Alan J. Levinovitz, The Limits of Religious Tolerance (Amherst College Press, 2016)
The Pope said that Donald Trump wasn\u2019t much of a Christian if all he can think about is building walls. Trump replied that it was \u201cdisgraceful\u201d for a any leader, even the Pope, \u201cto question another man\u2019s religion or faith.\u201d I imagine that many Americans agreed with Trump on this score. But is Trump\u2019s \u201cradical tolerance\u201d position really sensible? Can\u2019t someone reasonably and respectfully say to another \u201cGee, I think you\u2019ve got that particular point of scripture wrong\u201d or even \u201cI think your faith is, well, misguided for reasons X, Y an Z\u201d?\n\nIn his thought-provoking book The Limits of Religious Tolerance (Amherst College Press, 2016), Alan J. Levinovitz argues that we can and indeed must question religion, both our own and everyone else\u2019s. How else, he asks, are we to understand why we and our fellow citizens believe what we say we believe? To be sure, Levinovitz advises that we only engage in critical discussions of religion in certain, well-defined contexts: churches, synagogues, mosques and such are good places to practice religion, not debate it. In contrast, Levinovitz proposes, universities\u2013places defined by rational investigation and (in theory) civil discussion\u2013are perfect for debates about religion. And, Levinovitz continues, institutions of higher education should do everything in their power to encourage it.\n\nThanks to Amherst College Press, Levinovitz\u2019s wonderful book is available free for download here.\n\n\xa0\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices\nSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/law