DOES THE IDEA OF GOD BELONG IN POLITICS?: A RESPONSE TO THE “POLITICAL LIBERALISM” OF JOHN RAWLS

Authors

  • L. Scott Smith Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi (USA)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54561/prj1202265s

Keywords:

Rawls, political liberalism, Christianity, politics, liberty, equality, fraternity

Abstract

This is a polemical essay providing an historical and cultural analysis of John Rawls’s political liberalism, and arguing that the “original position” in his philosophy is not only hypothetical, but also unrealistic by virtue of ignoring comprehensive religious and philosophical points of view. Rawls attempts to derive the ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity from a mere thought experiment without considering the foundational role of the Christian religion, which was instrumental in the birth and refinement of these ideas.

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Published

2022-12-04

How to Cite

Smith, L. S. (2022). DOES THE IDEA OF GOD BELONG IN POLITICS?: A RESPONSE TO THE “POLITICAL LIBERALISM” OF JOHN RAWLS. Politics and Religion Journal, 12(2), 265–284. https://doi.org/10.54561/prj1202265s