Our Great Big American God: A Short History of Our Ever-Growing Deity

by Matthew Paul Turner

Americans love God. We stamp God on our money, our bumper stickers, and our bodies. With a church on nearly every street, it's hard to deny our country's deep connection with the divine.

Yet culture critic Matthew Paul Turner says that God didn't just change America-America changed God. As a result, do we even recognize the "real" God?

Whip-smart and provocative, Turner explores the United States' vast influence on God, told through an amazing true history of faith, politics, and evangelical pyrotechnics.

From Puritans to Pentecostals, from progressives to mega-pastors, Turner examines how American history and ideals transformed our perception of God. Fearless and funny, this is the definitive guide to the American experience of the Almighty-a story so bizarre, incredible, and entertaining that it could only be made in the U.S.A.

No matter what your political or religious affiliation, this book will challenge and delight with its razor sharp wit, social commentary, and savvy historical insight. It will make you reconsider the way you think about America as a "Christian nation," and help you re-imagine a better future for God and country.

Ultimately, Turner dares to Does God control the future of America-or is it the other way around?

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Religion, Christianity, Faith, Theology, Christian

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Matthew Paul Turner has made his mark as a force in the Christian children's book publishing market. With his unmatched gift for rhyme blended with deliberate messages of hope and empowerment, Turner's books When God Made You and When God Made Light have become bedtime favorites for families across America. His latest anticipated release is When I Pray for You, which will debut in February 2019.

Turner's storied writing career started nearly 20 years ago, and he has published a book every year. Called “one of Christianity’s fresh voices” by Publisher’s Weekly, Turner's other notable works include Our Great Big American God, Churched, Coffeehouse Gospel and The Christian Culture Survival Guide.

When God Made You was an Evangelical Christian Publishing Association Bestseller, described as “‘Oh, the Places You'll Go' meets the Divine” by recording artist Amy Grant.

Additionally, Turner is an accomplished photographer and journalist. Turner traveled all over the world documenting National Geographic’s “The Story of God with Morgan Freeman”. For the past decade, he has also traveled extensively with World Vision to places such as Tacloban, Philippines; Entebbe, Uganda; Cochabamba, Bolivia; Gyumri, Armenia; and other locations documenting the vast effects of poverty and the humanitarian efforts of the non-profit. His writing has appeared in outlets that include the Washington Post, National Geographic, USA Today and Daily Beast.

Turner lives in Nashville, Tenn. with his wife Jessica and their three elementary-aged children. In his free time, he enjoys portrait photography, woodworking, and cooking for his family and friends. Connect with him at www.matthewpaulturner.com

Reviews

[Matthew Paul Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it.

[Dave Lester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having the honor of being Facebook friends with the preeminent progressive Christian blogger and Evangelical culture critic Matthew Paul Turner, I ran across a posting of his one day which spoke of his upcoming book “Our Great Big American God.” He was offering people who are bloggers, critics or other culture influencers a free copy of his book for them to review. I messaged him. He was gracious enough to send me a copy even though I don’t know if I fit any of the aforementioned categories. I do my best impersonation of a blogger and critic.

As mentioned Turner (MPT) has a built-in reputation of being a more “liberal” Christian. I would not have that designation (although I freely admit that the terms “conservative” and “liberal” are loaded terms and we all should talk more specifically about what we believe on the issues). As a matter of fact, I have responded to MPT before on a blog of his that I did not agree with on original sin. (read: http://dangeroushope.wordpress.com/20...).

Enough of the disclaimers. Before I dived into “American God”, I honestly had no idea what to expect. I had never read a book by MPT before but I have been a fairly consistent reader of his blog. This work by MPT seemed to be a pretty significant departure from his normal topics. Without having read them, “Churched” and “Hear No Evil: My Story of Innocence, Music, and the Holy Ghost” both seem autobiographical. His Twitter handle is @jesusneedsnewpr and he frequently offers a critique of contemporary conservative Christianity such as looked to be the case in his past book “The Christian Culture Survival Guide”.

“American God” related to MPT’s writing career seems to be the next logical extension. It is as if MPT in keeping up with the current Christian trends, fads and beliefs asked the question: “how in the hell did we get here?” His answer is “Our Great Big American God” and the book is a compelling read.

“American God” is, according to the tagline, “A short history of our Ever-Growing Deity”. The work is an overview of the idea of God in America and how believers have sincerely fashioned God into their own image. Not just exclusively a history of different American Christian beliefs about God, the book also explores how our distinctive religious ideas had an impact on our nation’s history.

