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vdarcangelo's review
4.0
http://ensuingchapters.com/2015/07/02/1100/
As America approaches its 25th decade, it’s only natural to look back and re-evaluate who we are and what we’ve done with our time in power. Perhaps it’s the mid-life crisis of empire, or just the build-up toward a presidential election, but coming out this summer is an arsenal of books regarding our nation’s founding.
I’m reading as many of them as I can, because it’s a fascinating study, and Steven K. Green’s Inventing a Christian America is an important contribution.
His attempt is to demystify the colonial and revolutionary periods to get at the truth of the religious origins of the country. He starts by addressing two of the most common narratives of the founding: the first being that of a country chartered by religious exiles in search of freedom to practice as they pleased, the other of Founding Fathers who established the separation of church and state.
Both of which he describes as myths, in the literal sense. “In providing explanations of events not personally remembered, myths legitimize the past while they provide a unifying narrative for a distinct people.”
The truth is that colonial life was more diverse than either narrative suggests. Sure, there were religious exiles, but there were people of many beliefs, not just protestantism. And there were many folks that were there for business, adventure or a new start in life.
But when it came time to unify the disparate colonies, a common tale was in order.
Green writes: “The idea of America’s religious origins is essentially a myth created and retold for the purpose of anointing the founding, and the nation, with a higher, transcendent meaning.”
Through his historical digging, Green reveals a pluralistic society that’s difficult to pigeonhole in retrospect. What they did record in founding documents, however, was both a respect for religious practice and the separation of church and state.
Green’s work is thorough and authoritative, and is certainly a book I enjoyed and would recommend. But whereas some academic books have crossover appeal, this is not a book that will translate well to a general audience.
Which is unfortunate, because most Americans would benefit from learning more about the founding and the role of religion in early America. Especially now.
Inventing a Christian America is a great place to start.
As America approaches its 25th decade, it’s only natural to look back and re-evaluate who we are and what we’ve done with our time in power. Perhaps it’s the mid-life crisis of empire, or just the build-up toward a presidential election, but coming out this summer is an arsenal of books regarding our nation’s founding.
I’m reading as many of them as I can, because it’s a fascinating study, and Steven K. Green’s Inventing a Christian America is an important contribution.
His attempt is to demystify the colonial and revolutionary periods to get at the truth of the religious origins of the country. He starts by addressing two of the most common narratives of the founding: the first being that of a country chartered by religious exiles in search of freedom to practice as they pleased, the other of Founding Fathers who established the separation of church and state.
Both of which he describes as myths, in the literal sense. “In providing explanations of events not personally remembered, myths legitimize the past while they provide a unifying narrative for a distinct people.”
The truth is that colonial life was more diverse than either narrative suggests. Sure, there were religious exiles, but there were people of many beliefs, not just protestantism. And there were many folks that were there for business, adventure or a new start in life.
But when it came time to unify the disparate colonies, a common tale was in order.
Green writes: “The idea of America’s religious origins is essentially a myth created and retold for the purpose of anointing the founding, and the nation, with a higher, transcendent meaning.”
Through his historical digging, Green reveals a pluralistic society that’s difficult to pigeonhole in retrospect. What they did record in founding documents, however, was both a respect for religious practice and the separation of church and state.
Green’s work is thorough and authoritative, and is certainly a book I enjoyed and would recommend. But whereas some academic books have crossover appeal, this is not a book that will translate well to a general audience.
Which is unfortunate, because most Americans would benefit from learning more about the founding and the role of religion in early America. Especially now.
Inventing a Christian America is a great place to start.
hedytf's review
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. This was a very good book! I really liked how it broke down some of the more spurious claims made by religious people but also undressed the deist myth. My only complaint would be 10% of the book being footnotes.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review
3.0
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.
Philadelphia is a historical place, though often overlooked in favor of New York, Boston, and Washington DC. But it was here that the important documents of the nation were crafted. It is here that Franklin came after fleeing Boston.
And give me a Yuengling any day of the week over a Sam Adams.
The thing is, that here in Philadelphia certain tour guides have a tendency to make history up as if they are auditioning for the SyFy (god, I hate that spelling) Channel. For instance, did you know that Washington and Lincoln had dinner together? Neither did I. Neither did they. There is a tendency to make history more dramatic, more story, more symbolic, more of what we want than what it was.
In part that is the point of this book from OUP and by Steven Green. Green looks at the idea of religious freedom, the idea of a Christian nation, and the founding of America. Now, before you get your panties in a twist, Hill looks and rebuts both sides – the idea of a totality of Christianity in the Founding as well as the idea of total religious freedom and the dismissal of Christianity in the founding.
In other words, both sides of the debate will probably be a bit ticked off, which seems to indicate that Green is mostly like correct.
Of particular interest is the presentation of the original colonies and the issue of religious freedom in their founding. While some of the points raised in this section might be facts that and product of a good history class would know, there are some gems and good analysis here, in particular in regards to New England.
Green also looks at the Founding Fathers and their view on religion and that messy phrase “separation of Church and state”.
If you are listening to all the rhetoric from right and left about religion in America, this book is a breath of fresh air while giving the actual history that more talking heads should know.
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