A review by kikiandarrowsfishshelf
Inventing a Christian America: The Myth of the Religious Founding by Steven K. Green

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.