false 2755921 1 No American living in 1800 would have predicted that Thomas Jefferson s idiosyncratic views on church and state would ever eclipse those of George Washington let alone become constitutional dogma. Yet today's Supreme Court guards no doctrine more fiercely than Jefferson's antagonistic wall of separation between church and state. Washington's sharply contrasting views, explored in this path-breaking new book, suggest a more reasonable interpretation of the First Amendment, one that is consistent with religion s importance to the enterprise of democracy.<br><br>The most admired man of his age, Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention and was president when religious freedom was enshrined in the Bill of Rights. His claim to constitutional authority is considerably more impressive than the brilliant but eccentric Jefferson's. Washington considered religion essential for the virtue required of self-governing citizens. Though careful not to favor particular sects, he believed that a democracy must not merely accommodate religion but encourage it.<br><br>Ross and Smith combine a study of Washington's thought with a copious appendix containing the full texts of his letters, speeches, and official documents on issues of church and state. They present his views chronologically, devoting a chapter to each stage of his career: young regimental officer, colonial legislator, commander in chief of the Continental Army, head of the Constitutional Convention, and president of the United States. An epilogue explains how Jefferson's separationist perspective achieved its disproportional influence on the modern Supreme Court. 2781623 1 2 2008 Under God: George Washington and the Question of Church and State total:4|4:1|3:2|1:1| 4 11 16 2 4 0 false false Thu May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Mar 18 06:07:07 -0700 2008 Fri Jul 11 10:37:32 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Thu Apr 17 21:11:03 -0700 2008 Mon Jan 12 09:32:41 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Thu Apr 30 07:36:51 -0700 2009 Thu Apr 30 07:36:51 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Wed Apr 29 15:45:28 -0700 2009 Wed Apr 29 15:45:28 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Tue Apr 28 13:17:10 -0700 2009 Tue Apr 28 13:17:10 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Mar 23 20:34:26 -0700 2009 Mon Mar 23 20:34:26 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Fri Jan 30 16:58:12 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 30 16:58:12 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Mon Jan 26 07:25:30 -0800 2009 Mon Jan 26 07:25:30 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Wed Dec 03 10:05:06 -0800 2008 Wed Dec 03 10:05:10 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Tue Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sat Nov 22 10:33:07 -0800 2008 Sat Nov 22 10:35:40 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Mon Apr 07 13:57:33 -0700 2008 Mon Apr 07 13:57:39 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Wed Mar 19 06:17:58 -0700 2008 Wed Mar 19 06:18:08 -0700 2008 1 0 false false Sat Mar 15 14:12:51 -0700 2008 Sat Mar 15 14:12:51 -0700 2008 3 0 false false Mon Mar 10 22:26:40 -0700 2008 Mon Mar 10 22:26:40 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Thu Mar 06 19:32:40 -0800 2008 Thu Mar 06 19:32:47 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Mon Feb 18 13:24:03 -0800 2008 Mon Feb 18 13:24:18 -0800 2008 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=2755921