Ken Starr - Religious Liberty in Crisis

Seasoned, wise, magisterial, and gracefully writtena comprehensive judges tour of the religious-freedom horizon. After 400 years as Americas first liberty, freedom of religion and conscience is under unprecedented assault, and Ken Starrs overview is essential for all who would make their stand with a depth of understanding as well as courage.

Os Guinness, author of Last Call for Liberty

What does the Constitution have to say about religion and religious liberty? How has the US Supreme Court interpreted what the Constitution says? Where has the court gotten it right? Where have the justices erredand why? Ken Starr, drawing on his experience as a lawyer who has argued some of the most important religious-freedom cases, answers these questions in this marvelously lucid and readable book.

Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University

For many years, the United States has led efforts to reverse what has become a full-blown global crisis in religious freedom, as invidious discrimination and violent persecution spread to almost every region of the world. Now comes a major new work by one of Americas foremost authorities on religious freedom, Judge Ken Starr, to warn us that America is facing its own crisis. The nation where religious liberty was once considered the first freedom is now experiencing growing hostility to religion among its culture-forming institutions and its political elites. With powerful arguments and winsome prose, Judge Starr explains why America cannot afford the loss of religious freedom. Read Religious Liberty in Crisis, and youll understand why the stakes could not be higherfor America, or for the worldand how we all, religious or not, must be a part of the solution.

Thomas Farr, president, Religious Freedom Institute

Judge Starrs book is elegantly written and an excellent summary of religious freedom in America. Covering all of the major cases, yet presenting them as the stories they are, he also includes his own personal involvement in some of the biggest cases in our nations history, making this book a fascinating read that all will enjoy. It is both a celebration and a warning to all Americans who care about religious freedom.

Kelly Shackelford, Esq., president and CEO, First Liberty Institute

My friend, Ken Starr, decided to tackle the challenging topic of religious freedom. I encourage everyone to take this opportunity to learn from one of the greatest legal minds in our country and empower themselves with the facts to push back against the misinformation in our classrooms.

Charlie Kirk, founder and president, Turning Point USA

Ken Starr has been a friend of mine for years. I havent just heard about what Ken believes to be true about his faith, Ive seen it in the way he loves God, his beautiful family, and his neighbors, both near and far away. In this book, Ken takes us on a meaningful and heartfelt journey. He reminds us of where we have been as a country, and points toward a bright future which is available to us if we have the courage to pursue it. This book contains some hard truths, delivered by a profoundly kind and knowledgeable man.

Bob Goff, author of New York Times bestsellers Love Does, Everybody, Always, and Dream Big, and honorable consul for the Republic of Uganda to the United States

I knew this book would be informative. After all, Ken Starr is the author. He is one of the most reliable sources of policy truth in our country. I knew this book would be relevant. The question of religious liberty is increasingly up for grabs. What I didnt expect, and was pleased to discover, is that this book is a page turner! A person neednt be a law school graduate or policy nerd to get caught up in the conversation of these chapters. Second only to a dinner with Ken Starr himself, this book is the best opportunity for a fresh look at an essential topic.

Max Lucado, pastor and New York Times bestselling author

Exercising Your Faith in an Age of Uncertainty

KEN STARR

2021 by Ken Starr

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Encounter Books, 900 Broadway, Suite 601,
New York, New York, 10003.

First American edition published in 2021 by Encounter Books, an activity of Encounter for Culture and Education, Inc., a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation.
Encounter Books website address: www.encounterbooks.com

Manufactured in the United States and printed on acid-free paper. The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.481992 (R 1997) (Permanence of Paper).

FIRST AMERICAN EDITION

Published in association with Yates & Yates, www.yates2.com

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Names: Starr, Kenneth, 1946 author.

Title: Religious Liberty in Crisis: Exercising Your Faith in an Age of Uncertainty / by Ken Starr.

Description: First American Edition. | New York: Encounter Books, 2021. Includes bibliographical references and index. |

Identifiers: LCCN 2020041713 (print) | LCCN 2020041714 (ebook) ISBN 9781641771801 (Hardcover: acid-free paper) | ISBN 9781641771818 (eBook)

Subjects: LCSH: Freedom of religionUnited States. | Civil rightsUnited States. Classification: LCC KF4783.S73 2021 (print) | LCC KF4783 (ebook) DDC 342.7308/52dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020041713

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020041714

Interior page design and typesetting by Bruce Leckie

To several of my many heroes of religious liberty, beginning with the enduring memory of Sam Ericsson, who taught an entire generation of lawyers to be justice warriors; Tom Farr, diplomat, author, and founder of the Religious Freedom Institute; Bob Fu, survivor of the Tiananmen Square massacre and who teaches the entire world to care deeply about humanitys first freedom; Kevin Seamus Hasson, founder and long-serving President of the Becket Fund; Mark Martin, the distinguished chief justice (emeritus) of the North Carolina Supreme Court and now dean of the Regent Law School; Allan Sears, a bold pioneer in religious-freedom litigation, and to Mike Farris, a hero of the home-school movement who now leads Alliance Defending Freedom. Jay Sekulow, who was (and remains) powerfully effective at the Supreme Court podium; Kelly Shackelford, who founded and still leads the litigation and educational center, First Liberty Institute; and Frank Wolf, whose exemplary thirty-four-year career in Congress demonstrated the true meaning of selfless public service and dedication to the cause of religious freedom for all.