“To some extent, we are all ‘growing’ God, stuffing his mouth full with ideas, themes and theologies, fattening him up with a story line we believe to be true. Our intentions may be good, but then again, I’m not sure intentions matter when it comes to God’s image. For good or bad, we are all molding God to reflect our own personal, American interpretation of Christian faith.” (page 6)

“For four hundred years, Americans have narrated God’s story, and during that time, God has grown and evolved, become bigger and more unbelievable. Our stories have added theologies and folklore, miracles and fear, pro-this narratives and anti-that themes, ghost stories and strobe lights, Sarah Palin and more than a little humanistic sensibilities. In our efforts to make God known, we’ve quite possibly turned God into something that resembles us, a big fat American with an ever-growing appetite for more. What follows is the story of God as told, shaped, and affected by America. Because God is not the same as he was yesterday, not here, not among America’s faithful.” (page 10)

MPT begins with one of his only personal stories. He is talking with his friend Dave who he comes to realize is a Christian Zionist. This encounter actually bookends “American God” and serves to illustrate one of the central points. The ideas that Dave articulates have impacted America’s foreign policy in significant ways toward Israel and the middle east. Most readers may be blown away by this claim in MPT’s book:

“Without question, John Nelson Darby is one of the most influential people in American history, quite an accomplishment considering he was British and spent only a limited amount of time in the United States.” (page 135-136)

Of course, MPT explains that Darby was the father of Dispensational theology in America. The tenets of this view highlight a distinction between Israel as God’s people and the church and then interprets Revelation through the prism of God dealing with his original chosen people (Israel). This is where we as Americans inherited the rapture, seven years of tribulation and premillennialism (as well as an assortment of other related views). Impact? Consider the massive sales of the “Left Behind” series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins that describe the horror of the rapture and tribulation. Nicholas Cage is starring in an upcoming “Left Behind” movie which is being remade from the previous Kirk Cameron installment. This idea, foremost in millions of Americans thoughts, has come to impact middle eastern foreign affairs.

“American God” provides a generalized outline of personalities and their beliefs as well as the subsequent impact on American history. MPT dives into Puritan founders including John Cotton, Anne Hutchinson, Thomas Hooker, Roger Williams (including Williams appeals for religious freedom), Jonathan Edwards and John Winthrop. He spends quite a lot of time with Winthrop and his ideal of American being a “shining city on a hill”. This very phrase came up in President Ronald Reagan’s farewell address in 1989 as he (apparently) articulated a fairly liberal immigration view.

MPT moves on toward discussing the religious divides of the Civil War and moving into the 20th century, Billy Sunday and how he helped shaped the Constitutional amendment of prohibition. We are reminded of classic Americana scenes including William Jennings Bryan during the Scopes Trial in Tennessee, DL Moody working and evangelizing in Chicago (and MPT’s perspective of Moody mixing capitalistic principles with how he ran his ministry), the Azusa Street revival and birth of modern day Pentecostalism, and the rise of the religious right behind Jerry Falwell and other foot soldiers. Finally, Billy Graham makes an appearance as he revolutionized Protestantism in the latter part of the 20th century.

The massive kudos that are due to MPT is how he fits this history into a book that is 222 pages. Sure, the overall treatment of American religious history is a breeze but this leaves the reader wanting more (and there are ample footnotes to peruse). MPT does not merely recite history but adds the provocativeness of his personality to the pages. His wittiness is on full display as well as a good deal of snark….but hey, this is MPT we’re talking about here. While the reader will recall American events they are familiar with, they will also learn about new figures and see, perhaps for the first time, how unfamiliar ideas to the modern nation’s conscience have had a far ranging impact on our nation’s beliefs and life.

My only quibble with the book is MPT acts as a kind of historical narrator, not really divulging what exactly he thinks (or believes), about the figures and events that are encountered along the way. I should add though that this may be my fault having not read his other books. Perhaps, he explores his own personal views in those works.

