Clash Of Orthodoxies: Law, Religion & Morality In Crisis

by Robert P. George

In The Clash of Law, Religion, and Morality in Crisis , Robert George tackles the issues at the heart of the contemporary conflict of worldviews. Secular liberals typically suppose that their positions on morally charged issues of public policy are the fruit of pure reason, while those of their morally conservative opponents reflect an irrational religious faith. George shows that this supposition is wrong on both counts. Challenging liberalism's claim to represent the triumph of reason, George argues that on controversial issues like abortion, euthanasia, same-sex unions, civil rights and liberties, and the place of religion in public life, traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs are rationally superior to secular liberal alternatives.

The Clash of Orthodoxies is a profoundly important contribution to our contemporary national conversation about the proper role of religion in politics. The lucid and persuasive prose of Robert George, one of America's most prominent public intellectuals, will shock liberals out of an unwarranted complacency and provide powerful ammunition for embattled defenders of traditional morality.

Genres: Philosophy, Politics, Religion, Law, Theology, Nonfiction, Catholic

400 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2001

About the author

McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, where he lectures on constitutional interpretation, civil liberties and philosophy of law. He also serves as the director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. George has been called America's "most influential conservative Christian thinker."[2] He is a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, and the Herbert W. Vaughan senior fellow of the Witherspoon Institute. He is also a Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School.

Reviews

[Dody Eid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor George tackles big moral and political questions issues in a respectful, intelligent, and thoughtful manner.

[Caleb Newsom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is poignant critique of the Rawlsian conception of liberalism. Through the Natural Law, Christians can make legitimate arguments for public morals. George goes to great length to revive the notion that philosophy is faith seeking understanding and that its place in the Christian intellectual tradition has a valid place in public life. As a legal scholar, George lambasts the modern legal project for abandoning the Natural Law tradition for the sake of legal positivism and skepticism.

[Jay Bhattacharya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Robert George. He makes a compelling case for a natural rights interpretation of the law. Though he is Christian, his premise throughout the book is that the (small "o") orthodox Christian view of social mortality is defensible without recourse to explicitly religious argumentation or evidence. George covers a wide array of controversial topics, including homosexual marriage and abortion. Though these discussions will undoubtedly draw most readers' attention, George is most interested in exploring the proper role of a Christian in the American political process.

This is a thought provoking book, well worth reading by people whatever their politics. Even if you are an atheist and a liberal, it's a good idea to read the best of what thinkers who do not share your beliefs think, and Robert George does not present a straw-man argument. If you are a Christian who has never thought too deeply about natural law, this is a great introduction (it certainly was for me). And of course, if you already steeped in that tradition, you have probably already read this excellent book.

[Tim Lundquist · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Clash of Orthodoxies" is a collection of essays by the legal philosopher Robert P. George. There is nothing new here for anyone who has been paying attention to the evolution of social conservatism over the past twenty years, although I suppose this would be reason enough for those curious about the catholic contribution to that movement to take a look and see what the fuss is about.

To his credit, George is charitable enough to engage critics, though he is just likely as to announce that he will "clear up confusion" over some disputed item, and then fail entirely to put the controversy to rest. Notable in this are his comments over the famed 1997 First Things symposium on judicial review.

One is left underwhelmed by the substance of George's arguments on a great many items, but his writing is clear enough, partially because nearly every other essay seems to quote the same (already explained) argument about abortion or same-sex marriage.

[Jonathan]

None

[K B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written with Roman Catholicism as its basis, a good analysis of the current culture of death and lawlessness we face in our world. Worth reading.