Competing Schemas Within the American Liberal Democracy ─ An Interdisciplinary Analysis of Differing Perceptions of Church and State

Competing Schemas Within the American Liberal Democracy is a compelling book that dispels many of the common myths concerning Church and State. This book shows that how one approaches the subject of religion and politics largely determines what types of conclusions one will draw. Shannon Holzer is not concerned with creating a polemic. Instead, he shows that the subject of Church and State is much wider in scope than strict separationists would have one believe. When most scholars write on the subject of religion and politics they do so from a single academic discipline. The strength of this book lays in the fact that Dr. Holzer is an accomplished scholar in many different academic disciplines and can approach this complex subject from several different areas of inquiry. In doing so, Dr. Holzer offers a more comprehensive approach to the subject. This book makes use of the many relevant disciplines regarding Church and State, including: history, political theory, philosophy of religion, epistemology, legal theory, and history. As such, this text can be used in a multitude of subjects. Scholars will find Competing Schemas Within the American Liberal Democracy to be intellectually stimulating while clearly written and easily comprehended. Whether in the classroom or in one’s personal library, this book is necessary for those who are interested in the highly contentious and often misunderstood subject of Church and State.

Shannon Holzer has earned degrees in the areas of religion, philosophy of religion and ethics, and religion, politics, and society. He received his undergraduate degree in religion from Wayland Baptist University in Hawaii. His area of interest was biblical studies. Dr. Holzer then earned his M.A. in philosophy of religion and ethics from BIOLA University’s Talbot School of Theology. He received his Ph.D. in religion, politics, and society fom Baylor University’s J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies. He has published as a public academic in popular journals as well as in legal journals and peer reviewed publications. Dr. Holzer is a sought after speaker on the subject of church and state, just war theory, and natural law. During his time as a professor, he has taught graduate level and undergraduate courses on world religions, religion and politics, epistemology, religious epistemology, Christian history and thought, philosophy of god, ancient philosophy, analytic philosophy, logic, and ethics.