Professor Cathleen Kaveny’s book, Prophecy without Contempt: Religious Discourse in the Public Square, was recently named to “Current’s” Top 100 books of the 21st Century. The book, published in 2016, discusses and unravels the intersection between religious speech and political movements. In the wake of extreme political polarization, Kaveny argues that religious rhetoric was instead designed to be based on repentance, rehabilitation, and reconciliation.
Kaveny received the 36th spot on “Current’s” Top 100 list for the 2024 year. “Current,” an online journal that highlights a multiplicity of perspectives relevant to the current political climate, put together its list using recommendations from its own staff members. Each of the books on “Current’s” list received at least one nomination from staff members, with those in the top 49 receiving multiple nominations.
Professor Kaveny is the Darald and Juliet Libby Professor of Law and Theology at Boston College. Her scholarship centers on relationships between the law, religion, and morality. At Boston College Law School, she regularly teaches Contracts and a seminar on Law and Religion. She has published four books and over 100 articles and essays on topics in law, ethics, and medical ethics.
The full list of nominated books is available on “Current’s” website. Read a full discussion of the book in BC Law Magazine and this story in BC News.