I have already stated that I come from the theologically conservative end of the spectrum and I have a “reformish” leaning in my own theology to be sure. I suspect that many people who are more conservative Christians will pass this book over because of MPT’s theological or social views (or his reputation for them) which may differ from them. I would highly encourage them not too. This is not a liberal or conservative book in my view. There are gleanings that will speak to anybody and the big challenge to people on the conservative end (like me and liberals too) is asking the question: how have we allowed our culture/country to illustrate who we understand God to be? This is a haunting question and one worth exploring. When we fashion God in our image (especially a nationalistic image), we create an idol and often ignore other people in the world whom God (the True God) immensely cares about.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, informative, and with some occasionally sharp humor - although by the time the abrupt ending arrived I was wishing there had been a little more detail. (Covering roughly from the Pilgrims' arrival to Obama's first inauguration - give or take 400+ years in American history - was done in a compact 220 pages.) Author Turner explores how certain practices of Christianity took root, prospered and then changed (or were disrupted) over the years as the country grew from 'New World' into a world power.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just spent the last hour reading this book. I haven't decided if I will keep reading it. I probably would have switched to another book if it hadn't been the only book I brought to the gym while on the treadmill.
It begins at the history of the Puritans coming to America. It is not as erudite as Sarah Vowell's "Wordy shipmates". It also strikes a different tone. Whereas atheist Vowell's tone is respectful awe of the faith and perseverance of the early Puritans, Turner's treatment is snide and condescending. Vowell relates more incidents both of horrific nature and of more humane nature then Turner does. Turner has many pithy soundbites of incidents in the colony.
I find it interesting that in a Christian book in which the author decries the lack of grace of the Puritans, that same lack of Grace is showing in his writing.
I think I'm going to go back to reading my book about pope Francis. It makes me want to be a Christian more. For the record, my narrative framework is Stone – Campbell which is a midway point between Wesleyanism and Calvinism.

[Violinknitter · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you need an introduction to the history of Christianity in America, this is a great place to start. Fast-paced, witty, and engaging enough for someone who isn't usually comfortable with history, yet well-researched & well-documented enough to provide great jumping-off points for those of us who like to dive into historical rabbit-holes. Turner is not a conservative evangelical Christian, so if you're used to the particular type of historical story that fits in well with "God & country, rah rah rah!", this won't be a comfortable book to read. But it's funny an insightful, so give it a try anyway!

[Anastasia Kinderman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The snark got a little annoying at times and I felt his portrayal of William Jennings Bryan was unfair but overall this was a helpful book. It gives you a layman's history of Christianity in America in about 200 pages.

[elizabeth sawyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

"....considering where and who America's God was in 1630 or in 1741 or in 1801 or in 1925 and in light of where and who America's God is today, I don't think it's futile for us to consider the weight and influence of our stories, beliefs, theologies, and ideas and to ponder how they might affect where and who America's God will be in the future." This is from the last page of this book and really ties together what his purpose was throughout the book in my opinion... to give you a historical picture of how culture & religion has evolved in America from the first steps of settlers to more recent times. It is hard throughout this book to get a sense of his tone though which left me wondering if and what exactly was his personal bent so to speak on who & how God should be viewed. Many many references to big names & big stories in our history smashed into simplified terms to create a timeline, yet not very much depth. Each of those names & stories could and have been a book in and of themself so I imagine he is simply trying to show a thread of evolution in popular thought & movement in religion and spirituality.

Interesting, but hard to get to the end. Learned new things, but also got frustrated with his tone. Very disappointed he cut more recent times extremely short because recent history is repeating many of the very themes he presented, yet he doesn't go there at all and that would have made for another strong 2-3 chapters. Could it be a discussion book? Personally I don't think so.

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, witty, enlightening, and even a bit scary at times. This book gives a great picture into the how and why of America's view of God and how we worship. Many of today's views and practices are really "traditional" but they are very American. The interrelationship of the church and politics is both enlightening and frustrating. This book really helps to peal away the onion layers of what is considered "common" Christianity and make us really question which parts are truly divine and how much we have morphed God into our own image.

Highly recommended, but be warned. Those on the far right will start objecting from page 1.

[Dan Gorman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Turner has a strong authorial voice and provides a breezy journalistic approach to religious history. Unfortunately, he does not draw from many primary sources, has very few notes at the back of the book, and uses a flippant and glib tone that is irritating at times. Perhaps most useful for a freshman (or high school) course, or for casual adult readers very unfamiliar with Christian history. Some readers may be taken aback by Turner's polemical attitude toward evangelical Christians. Sometimes Turner is more concerned with tearing apart evangelical claims than explaining how evangelical society functions.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would've given it a higher rating but a)you can hear his disdain throughout the book, b) it ended rather abruptly in my opinion, and c)there was so sense of wrap-up, no summation of the author's opinions or no hope the reader is left with.

