Liberty of Conscience

In one of greatest triumphs of the colonial and Revolutionary periods, the founders of the future US overcame religious intolerance in favour of a constitutional order dedicated to fair treatment for people's deeply held conscientious beliefs. This title presents a historical and conceptual study of the American tradition of religious freedom.

---

The respect for religious difference has formed the bedrock of our nation and made equality possible. Yet today we are told that moral values",code for a government shaped by religious concerns,must be the keystone of our social compact. A rich and compelling chronicle of an essential idea, Liberty of Conscience tells the story of America's great tradition of religious freedom. Philosopher Martha Nussbaum's ambitious book is both a work of history and a pointed rejoinder to conservative efforts to break down barriers between church and state.