Background

Kenneth Craycraft was born on November 11, 1962, in Ohio, United States.

Education

Craycraft received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Malone College in 1985. He later studied at Cincinnati Bible Seminary, receiving a Master of Arts and Master of Divinity degrees in 1988. He went on to study at the University of Cincinnati, getting a Master of Arts in 1988, and later graduated from Boston College with a Ph.D. in 1993. He also graduated from Duke University with a Juris Doctor degree in 2001.

Career

Craycraft's 1999 book, The American Myth of Religious Freedom, stirred controversy in the debate over First Amendment provisions and the rights of church institutions. A former associate professor of theology at San Antonio's St. Mary's University who retrained as a lawyer, Craycraft reworked his doctoral dissertation for his controversial book. In the work, he presents a revisionist view of the church-state provision.

The American Myth of Religious Freedom posits two major myths, according to James Paul Old in the Review of Politics: "It is a myth in that it is part of a cultural ethos that defines a people; it is also a myth in that it is simply not true." As Vincent Phillip Munoz commented in Perspectives on Political Science, Craycraft's "fist myth is that the foundations of religious freedom are neutral toward all religions," and his second myth states that "religious believers are best off in a regime like America." As Craycraft describes it in his book, religious freedom as stipulated in the Bill of Right's First Amendment - and as acted upon in decisions by the Supreme Court - is actually a recipe for the state to curtail the freedom of churches to take active participation in the nation's political life. "Instead of religious freedom, Craycraft would prefer a regime that practices a more limited form of religious tolerance," as Old further explained. A model for such tolerance is to be found in the Second Vatican Council's Declaration on Religious Freedom, Craycraft stipulates in his book.

Such arguments about church rights versus state rights have increased since controversial Supreme Court decisions in the 1970s regarding school prayer, and Craycraft's analysis is, therefore "both timely and provocative," Old wrote. Other reviewers, however, took issue with the author's interpretations. Munoz, for example, thought that Craycraft "simply misinterprets the American Founders," and noted that his book's "most significant shortcoming... is its striking political naivete." Joseph Baldacchino, writing in Humanitas, also disagreed with Craycraft's interpretation of the thoughts of John Locke, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, observing that his book "provides a good example of the distortion of reality, not to mention mind-torturing confusion."

Craycraft has been practicing law since 2001, after a career as a university professor. He has a broad range of experience in business/commercial law and civil litigation. Prior to establishing Craycraft Law Firm, LLC, most of Ken’s career has been spent at large national and international law firms. His current practice involves civil litigation, commercial real estate transactions, small business advising, and domestic relations law. He is committed to civility and collegiality in civil litigation, keeping in mind that few people want to sue or be sued, but that some disputes cannot be otherwise avoided.

Achievements

• Craycraft is best known for his book, The American Myth of Religious Freedom. He has also been practicing law since 2001 and has a broad range of experience in business/commercial law and civil litigation.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The American Myth of Religious Freedom 1999

Personality

Ken is an avid cyclist, logging many miles around southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky. He enjoys reading, especially 20th century Catholic fiction.

Interests

• reading

• Sport & Clubs

  cycling

Connections

Craycraft and his wife, Sue, live in Milford. They are the parents of nine children.

Wife:

Sue Craycraft

References

• Contemporary Authors Volume 221
  2004