[Troy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before I get into my review of Our Great Big American God, I want to be transparent and say that I am part of the Presbyterian Church in America, that I had never heard of Matthew Paul Turner before reading this book, and that I only read the book at the behest of a Lutheran (ELCA) coworker of mine who graciously loaned me her copy.

Before reading this book I posted the following comment on goodreads about it, “I was loaned this book by a coworker and told her that I would give it a read. From what I understand I should be able to agree with Turner's diagnosis of the problem, but not his solution to the problem.”

Oh how wrong I was.

This might be one of the worst books I've ever read. It could have been a really insightful critique of evangelicalism, but instead it reads as overly sarcastic, deeply prideful, snide, and incredibly ahistoric. Turner's criticisms of the Puritans and John Calvin are written from such a place of abject ignorance that on multiple occasions I wanted to scratch my eyeballs out. I find it healthy to read good and principled books by people who hold opposite opinions from mine—but this is anything but good and principled.

I don’t think Turner is a stupid man by any stretch of the imagination, but I do think that at times Turner assumes his audience may be. The book just feels like one big excuse for him to dunk on anyone who isn’t from his socially accommodating, couldn’t-properly-exegete-a-passage-even-if-they-had-a-manual, borderline atheistic form of Christianity. Heaven forbid you believe in anything in the Bible aside from vague notions of love.

The historical and theological errors are everywhere. He claims the Puritans believed they were God’s “New Israel,” which they very explicitly did not. He pits Presbyterians against Puritans as though the Puritans weren’t essentially just English Presbyterians. He suggests Calvin invented predestination. In a posture of agreement he quotes from another author who writes that the Puritans were “relatively uninterested in Jesus,” that He was “at best a marginal figure.” And his take on Finney—arguing that Finney’s “free moral agent” language undermined Calvinism—proves he has no idea what he is talking about. Really? Calvinism undermined by something explicitly laid out in Chapter 5 of the Westminster Confession of Faith? This is severely lacking in intellectual honesty.

Then there’s page 177: “Sometimes the Holy Spirit made a mess and didn’t clean up after itself.” Calling the third Person of the Trinity an “it” is insane.

I found his critique of the marriage between patriotism and faith to be valid—at least when the two are placed on equal or near equal footing. And I generally agree with some of his gripes about modern fundamentalism, as long as he isn’t applying them to men like Warfield (which he very well might). Surprisingly, the book even gave me a greater awareness of Pentecostalism’s role in desegregating the American church, for which I am grateful.

But overall? This book is just as snide and prideful as its visual equivalent in the form of David Hayward’s art, with enough faux intellectualism to captivate the unassuming Barnes & Noble shopper. It was an easy read in between all the cringing, eye rolls, and sighs—but unoriginal. Turner doesn’t seek to recreate what he attempts to tear down; he just wants to destroy, like all post-modernists. He takes a kind of gleeful pleasure in burning down his giant strawman version of Christianity, and in its place he leaves a festering wound he has seemingly no obligation to repair.

My original assessment was wrong—I actually disagree with his diagnosis of the problem and his proposed solution to the problem. Mainly because he doesn’t actually offer a solution at all. This could have been a fascinating look at American Christianity, but Turner is too ravenously anti-Calvinist and ravenously anti-any-type-of-Christianity-to-the-right-of-Schleiermacher for that.

Also, an endorsement from Frank Schaeffer (ever trustworthy apostate son of Francis Schaeffer) does not help this book’s case.

[Tommy Grooms · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our Great Big American God is a history in the sense that it covers the major movements and people that marked America's shifting views of Christianity (it's not a bad introduction), but it's not terrifically in-depth or objective. This would be fine if the author had a strong thesis, but Matthew Paul Turner stops at saying that he "doesn't think it's futile to consider" America's conception of God. Turner casually throws shade at America's varying conceptions of God and makes a fair handful of "I" statements without offering a clear indication of what he himself thinks God in America should look like, and the tone was such that I kept wishing that he hadn't written this "history" but had made an actual argument instead.

