A New York Times Notable BookThis remarkable work offers a fresh approach to a freedom that is often taken for granted in the United States; yet is one of the strongest and proudest elements of American culture: religious freedom. In this compellingly written; distinctively personal book; Judge John T. Noonan asserts that freedom of religion; as James Madison conceived it; is an American invention previously unknown to any nation on earth. The Lustre of Our Country demonstrates how the idea of religious liberty is central to the American experience and to American influence around the world.Noonan's original book is a history of the idea of religious liberty and its relationship with the law. He begins with an intellectual autobiography; describing his own religious and legal training. After setting the stage with autobiography; Noonan turns to history; with each chapter written in a new voice. One chapter takes the form of a catechism (questions and answers); presenting the history of the idea of religious freedom in Christianity and the American colonies. Another chapter on James Madison argues that Madison's support of religious freedom was not purely secular but rather the outcome of his own religious beliefs. A fictional sister of Alexis de Toqueville writes; contrary to her brother's work; that the U.S. government is very closely tied to religion. Other chapters offer straightforward considerations of constitutional law.Throughout the book; Noonan shows how the free exercise of religion led to profound changes in American law—he discusses abolition; temperance; and civil rights—and how the legal notion of religious liberty influenced revolutionary France; Japan; and Russia; as well as the Catholic Church during Vatican II. The Lustre of Our Country is a celebration of religious freedom—a personal and profound statement on what the author considers America's greatest moral contribution to the world.
#2731313 in Books 1998-07-27Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .58 x 6.00l; .69 #File Name: 0520211316235 pages
Review
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful. Informative and challenging academic analysisBy Northern BorisHaving read the preceding comments; I find myself in sympathy with all of them to a certain extent (some more than others). Goldstein and Kapstein's informative and challenging edited collection is precisely that - a collection; and includes viewpoints from a variety of academic researchers on Tibet. AS a result; it does not constitute the accepted 'word' on Tibet; nor in fact does it present ANY single viewpoint. Certainly; it does not deserve the accusations heaped on it by the first reviewer; but at the same time; the editors DO come to a particular view of Tibetan political consciousness that not everyone wouyld agree with. That view; if I might summerise; is roughly that the national identity generated around Tibetan Buddhism is not necessarily a prelude to full-blown Tibetan nationalism; and therefore that Tibetan Buddhism can be allowed to flourish by the Chinese authorities without it necessarily generating sympathy for the independence movement). Personally I do not agree with this perspective; and it is clear that the writers are attempting to produce an academic analysis which; as the Tibetan writer Tsering Shakya has recently argued for; cuts a path between the various absolute "black-or-white" political positions that surround the Tibet issue. At the same time; the authors take odds with the widespread view that ALL Buddhism in Tibet is forbidden; and argue that (thankfully) many Tibetans are capable of negotiating a meaningful Buddhist revival despite Chinese communist rule (the extent to which this holds true in the 2 years since this book was published is another issue). As a result; it IS possible to read this collection as proposing an analytical agenda which is not exactly "on-message" in terms of the position of certain pro-Tibet groups; but that is a LONG way from saying that it is Chinese political orthodoxy.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Serious and even handed; but a bit dated by nowBy SpyralFirst let me say that I share many of the reviewers sentiments here regarding the inaccuracy of the first one-star review here. Calling this book Communist party propaganda is about as ignorant as you can get really; especially since it a collection of essays by MANY authors; with differing but related viewpoints. Unfortunately; just as with the PRC; there are those in the other camp who see anything that doesn't shout FREE TIBET followed by a litany of anti-Chinese arguments; propaganda. John Power's "History as Propaganda: Tibetan Exiles versus the People's Republic of China" would be a good read for these people.That being said; the book itself is great; though I found some chapters a bit plodding and couldn't finish them; as they dealt with very specific niches of Tibetan Buddhism that just don't interest me. This is definitely one of the more hardcore scholarly books on the subject; and readers who are new to the issue of Tibetan religion and identity or who aren't writing a college paper might want to start elsewhere.10 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Goldstein provides an informed and intellectual assesment.By A CustomerI am surprised by a reader's comments regarding this book as being one of misinformation considering that Melvyn Goldstein is one of the (if not THE) foremost scholar on Tibetan buddhism in the country. One aspect of this book; and Dr. Goldstein's point of reference that must be kept in mind; is that Goldstein separates political Tibet from what he refers to as "ethnic Tibet". He is neither pro-communist China nor pro-political Tibet in his stance; but rather gives an educated and informed look at a political situation that; through a lack of reasonable compromise; has escalted to the point that the Dalai Lama will be forced to make some difficult choices in the next few years. This book outlines both the political and the ethnic situation in Tibet and explains how buddhism has played a major role in both. I feel if you want an informed and balanced view of the situation; than any of Goldstein's books would provide you with the necessary information to form an intelligent argument.
