When we hear about the state and religion, we often hear the words “separation of church and state” in our minds. But the state is what first gave religious freedom. This book of essays was developed from a series of lectures given at a remembering of the Edict of Milan, which had been proclaimed law 1700 years before in 313 A.D. This edict by Constantine gave religious freedom to Christians around the Roman Empire.
In this volume, the authors remember Constantine’s legacy, and how religious freedom in some places and the lack of it in others have been affected by that legacy. Section one deals with the international perspective on the edict’s legacy. Section two goes to Africa and Asia, where the church and Islam are the primary subjects. Section three moves to the United States of America, where religious freedom has been cherished from the beginning. Section four moves to Europe, the home of where the Roman Empire was and the most diverse area of the world regarding religion.
This book was a very detailed and interesting read on religion throughout the world. It was informative and detailed. I would like to have a chance to do more research on this topic of religion when it is looked at considering the authority it receives from its government. For this reason, my rating is inconclusive. For now, I will give it 3 stars out of 5, with the possibility of stars added in the future, or potentially stars taken away if it does not live up to its billing.
WHERE TO BUY THIS BOOK:
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THIS BOOK:
Lefebure, Leo D. Religion, Authority, and the State. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International, 2016.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL: I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Springer book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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