by E. J. Dionne
First published 2001
Religious congregations have fed the hungry and sheltered the poor for centuries, working alongside government programs since the welfare state began. Most Americans barely noticed this cooperation until the Bush Administration proposed expanding faith-based social programs. E. J. Dionne examines what happens when sacred institutions enter civic life. Drawing from conferences at the Brookings Institution, he presents experts who study how congregations prevent teen pregnancy, reduce crime, develop communities, provide childcare, and support education. Contributors include John DiIulio from the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, Floyd Flake from Allen AME Church, and researchers from Harvard, Rutgers, and other institutions. The book moves beyond theoretical debates about church-state separation to examine practical questions. It shows what religious organizations actually accomplish, identifies where government help would be useful, and suggests where government should step aside.
Genres: politics, social-issues, religion, non-fiction, christianity, church-history, academic, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: practical-questions
Setting: Brookings Institution, Harvard, Rutgers
Period: Bush Administration, Welfare State
373 pages · Paperback · Brookings Institution Press