Religion and the law in America : an encyclopedia of personal belief and public policy / Scott A. Merriman.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

v. 1. Timeline; A-G -- volume 2. H-Z; Glossary.

This work is a comprehensive survey of one of the oldest and hottest debates in American history: the role of religion in the public discourse. Does freedom of religion include freedom from religion? Where exactly did the founding fathers intend to draw the line between church and state when they wrote the First Amendment? Despite more than two centuries of debate and over 300 Supreme Court decisions, we have never arrived at satisfactory answers to these questions. The relationship between church and state was contentious long before the framers of the Constitution undertook the bold experiment of separating the two, sparking a debate that would rage for centuries: What is the role of religion in government, and vice versa? Religion and the Law in America explores the many facets of this question, from prayer in public schools to the addition of the phrase "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance, from government investigation of religious fringe groups to federal grants for faith-based providers of social services. In more than 250 A-Z entries, along with a series of broad, thematic essays, it examines the groups, laws, and court cases that have framed this ongoing debate. Through its careful, balanced exploration of the interaction between government and religion throughout the history of the United States, the work provides all Americans--students, scholars, and lay readers alike--with a deep understanding of one of the central, enduring issues in our history. - Publisher.