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lyonsmw's review against another edition
4.0
A contemplative, thoughtful book from Jon Meacham, exploring the vexing, yet powerful, force of religion in American leadership. Meacham’s writing is always prosaic and goes down easy, even with challenging subjects. This one is thoroughly researched (the notes are half the book) and that adds to the veracity of the writing.
jseargeant's review against another edition
Originally published at Novel Escapism
Jon Meacham tells the story of how the Founding Fathers viewed faith and politics and their delicate balancing act creating a nation where religion can shape public life without controlling it. Meacham uses historical context and the Founding Fathers own words to successfully argue that America is neither a Christian nation nor a completely secular one. Succinctly and well written, Meacham provides a balanced look at American history through the lens of religion. “It is, rather, a habit of mind and heart that enables Americans to be at once tolerant and reverent—two virtues of relevance to all, for the Founders’ public religion is consummately democratic. When a president says “God bless America” or when we sing “America! America! God shed his grace on thee,” each American is free to define God in whatever way he chooses. A Christian’s mind may summon God the Father; a Jew’s, Yahweh; a Muslim’s, Allah; an atheist’s, no one, or no thing. Such diversity is not a prescription for dissension. It is part of the reality of creation.” I recommend this reading this book, especially in such a time of divisiveness because it reminds us that the United States was founded on the unity we find through our Creator (whoever or whatever that might be) endowing all humans with the same inalienable rights.
Jon Meacham tells the story of how the Founding Fathers viewed faith and politics and their delicate balancing act creating a nation where religion can shape public life without controlling it. Meacham uses historical context and the Founding Fathers own words to successfully argue that America is neither a Christian nation nor a completely secular one. Succinctly and well written, Meacham provides a balanced look at American history through the lens of religion. “It is, rather, a habit of mind and heart that enables Americans to be at once tolerant and reverent—two virtues of relevance to all, for the Founders’ public religion is consummately democratic. When a president says “God bless America” or when we sing “America! America! God shed his grace on thee,” each American is free to define God in whatever way he chooses. A Christian’s mind may summon God the Father; a Jew’s, Yahweh; a Muslim’s, Allah; an atheist’s, no one, or no thing. Such diversity is not a prescription for dissension. It is part of the reality of creation.” I recommend this reading this book, especially in such a time of divisiveness because it reminds us that the United States was founded on the unity we find through our Creator (whoever or whatever that might be) endowing all humans with the same inalienable rights.
mw724's review against another edition
2.0
Horrifically boring, with shallow analysis. Look elsewhere.
jeffgrann's review against another edition
4.0
Dispassionate, balanced, careful, informative, and persuasive argument for valuing America’s connections and separation of church and state.
drbobcornwall's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent look at the role of religion in the founding of the nation, and how the debate has continued through time as to whether America is or should be a Christian nation. For more, check my column on Christian America -- http://pastorbobcornwall.blogspot.com/2009/11/balancing-religion-and-politics-in.html
monicamjw's review against another edition
4.0
Very good overview of the history of the relationship of government and religion throughout US history, beginning with the thoughts of the founding fathers.
lizzielibrary's review against another edition
4.0
Worth the effort! Well researched, and well presented. Helped me put some questions to rest, and cemented my feelings that the ultra conservatives don't have the corner on "the" American religion.
For a more condensed version -- read Randall Balmer's "Thy Kingdom Come".
For a more condensed version -- read Randall Balmer's "Thy Kingdom Come".
judyward's review against another edition
4.0
I have owned this book for about two years and it kept finding its way to the middle of the stack of books waiting to be read. Then it was the selection for a book discussion group, so I pulled it out. Excellent book. Jon Meacham, the managing editor of Newsweek, takes an historical look at religion in the United States, especially the religious beliefs of many of the Founding Fathers to try to discover what place they believed religion should legitimately play in the Revolutionary period and in the new Republic. He concludes that faith has always held a major place in the evolution of the United States society and government, but the founders, who were the products of religious strife during the colonial period, made distinctions between private religion and public religion. Private religion is the personal religious beliefs of individuals and denominations or the lack of religious beliefs. Public religion consists of the belief in a higher power--although the Founding Fathers often referred to this power as the God of nature--and a belief that the United States is a chosen country with chosen people. Meacham sees the history of the United States as a balance between public and private religion and feels that the vast majority of Americans are comfortable, and has been comfortable, with the idea that government should not establish a national religion and force adherence to it, with the concept that religious freedom is one of the cornerstones of our republic, and with the concept that appeals to the blessings of a nondenominational God is an accepted part of the American political experience. An interesting book with lots of information that should lead to a spirited discussion.