William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal
Abstract
In Religions, Fragmentations, and Doctrinal Limits, Frederick Mark Gedicks examines the limitations of constitutional doctrine in addressing the social and political conflicts produced by religion in the United States. He argues that the very concept of “religion” is internally fragmented, encompassing divergent modes of belief and practice such as individualized spirituality and doctrinal fundamentalism. Drawing on sociological data and postmodern theory, Gedicks contends that contemporary pluralism has eroded the possibility of a unifying religious or secular metanarrative, replacing “truth” with competing “truths.” Within this fragmented landscape, Religion Clause jurisprudence has achieved limited coherence through neutrality principles in the contexts of religious exemptions and subsidies, but remains incapable of resolving the controversies surrounding civil religion. The essay concludes that constitutional law cannot impose unity where cultural consensus is absent, and instead should secure space for diverse religious and nonreligious commitments to coexist in democratic society.