Third Disestablishment

Book Description

In a nation where the relationship between faith and government continues to spark passionate debate, understanding how we arrived at our current moment requires looking back at the pivotal decades that shaped modern America's approach to church-state separation.

Steven K. Green traces the fascinating evolution of separationism through the turbulent mid-20th century, revealing how cultural conflicts and landmark Supreme Court decisions transformed both legal doctrine and popular attitudes toward religion's role in public life. This comprehensive examination explores the religious tensions of the 1930s through 1950s, particularly the significant disputes between Protestant and Catholic communities that influenced national discourse.

The narrative weaves together multiple threads that defined this era: the groundbreaking Jehovah's Witnesses cases, the impact of Cold War anti-communism on religious freedom, the spiritual revival movements, and the emergence of civil religion in American culture. Green demonstrates how the ecumenical movement and the historic 1960 presidential campaign further complicated these dynamics.

The book illuminates a crucial turning point in the 1960s when school prayer decisions, Vatican II reforms, and new federal education policies created fractures within the Protestant consensus. These developments prompted both evangelical and progressive religious communities to reconsider their traditional support for church-state separation.

For readers seeking to understand how spiritual and political forces intersect in American society, this work offers valuable insights into the ongoing tension between religious conviction and constitutional principles that continues to shape our national conversation.