The respect for religious difference has formed the bedrock of our nation and made equality possible. Yet today we are told that moral valuescode for a government shaped by religious concernsmust be the keystone of our social compact.A rich and compelling chronicle of an essential idea, Liberty of Conscience tells the story of Americas great tradition of religious freedom. Philosopher Martha Nussbaums ambitious book is both a work of history and a pointed rejoinder to conservative efforts to break down barriers between church and state.