Rawls and religion /

John Rawls was the preeminent social philosopher of the present era. One of his most contentious claims was that the rational consensus needed for determining the rules for political life in a liberal democratic polity should be guided by "secular" reasons that all can agree on. This meant that what he called "comprehensive" doctrines, especially religiously grounded ones, should be used cautiously or not at all in developing a democratic polity because they are sectarian, mutually exclusive, generally trump the dictates of rationality, and transcend the realm of politics. This volume of thought-provoking essays explores the appropriateness of excluding or marginalizing the role of religious thought in determining political policy. Some contributors argue for a more accommodating place for religious doctrine, whereas others are more hesitant to do so; however, all engage knowledgeably with the work of Rawls and all show an admirable knowledge of religion. Essays comparing Rawls's ideas with those of Pope Benedict XVI and with Islamic political philosophy are particularly interesting. For those interested in religion and its role in political philosophy, this is a must read. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. --Frank G. Kirkpatrick, Trinity College (CT)