Check nearby libraries
Buy this book
The culture wars have distorted the dramatic story of how Americans came to worship freely. Author Waldman, cofounder of Beliefnet.com, argues that the United States was not founded as a "Christian nation," nor were the Founding Fathers uniformly secular or Deist. Rather, the Founders forged a new approach to religious liberty, a revolutionary formula that promoted faith--by leaving it alone. His narrative begins with early settlers' stunningly unsuccessful efforts to create a Christian paradise, and concludes with the presidencies of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison, during which the men who had devised lofty principles regarding the proper relationship between church and state struggled to practice what they'd preached.--From publisher description.
Check nearby libraries
Buy this book
Previews available in: English
Showing 5 featured editions. View all 5 editions?
Edition | Availability |
---|---|
1
Founding faith: how our founding fathers forged a radical new approach to religious liberty
2009, Random House Inc., Random House Publishing Group
in English
0812974743 9780812974744
|
aaaa
Libraries near you:
WorldCat
|
2
Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America
2008, Penguin Random House
in English
1299164633 9781299164635
|
zzzz
Libraries near you:
WorldCat
|
3
Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America
March 11, 2008, Random House
Hardcover
in English
1400064376 9781400064373
|
eeee
Libraries near you:
WorldCat
|
4
Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America
March 2008, BBC Audiobooks America
Audio CD
in English
- Unabridged edition
160283377X 9781602833777
|
zzzz
Libraries near you:
WorldCat
|
5
Founding Faith
2008, Random House Publishing Group
Electronic resource
in English
158836674X 9781588366740
|
zzzz
Libraries near you:
WorldCat
|
Book Details
Table of Contents
Edition Notes
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Classifications
The Physical Object
ID Numbers
Source records
Library of Congress MARC recordLibrary of Congress MARC record
Library of Congress MARC record
marc_openlibraries_phillipsacademy MARC record
Library of Congress MARC record
Internet Archive item record
Promise Item
Promise Item
Better World Books record
Work Description
The 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.This fast-paced narrative begins with earlier settlers' stunningly unsuccessful efforts to create a Christian paradise, and concludes with the presidencies of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison, during which the men who had devised lofty principles regarding the proper relationship between church and state struggled to practice what they'd preached. We see how religion helped cause, and fuel, the Revolutionary War, and how the surprising alliance between Enlightenment philosophers such as Jefferson and Madison and evangelical Christians resulted in separation of church and state.As the drama unfolds, Founding Faith vividly describes the religious development of five Founders. Benjamin Franklin melded the morality-focused Puritan theology of his youth and the reason-based Enlightenment philosophy of his adulthood. John Adams's pungent views on religion--hatred of the Church of England and Roman Catholics--stoked his revolutionary fervor and shaped his political strategy. George Washington came to view religious tolerance as a military necessity. Thomas Jefferson pursued a dramatic quest to "rescue" Jesus, in part by editing the Bible. Finally, it was James Madison--the tactical leader of the battle for religious freedom--who crafted an integrated vision of how to prevent tyranny while encouraging religious vibrancy.The spiritual custody battle over the Founding Fathers and the role of religion in America continues today. Waldman provocatively argues that neither side in the culture war has accurately depicted the true origins of the First Amendment. He sets the record straight, revealing the real history of religious freedom to be dramatic, unexpected, paradoxical, and inspiring.An interactive library of the key writings by the Founding Father, on separation of church and state, personal faith, and religious liberty can be found at www.beliefnet.com/foundingfaith.Praise for Founding Faith"Steven Waldman, a veteran journalist and co-founder of Beliefnet.com, a religious web site, surveys the convictions and legacy of the founders clearly and fairly, with a light touch but a careful eye."--New York Times Book Review"Waldman ends by encouraging us to be like the founders. We should understand their principles, learn from their experience, then have at it ourselves. "We must pick up the argument that they began and do as they instructed -- use our reason to determine our views." A good place to start is this entertaining, provocative book."--New York Times Book Review"Steven Waldman's enlightening new book, "Founding Faith," is wise and engaging on many levels, but Waldman has done a particular service in detailing Madison's role in creating a culture of religious freedom that has served America so well for so long...."Founding Faith" is an excellent book about an important subject: the inescapable--but manageable--intersection of religious belief and public life. With a grasp of history and an understanding of the exigencies of the moment, Waldman finds a middle ground...
Links outside Open Library
Community Reviews (0)
Feedback?History
- Created May 14, 2009
- 12 revisions
Wikipedia citation
×CloseCopy and paste this code into your Wikipedia page. Need help?
June 17, 2023 | Edited by ImportBot | import existing book |
January 14, 2023 | Edited by ImportBot | import existing book |
December 4, 2022 | Edited by ImportBot | import existing book |
October 27, 2021 | Edited by ImportBot | import existing book |
May 14, 2009 | Created by ImportBot | Imported from Library of Congress MARC record |