Arts & Entertainment
All Soul's Unitarian Church Hosts Author Talk
Author Jay Wexler's recent "road" book, "Holy Hullabaloos," is a humorous, slightly irreverent study of the separation of church and state.
On a bitterly cold, Saturday afternoon in Braintree, about 30 people braved frigid January winds and were rewarded with an entertaining and funny talk on the odd gyrations that both religious organizations and the government employ to preserve First Amendment rights.
The presentation was a community forum, sponsored by the at 196 Elm St. Author Jay Wexler, a tenured law professor at Boston University School, who holds degrees in religion from the University of Chicago Divinity School and law from Stanford University, spoke on Jan. 15 about his year-old book, Holy Hullabaloos: A Road Trip to the Battlegrounds of the Church/State Wars, published in June 2009 by Beacon Press of Boston.
Modeled on the recent trend of taking a particular passion "on the road" to research it better, Wexler's book is based on six months in 2007 traveling to some of the battlegrounds of church/state issues that resulted in Supreme Court cases and rulings.
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Wexler, who identified some of his commentary as "sarcastic" and "snarky," recounted story after story of bizarre or cruel religious practices that were upheld in the U.S. Supreme Court, and incidences of religious iconography installed on state property that nevertheless remained after being weighed-out by the country's highest justices.
He also addressed issues like antiquated customs still practiced in the United States ("In God We Trust" on currency, for instance). His sampling of often outlandish but true road tales succeeded in enticing the audience to purchase his book, in order to hear more on this fascinating topic.
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Knowing his way around religions (he said he nearly got his Ph.D. in Chinese philosophy and religion) and the law, Wexler read many excerpts from his book and later answered questions from the audience.
Coffee and refreshments followed the lecture. Wexler's website is www.holyhullabaloos.com. Those who shy away from debating politics or religion should stay away, but if you're looking for a window into the Supreme Court and how it handles some rather sticky church/state scenarios, the book is a great winter read.