American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation

by Jon Meacham

Book Overview

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham reveals how the Founding Fathers viewed faith--and how they ultimately created a nation in which belief in God is a matter of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400065550
• ISBN13: 9781400065554
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Random House (NY)
• Length: 399 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Book

Arrived on time as described

Great Overall Read

Meacham's style allowed for a quick, easy read. The book did a great job of discussing both the well known documents relating to religion in American history and the lesser known ones. As I read the introduction, I was dissapointed by the thesis, because it seemed to not really take a definite stance. After finishing the entire book, although I am still annoyed that there is no set standard for what aspects of religion are acceptable in the public arena, I believe that his thesis was supported with an enormous amount of evidence. I recommend the book to anybody interested in the ongoing debate over religion in America.

Smoking hot history

Be warned. If you think a book about the early days of the American Republican won't keep you up at night, you might be in for an insomniac surprise. Meacham writes with such an engaging style, the founding fathers come alive as they struggle and stumble toward the creation of the constitution. Our nation was not put on its feet by mythical men who were invariably unwavering in their resolve. Meacham presents them as they were: brave but flawed men, who endlessly confronted their own misgivings and ambivalence. He shows us the imperfectly human leaders of the new nation, warts and all, as they hammer out the structure of the government as we know it. "American Gospel" is not just a rehashing of the history you already know. It's a fresh, clearheaded look at the early struggles over how to balance a government by the people and for the people, and how to determine what role God should play in that. There is perhaps no better time to pick up this book and subject yourself to late nights and bleary-eyed mornings. With debates over God's place in a modern society continuing unabated, "American Gospel" may be more relevant now than ever. This is a book you will read with the same fevered pace as the hottest novel on the bestsellers list. The difference being, you will learn a great deal about our history and perhaps glean some insights on how things stand today. An absolute must read you'll want to leave on your coffee table, to be picked up again when a houseguest offers his own views on God, the founding fathers and the making of a nation.

Fascinating account of Church-State relations

This book bypasses traditional partisan accounts of Church-State scholarship to deliver a truly entertaining read. It argues that the American state's relationship with religion, religious freedom, and democracy always has been more complex than we want to admit. After religious strife in England and the colonies, religious freedom intentionally was inserted into the Constitution. However, because the founders own idea of religious freedom was narrower than what actually exists in America today, pinpointing the First Amendment's exact and original intentions is challenging for the best and most well-intentioned scholars. This book also examines how subsequent American politicians dealt with and dealt with Church-State issues. I don't doubt that there was enough material for the author to stop after the 19th century, but to his credit he kept going---and did not abandon the quality of writing during the process. Franklin Roosevelt is considered the architect of modern liberalism. Yet, he adopted oratorical skills which are today more associated with fundamentalist preachers and the far right politicians who court them. Roosevelt campaign materials clearly illustrate that he knew establishing the association would provide substantial political returns. . Likewise, another prominent Democratic president understood the importance of downplaying his religious affiliation. Regardless of his personal religious convictions, John Kennedy knew his presidential nomination and election hinged on opponents convincing voters that the Pope would rule through the White House if he were elected. That history has certainly proved otherwise is an irony. Because religion is such a personal issue, the topic tends to provoke conflict. Predisposed to their own perspectives, people see other views as 'wrong' and even 'dangerous'---potentially creating a volatile political situation in a democracy needing pluralism to exist. However, Meacham's well-researched book keeps readers engaged through thoughtful prose. This book is great for leisure reading. It is also recomended for students of constitutional issues.