Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and the Birth of Religious Freedom in AmericaThe culture wars have distorted the dramatic story of how Americans came to worship freely. Many activists on the right maintain that the United States was founded as a “Christian nation.” Many on the left contend that the Founders were secular or Deist and that the First Amendment was designed to boldly separate church and state throughout the land. None of these claims are true, argues Beliefnet.com editor in chief Steven Waldman. With refreshing objectivity, Waldman narrates the real story of how our nation’s Founders forged a new approach to religious liberty, a revolutionary formula that promoted faith . . . by leaving it alone. |
From inside the book
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... declared in his book Faith of Our Founding Fathers that these men had " beat back the attempts of the secularizers 200 years ago . If they were living today , I know whose side they would champion . " Some liberals , meanwhile , feel ...
... declaring that God was helping them win the war , Washington set what became a classically American tone ... Declaration of Indepen- dence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom - are usually ex plained as the outgrowth of his ...
... declared that the job of the king is “principal care of true Religion and reverence to Cod"'° and that the settlers themselves were “especial souldiers in this sacred cause.” The new “Lawes Divine, Morall and Martiall” required worship ...
... declared a desire to convert them " by love and friendship . rather than by force , " the Europeans did not have a light touch with the na- tives . Those in the Caribbean who rejected or destroyed statues of Christian saints were burned ...
... declared that the job of the king is " principal care of true Religion and reverence to God " 1 and that the settlers themselves were " especial souldiers in this sacred cause . " The new " Lawes Divine , Morall and Martiall " required ...
Contents
18 | |
John Adams | 33 |
George Washington | 56 |
The pious infidel | 72 |
Natures God Meets the Supreme Judge | 86 |
James Madison | 93 |
A Diabolical Persecution | 100 |
The Mighty Current of Freedom | 107 |
Forgetting the Powerful Friend | 127 |
The First Amendment Compromise | 141 |
They Were Right | 188 |
Index | 209 |
207 | 243 |
Other editions - View all
Founding Faith: How Our Founding Fathers Forged a Radical New Approach to ... Steven Waldman No preview available - 2009 |