[Kathryn Witzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Matthew Paul Turner completist, this book has surprisingly sat on my shelf since I purchased it in 2014. I saw him post about it recently and decided it was time to tackle this comprehensive examination of how our country has viewed God since the early days. As always, the writing is well developed, even though I am exhausted by the topic in 2024. MPT was before his time as many works have been published recently that cover some of what he writes about here. As much as I have enjoyed his non-fiction books for adults, I think I will stick with his children's books where everyone is loved and God is kind.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many Christians think and believe that our country is some kind special project of God's and that we as a nation frequently depart form his plans. This entertaining book takes an historical perspective and shows how our understandings of God, of Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit go through changes according to the times and the circumstances. ....and how we pretty much get things wrong at every turn.

[Matthew Irvine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yowsa. This is a heavy hitter, but it's an important read. While I need some mindless young adult novel to chase this one, this book has helped me better grasp the history of Christianity in America.

[Nheduana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather cheeky biography of a voiceless Deity who is dragged about America and dressed in various fashions in a manner reminiscent of a child’s Barbie doll.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but I had a hard time getting past the author using “American” as shorthand for White Protestant.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, but a bit too much snark for me. Which is a shame, as American religious history is right up my alley.

[Brandon Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been somewhat familiar with Matthew Paul Turner for awhile. He hosts the podcast “That God Show” with one of my favorite authors/bloggers, Benjamin L Corey. I also follow him on social media, but even though I’ve had this book on my wishlist for awhile, I’ve never actually read anything by Turner until now. I’m not sure why I waited!

Turner begins “Our Great Big American God” by talking about a question that had been posed to him by a friend. That question was “Where would God be without the USA?” Well, if you’re like me the first thing that crosses your mind is: “That’s totally inappropriate! God is GOD. God doesn’t need the USA or any other country!” However, as you read further into the opening of the book you see the point behind the question. Nobody, at least in the Christian world, is as big of a proponent of God as the United States is. One of our major political parties is totally driven by something that passes itself as Christianity. Most Americans still self-identify as not only religious, but Christian. Many, if not most, Americans still go to church (at least on Christmas Eve and Easter). The United States is responsible for most of the worldwide Christian evangelism, as well as most of the copies of the Bible distributed in the world every year. If you ever see a group of Chinese or African folks being presented with a Bible, odds are that Bible was funded by, if not actually printed in, America. Christians hold nearly every higher government office in the country and most of the offices at the lower levels of government as well. In short, we’ve done a lot for God in the last 400 years!

But the thing is, our God–our conception of God–has changed over the years. When the Puritans stepped off the Mayflower God was a devout Calvinist. God was a hard nosed God for a hard nosed new world where those who didn’t work didn’t eat. God was kind of scary as he held the lives of all those sinners in his angry hands. He’d just as soon pull your legs off like an insect and toss you into Hell. Cranky, wasn’t he? When some people tried to challenge this conception of God they were tossed from the colony (so much for religious freedom). Think Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island.

God didn’t stay that way though. He became an ardent American Patriot during the Revolutionary War. In the 19th century people like the Methodists eventually took over from the Calvinists. Now God wasn’t the angry Father anymore, he was the much more pleasant Son, Jesus, who wanted to get to know you. During the Civil War era God was a mighty soldier for the Union (The Battle Hymn of the Republic) and at the same time a rigid southerner determined to hold on to the institution of slavery (which was justified from the Bible six ways from Sunday across the Confederacy).

In the early 20th century the Pentecostal movements came about and kind of took over from the Methodists and the Baptists, and God became the fiery Holy Spirit who would help you speak in tongues, handle serpents without dying, and above all make your minister a very rich man. Then came the fundamentalists, who eventually had a nasty break up with the evangelicals when folks like Billy Graham became not quite fundamentalist enough. However, they got back together in the late 70s when they decided that they should actually attempt to dominate the political landscape and get that God-forsaken Democrat, Jimmy Carter, out of the White House. After that God became a gay hating, woman bashing, uberpatriotic mascot of the “Moral Majority” which has finally faltered in recent years.

Whew! Take a breath man!

Those couple of paragraphs just scratch the surface of Turner’s history. As someone with a minor in history I can vouch for the fact that the book is very well researched and annotated. It brings together two of my favorite subjects: Christianity and history, and does a stellar job. Anyone who is interested in these subjects should really enjoy this. Turner doesn’t come across as some dab, dry history professor but scatters his own insights and humor throughout the book, making it a truly enjoyable read.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a quick read and pretty entertaining; there was a lot of personality in there to balance the history and sociology. I enjoyed the book but still found myself putting it down pretty often and anxious for it to be done. I can't quite put my finger on why.

