A landmark examination of Christianity's place in American life across the broad sweep of this country's history, from the Puritans to the presiden...
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reviews
Dec 18, 2009
Ryan
rated it: 
I've read two other books by Wills - Nixon Agonisties and The Kennedy Imprisonment - but both of those were almost purely political. This one was certainly not. I liked where Wills started from. He takes on the oft-reported opinion that American is today a less religious nation, with the Establishment Clause being the thing that's slowly killing religion in America. Also, he addresses the evidence around whether or not the Founding Fathers were "Christian". All of these things he
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Jan 27, 2009
Derek
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Wills does a fine job exploring the history of religion in the U.S. in this book. The theme (that religion in the U.S. has been characterized by a tension and vacillation between "The Head," or the rational religion of the Enlightenment , and "The Heart," or the more emotionally based religion of Evangelism) is understated, but pretty well explored. I felt that too much attention may have been placed on the current connection between conservative Christianity and the Bush adm
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Dec 01, 2008
An amazing survey of Christianity (mostly Protestantism) throughtout American history as it relates to politics. I wish every American Christian had time to read it before the upcoming election.
Update: This was a very thought-provoking book. The "conventional wisdom" that America was a holy bastion, dedicated to a Christian God from its inception, and that has since lost its way as part of a steady, unidirectional moral decline was absolutely disproven. It effectively d More...
Update: This was a very thought-provoking book. The "conventional wisdom" that America was a holy bastion, dedicated to a Christian God from its inception, and that has since lost its way as part of a steady, unidirectional moral decline was absolutely disproven. It effectively d More...
Sep 21, 2010
Patrick
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This is a good book 3.5 about how history influenced America's character
Pre-enlightenment era:
Todays Evangelicals tell the truth at its foundation America has strong impulses as a Christian nation. The Puritans who were the dominant protestant force in early US because they were the most learned and thus could right their opinions done for posterity were obsessed with the Christian faith. In terms of government, it was basically a theocracy much like Iran who prosecuted More...
Pre-enlightenment era:
Todays Evangelicals tell the truth at its foundation America has strong impulses as a Christian nation. The Puritans who were the dominant protestant force in early US because they were the most learned and thus could right their opinions done for posterity were obsessed with the Christian faith. In terms of government, it was basically a theocracy much like Iran who prosecuted More...
Jul 18, 2011
Mikesawin
rated it: 
I really loved this author's two books What Jesus Meant and What Paul Meant, and I was prepared to like this one as well.
But wowzers...dry as my mother's meatloaf, this was. It's an examination of the history of American Christendom, and witht the right writer could have full of interesting folks doing interesting things.
However, it reads like a book written as a contractual obligation or something. I almost didn't finish it.
But wowzers...dry as my mother's meatloaf, this was. It's an examination of the history of American Christendom, and witht the right writer could have full of interesting folks doing interesting things.
However, it reads like a book written as a contractual obligation or something. I almost didn't finish it.
Jan 15, 2010
Barb
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Excellent breakdown of how we got to where we are today. Wills discusses the 1st and 2nd Great Awakenings, Deists, Emersonian thought, and the destruction Karl Rove has wreaked. I was surprised at the vehemence with which Wills blasts George W. Bush, and relieved to see how well he expects the country to recover and survive that devastation.
Aug 27, 2008
Judy
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By the author of What Jesus Meant. Wills traces the two fundamental styles of Protestant Christianity through American history. I loved his examination of the Enlightenment religious culture that was prevelant during the writing of the Constitution and led to the disestablishment of churches in the United States. Wills sees the Protestant tradition as a tug of war between the head and the heart throughout our history. I think the book loses its way in his discussion of the last several decad
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Jan 08, 2009
Jonathan
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This was a sophisticated history of the Christian faith in the United States, and how it has influenced culture and politics. Wills' premise is that America has had two main strains of Christianity: Enlightment (head) and evangelical (heart). They reached synthesis at key points in our history, namely to oppose slavery and fight for civil rights for African Americans and other minorities.
The early chapters are a bit of a slog -- it's hard to keep track of all the Puritan offshoots a More...
The early chapters are a bit of a slog -- it's hard to keep track of all the Puritan offshoots a More...
Jan 15, 2011
Jim
rated it:
the people who Should read this book probably won't ie conservative and fundementalist Christians. i didn't agree w/all of Wills' conclusions, he's a bit too cynical, but he makes his points solidly, fairly and factually
Dec 22, 2010
Rich
rated it: 
If you can handle the truth about the Puritans, the founding fathers, the Great Awakening and the birth of pre-millennialist fundamentalism read this book. If, however, you want to cling to your guns and religion run away!
