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Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?: A Historical Introduction
by
John Fea
Fea offers an even-handed primer on whether America was founded to be a Christian nation, as many evangelicals assert, or a secular state, as others contend. He approaches the title's question from a historical perspective, helping readers see past the emotional rhetoric of today to the recorded facts of our past. Readers on both sides of the issues will appreciate that th...more
Paperback, 287 pages
Published
November 4th 2010
by Westminster John Knox Press
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This book presents a really interesting and balanced look at early American history. The author takes the question about whether America is a Christian nation and parses it out into smaller questions. First, what do you mean by America -- are you referring to the Puritan colonial period, the Revolutionary War period, the early national period? "America" meant something different in all three of those times, and the answer to the book's title question would change accordingly. And even more impor...more
Boy, talk about a history lesson. I learned more about Americas history in the past few hours than I did in those 12 years in school! This is a great book if you want to learn about the history of Christianity in the US of A. However, I wasn't looking for a history lesson, I was looking for the answer to the question "Was America Founded as a Christian nation?" The author near the end (in the conclusion) says that its not an answer that can be given a yes or a no. Fine, I'll answer it. Answer is...more
Whether or not America was founded as a "Christian nation" is a touchy political topic right now, and figures in other touchy political topics as well. John Fea gives us a very thorough and thoughtful discussion of the matter, and arrives at the conclusion most historians not involved in the political world would give: It's Complicated.
In the first part of the book, Fea looks at the substantial body of evidence, going back to the early 19th century, that the idea of America as a Christian nation...more
In the first part of the book, Fea looks at the substantial body of evidence, going back to the early 19th century, that the idea of America as a Christian nation...more
This is one of those books that everyone really does need to read. John Fea has written a very accessible account of the role religion played in the founding of the nation. He makes clear that founding isn't the same thing as planting. Thus, we need to have a good discussion about when the nation began -- and that isn't something we're all in agreement upon.
John's book takes a middle road between those who say that American was founded as a Christian nation (ala David Barton)and try to envision...more
John's book takes a middle road between those who say that American was founded as a Christian nation (ala David Barton)and try to envision...more
Aug 06, 2011
Keith
added it
An excellent critique of the history of Christianity in America and the 'faith' of its founders. Fea gives a very balanced history which shows how Christian 'faith' indeed had a major influence in the original colonies and lives of the founders, while at the same time putting an end to the myths that the founders were "Christian" in the way many would like to believe.
Both critics and advocates of a "Christian America" will be more adequately informed on the real history of the country and its f...more
Both critics and advocates of a "Christian America" will be more adequately informed on the real history of the country and its f...more
The short answer to the title question: no.
The long answer to the title question: no, not really.
The book centers on various attempts throughout American history to ascribe religious meaning to the Constitution and the machinations of the states to found their constitutions and laws on biblical principles. As time has demonstrated, though, those laws are eventually struck down as being unconstitutional because--wait for it--America is not a Christian nation.
A little dry at times, like history it...more
The long answer to the title question: no, not really.
The book centers on various attempts throughout American history to ascribe religious meaning to the Constitution and the machinations of the states to found their constitutions and laws on biblical principles. As time has demonstrated, though, those laws are eventually struck down as being unconstitutional because--wait for it--America is not a Christian nation.
A little dry at times, like history it...more
Fea's book is essential for someone hoping to wade through the loaded question of America's Christian heritage. I expected a geneology that would reveal the term's fairly recent emergence, but interestingly, Fea chronicles how the idea of America as a Christian nation has been put to diverse and conflicting use for the last 2-300 years. Most strikingly, Fea brings to light how such rhetoric was used for oppression, particularly when "Christian nation" really meant, "Protestant" nation. His prefa...more
This book was a very even handed look at both sides of this question. It is very well documented with both source documents and related contextual information. The author does not attempt to answer the question. In fact, Fea suggests that the problem with this question is the question itself. He suggests that many who argue either side of the question are seeking to establish an agenda that requires a simple answer. The answers to the question are very complex. Fea does an outstanding job of res...more
This is an excellent discussion of the nature and purposes of history for the non-historian like myself, disguised as a series of short essays on the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers, and the framing of the Constitution. By the way, the answer to his title question is, unsurprisingly, both 'Yes' and 'No'.
Accessible introduction to the issues involved in answering the title question. This is the first book I would recommend to someone who is interested in exploring the influences of Christianity on America's founding.
An excellent balanced view of the topic. Mr. Fea avoids the errors of the far-right "America is the new Israel" crowd while not succumbing to the securalist "All the founders were atheists or Deists" meme. Highly recommended.
A thorough, fair, highly readable introduction to the historical facts behind the debate of the title. This should be required reading for every politically engaged US citizen.
Jan 27, 2013
Jon D
added it
A solid and judicious work, but somewhat oddly organized, concluding with a set of chapters describing in fairly broad terms the religious beliefs of several of the leading political figures of the Constitutional period but not really proceeding from the preceding discussion. Informative, though...
The purpose of this book is to act as an introductory work on "doing history." John Fea also uses a political hot-topic, religion in America, to show how a historian may go about using her craft to answer this question(Was American founded as a Christian nation?). A must read for those interested in the American religious history, or those wanting to learn how historians typically work.
A tough look at the founders and their individual faiths. It became more clear that the leadership of the Revolution was politically Christian not orthodox. Christianity was valuable as a means to grow a healthy republic not as a non-political faith in Christ. Fea demonstrates the exaggerated position used by the political right to claim Christian origins of America for partisan goals. This is part of a series of works that have been recently published on this theme.
I didn't finish this book, and it hopefully wasn't because I'm a lazy bum.
The author's writing style was evenhanded in the extreme. This is generally seen as a good thing, but I like an author to lead me to a conclusion, whether I agree with it or not, so that I can feel like I'm getting somewhere.
The author's writing style was evenhanded in the extreme. This is generally seen as a good thing, but I like an author to lead me to a conclusion, whether I agree with it or not, so that I can feel like I'm getting somewhere.
AWESOME book! I know Dr. Fea and can attest to his historical integrity. This is a fantastic book for anyone who is interesting in American religious history. If you've ever heard friends or family proclaim the United States to be a "Christian Nation" but have wondered if that was true or just exactly what that meant, this is the book for you.
May 13, 2013
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John Fea is associate professor of history at Messiah College in Grantham, PA. His writing on early American history has appeared in a variety of scholarly and popular venues."
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Aug 15, 2012 07:12pm