Sightings is commissioned to deal with “religion in/and public life,” an assignment that prompts me to spend time on the concept of “the public.” Doing so is problematic, even risky, but still simple compared to the corollary burden: “define ‘religion.’”
As I scan media of the week, it becomes clear that questions involving “religion and law” are very prominent. They receive attention more than do “religion and art,” “religion and health,” and many more, for one clear reason: the consequences of definitions in this case are immediately practical, always divisive, often expensive, and usually urgent.
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