Unexpected Consequences of State Support for Religion

Jonathan Fox (Ph.D. in Government and Politics, University of Maryland, 1997) is the Yehuda Avner Professor of Religion and Politics at Bar-Ilan University in Israel and director of the Religion and State project. He has received distinguished scholar awards from the International Studies Association and the American Political Science Association. His research focuses on a wide variety of aspects of religion and politics, including government-religion policy, religious minorities, religious conflict, and religion in international relations.Marie Eisenstein (Ph.D. in Political Science, Purdue University, 2004) is an asso>ciate professor of political science at Indiana University Northwest. Her research expertise is in political behavior, predominantly focused on religion and politics. She has published extensively on the role of political tolerance. In addition, she publishes on issues of social trust.Ariel Zellman (Ph.D. in Political Science, Northwestern University, 2012) is a senior lecturer in the Department of Political Studies at Bar-Ilan University in Israel and co-director of the Religion and State project. His primary research examines the causes of violent interstate and intrastate conflict, with a particular focus on religion, nationalism, and protracted territorial disputes. His broader work includes a quantitative comparative study of government-religion policy’s influences on political and societal outcomes.

"What are the social consequences of states' crucial decision whether to prop up one religion and repress the others, or to respect and protect the freedom of all religious people and organizations in their population? Are the consequences what officials intend? Which decision has which consequences? Surprisingly few social scientists have tested this colossally important question -- until now. Professors Fox, Eisenstein and Zellman have shown us what governments' religion policy means for religiosity, morality, trust, violence, harmony, and other phenomena that are critical to the common good of every society. In an era in which religion stands at the center of the sharpest social fractures in both western and non-western countries, their findings are indispensable for social scientists -- and for everyone."Daniel Philpott, Professor of Political Science, University of Notre Dame"More than any previous empirical research, this book demonstrates and explains the consequences of state support for religion. This is a major study that offers more than a few surprises. The policy implications are many. Relying on a wealth of data, this research answers a host of theoretical and policy questions on the costs and benefits of states supporting religion. It is impressive, both for the breadth of questions addressed and the depth of the data used to address the questions."Roger Finke, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Religious Studies, and International Affairs at the Pennsylvania State University.

• Chapter 1: Why Do Government Choose to Support a Religion? Chapter 2: Supply-Side Religion Chapter 3: Faith in Government Chapter 4: Morality Chapter 5: Social Trust Chapter 6: Societal Restrictions and Violence Chapter 7: The Costs and Benefits of Supporting Religion Appendix