Religious Morality and Political Choice: Further Thoughts--And Second Thoughts--on Love and Power

This is an Article written by the author of the book Love and Power: The Role of Religion and Morality in American Politics. In this Article, he returns to an inquiry already addressed in Love and Power. He asks the question: should Americans accept an ideal of political choice according to which a citizen ought not make a controversial political choice if the choice cannot be defended without relying on a religious belief that at least some opponents of the choice reject? The author responds with a resounding no, arguing that we should not accept such a political ideal.

He contends that some of the most often given reasons for such an ideal, such as showing others the respect due them as free and equal persons, are ill conceived.