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Author Curtis, Finbarr, 1973- author.

Title Going low : how profane politics challenges American democracy / Finbarr Curtis.

Publication Info. New York : Columbia University Press, [2022]

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Location Call No. Status
 Newington, Lucy Robbins Welles Library - Adult Department  306.20973 CURTIS    Check Shelf
Description x, 300 pages ; 23 cm
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents Introduction -- The reality of Donald J. Trump -- Steve Bannon and the clash of civilizations -- Cartoons and guns -- Christian values and the white evangelical -- Masterpiece cakeshop and the art of religious freedom -- NFL protests and the profane rites of something -- Fear and safety on campus.
Summary "Recent events have shown that, for many on the far right, nothing-no matter how offensive, immoral, or even illegal-is impermissible in pursuit of power. But the left is not immune to such policies and tactics, often against itself. Such transgressive social rule-breaking, argues Finbarr Curtis, is particularly amenable to the analytical tools of religious studies. Religion itself is about rules, about what is sacred and what is profane, a contested binary whose differing definitions and the practices they produce, protect, and profane participate in shaping politics. According to this view, profanation is a deliberate provocation to the social order that, if allowed to stand unpunished or without apology, precipitates a crisis of authority. Liberal models of free speech and religious freedom are ill-equipped to respond to such challenges, since they classify religion (and by extension quasi-religious identity and other categories with "sacred" norms) as a private rather than a public matter, unable to recognize that religious beliefs, ethics, and practices often mandate public morals and behaviors in social and political life. Insulting religious (or in-group identity) beliefs and morals--rules--has real-world consequences. The inability to prevent such acts of transgression marks a loss of power on the part of the state (or other institutional entity) and the social order and is a threat to sovereignty. The examples discussed in Going Low-including Black opposition to religious nationalism, the alt left and political correctness on campus, complicity claims, Steve Bannon's global Holy War, justified violence against blasphemy (Texas version), Nones and the spiritual marketplace, and the future of white nationalism after Trump-demonstrate how diverse political and religious groups share a commitment to winning at any cost that challenges the authority of liberalism and democratic institutions"-- Provided by publisher.
Subject Political culture -- United States -- History -- 21st century.
Democracy -- United States -- History -- 21st century.
United States -- Politics and government -- 21st century.
Political parties -- United States -- History -- 21st century.
Nationalism -- United States -- History -- 21st century.
Sports -- Political aspects -- United States -- History -- 21st century.
Freedom of speech -- United States -- History -- 21st century.
Freedom of religion -- United States -- History -- 21st century.
Freedom of religion. (OCoLC)fst00934030
Freedom of speech. (OCoLC)fst00934044
Nationalism. (OCoLC)fst01033832
Political culture. (OCoLC)fst01069263
Political parties. (OCoLC)fst01069410
Politics and government. (OCoLC)fst01919741
Sports -- Political aspects. (OCoLC)fst01130493
United States. (OCoLC)fst01204155
Chronological Term 2000-2099
Genre/Form History. (OCoLC)fst01411628
Other Form: Online version: Curtis, Finbarr. Going low New York : Columbia University Press, [2022] 9780231556132 (DLC) 2021049200
ISBN 9780231205726 hardcover
0231205724 hardcover
9780231205733 trade paperback
0231205732 trade paperback
9780231556132 electronic book
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