Nov 20, 2009
Starbubbles
rated it:
the book still focuses on
"great white men," but at least wills picked different men to follow. there were founding fathers in here, and people who opposed religious revivals. it made for a fun read.
"great white men," but at least wills picked different men to follow. there were founding fathers in here, and people who opposed religious revivals. it made for a fun read.
Jul 17, 2008
Paul
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Great historical overview of the role of religion in US politics and government during our long history. The key point he makes is that there has always been a tension between a US consciousness that we are 'special to god and have a special role to play in his history and need to do that through our government' and another trend that absolutely feared a government linked to religion. That second trend is less often the ruling trend...but it happened to be during the critical years just before
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Mar 09, 2009
Leann
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I'm enjoying the combination of American history and religious culture that this readable and scholarly book provides
Dec 28, 2008
Amy
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Excellent (very accessible) book on Christianity in America. Fascinating....
Apr 05, 2011
fascinating history of the Puritan inculcation at the Founding of the nation.
Sep 27, 2009
Brian
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Like some of the other reviews say, it's a great premise, but the execution is a bit dry. I had to put it down for a good 3 weeks or so just to give myself a rest.
My other issue with this book is that Wills does a reasonable job of maintaining a hold on his bias throughout most of the book (it's relatively evident, but not in your face) until the last 20 or 30 pages which sounded like a Liberal smack-down against Christians as a whole. I wouldn't have had a problem with that if that was More...
My other issue with this book is that Wills does a reasonable job of maintaining a hold on his bias throughout most of the book (it's relatively evident, but not in your face) until the last 20 or 30 pages which sounded like a Liberal smack-down against Christians as a whole. I wouldn't have had a problem with that if that was More...
Nov 11, 2007
Cynthia
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I learned that, despite what the Religious Right might want us to think, America was not founded as a Christian nation but rather by masons as an Enlightened nation. This is an excellent book and a real eye opener. Some of the things that the Puritans and colonists did to people who weren't the same sect of Protestant as they were were just barbaric. Yes, I am a religious person, but not a religious "nut". I believe that people should have respect for each other and not harm each o
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Jan 13, 2008
Emily
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I like the idea of this book-- the history of Christianity in America and how the religious-political groups we have today evolved (or devolved, depending on your leanings) from seventeenth-century Puritan and Quaker Americans. It was a little drier than I'd expected, so it was difficult to stay interested. So a lot of skipping and skimming was done here.
Nov 26, 2008
Rainbow
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Interesting, but a little slow starting. The last third was the most interesting. Much of the beginning goes into more detail than I need.
Sep 21, 2010
Robin
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Good read for anyone interested in the separation of church and state in America. Well documented and thorough, but probably a little too thorough for me--too textbookish. I would recommend the first couple of chapters on the founding fathers and the last couple chapters on comtemporary church and state issues.
Dec 16, 2010
Sherri
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I read the early chapters about the Puritans, the Great Awakening, Deism and Unitarianism. The book explains the historical origins of American Christianity, and Garry Wills offers excellent insight on the basis for current trends in American Christianity.
Apr 13, 2008
Tamara
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Wonderful premise, but poor execution. I just can't finish. The intro discussing the Puritans and stuff was interesting, but I haven't made it past Thomas Jefferson, et. al., and won't. Entirely too dry for "pleasure reading".
Jan 30, 2008
The beginning of the book was pretty interesting, but then I started nodding off after every paragraph, and I had to take it back to the library because it turned out to be just too dull. Too bad; it had potential.
May 27, 2011
David
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Excellent history of religion in america. This book should be required reading before anyone spouts off about whether this is a christina nation or what the religious beliefs of our founding fathers was.
Dec 16, 2009
Edward
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Excellent overview of the various intersections and separations of Church and State in America, from the Puritans to George W. Bush. Particularly strong on the origins of modern day evangelical Christianity.
Feb 27, 2008
Teresa
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This book covers the influence of Christianity on politics and culture from the days of the Puritans to the present administration. The reader will find it worthwhile.
Mar 19, 2008
Alex
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I read several chapters of this for my American literature class. The topic was not exciting by any means, but the author conveyed what he thought very well.
Feb 04, 2008
Jcurmudge
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Started in Dec.2007. Finished 1/23/08. A heavy documentation of the role of religion in the American political process from the earliest to today.
Feb 11, 2012
