Culture wars bring out the worst in Americans. They've led citizens to accuse Thomas Jefferson of being a traitor and Catholics and Mormons of being unpatriotic.
More recently, they've caused angry debates about President Obama's religious background and proposals that Muslims shouldn't be allowed into the U.S.
However, battles over which values Americans should stand for also move the country forward, helping people reimagine what democracy requires of them, argues Stephen Prothero in his latest book, "Why Liberals Win the Culture Wars (Even When They Lose Elections)," which was released in January.
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