irony.
1:17.4	As you'll hear in this program, what began as an attempt to guarantee religious tolerance
1:22.2	in the New World has at various times been commandeered by the most chauvinistic movements
1:27.5	America has known.
1:29.4	In spite of this, religious liberty has survived as an American ideal, one which we continue
	...

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