[Reid Mccormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

God and country. Take a drive around the highways of America and within minutes you can spot a bumper sticker or two that proclaims love for God and country. On my commute, my wife and I would play a game: who could spot the first “in not of this world” bumper sticker. She usually wins within the first three miles.

In the United States, religion and patriotism are two ends of the same stick. It is unfathomable to be one but not the other. Can you be a patriotic atheist?

All Americans have a complicated relationship with religion, not just the religious or non-religious. Though I wholeheartedly believe that the United States is not a “Christian nation,” religion definitely impacts everyday matters in America.

I picked up Our Great Big American God via a recommendation from a colleague after discussing the role of Christianity in culture. The book is great at explaining the theology of certain groups throughout American history, starting with the Puritans and ending with the Moral Majority. Each group left significant on America, however, the lasting impacts were not really discussed in the book. I guess I was looking for more of an outsider’s view of Christianity in American history.

Additionally, I felt the author tried to throw in some wit here and there and it typically fell flat. At times he would address God like an independent figure and other times treat God like a figment of the collective’s imagination. All in all, it felt disjointed.

The book is good with lots of resources, it just did not fit my taste. I'm now more interested in the resources he used rather than this book.

[Greg D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written with both facts and plenty of cynicism, "Our Great Big American God" tells the history of the making of the American brand of God, I think.

80% of the material I read in this book was almost identical to the material I read in "The Religious History of America" by Edwin Gaustad published in 2004. In fact, it was eerily similar. I read Gaustad's book in 2011 and as I was reading Turner's new book not only was I experiencing deja vu, but it became predictable. I was essentially reading a slightly different and compressed version of Gaustad's book. I am not claiming plagiarism, but it is a bit suspicious or completely coincidental.

Overall, I was disappointed. I thought this book was going to be more about the evolution of the American Christian culture throughout the years. Instead it was a historical overview of prominent preachers, theologians, religious movements, and the rise of new denominations much like Gaustad's book. And, it only focused on one facet of Christianity in America, namely Protestant Evangelicalism. However, Methodism was almost always portrayed in a positive light for which I was grateful. But, in a sense this was just another American Christian history book.

If you haven't read Gaustad's book and you're not looking for a lengthy read, then "Our Great Big American God" may be just for you. If you are looking for a much more detailed and lengthy overview of religious life in America, I highly recommend "The Religious History of America".

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our Great Big American God attempts to trace the impact that America had on the understanding of God within Christianity. The perspective that the author is trying to make is a bit difficult to grasp. The book is not a history of Christianity in America, therefore there are a lot of movements that are not discussed, including native movements like the Seventh Day Adventists and Mormons, nor does it discuss how some denominations or movements reacted to being planted in the American environment. While the word history is in the subtitle, the book is closer to being a book of theology, for it really shows how America has stamped its own understanding on to the God of Christianity.


The tone of the book might be difficult for some people as it is a bit sarcastic. For those not used to sarcasm in religious writing, that might be a hurdle one cannot overcome, therefore, this book might not be the best selection for the little old ladies during Sunday School. However, if that is not a problem then one should be fine with the tone of this book.


The author relies heavily on primary sources. Perhaps this is what gives the book its unique flavor. By focusing on primary sources, Turner puts different idea together that are not normally put in relationship to one another and creates a distinctive picture of the relationship between America and the Christian God.

[Yves · Rating 4 out of 5]

A digestable good overview of the evolution of America's God and God's America from the time prior to the pilgrims left England until the 90's. A useful cataloguing of the many denomitions that compete for "America's share of souls". Interesting to learn or be reminded the position of the main denominations prior and during the main events that marked America's History; slavery and abolition, the war with Mexico, Spanish, and civil war and the controversial entry into WW1.

In the final stage the of Republican primaries gone awfully amiss, the following statement by Rheinhold Niebhur struck a cord in me: "Politics always aims at some kind of harmony or balance of interest, and such harmony of cannot be regarded as directly related to the final harmony of love of the Kingdom of God. All men are naturally inclined to obscure the morally ambiguous element in their political cause by investing it with religious sanctity. This is why religion is more frequently a source of confusion than a light in the political realm. The tendency to equate our political with our christian convictions causes politics to generate idolatry".

[Adam Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Review: A romp through American religious history and the ways innovation in the message or understanding of God has changed the way we modern American Christians see God. I think the strength (and some of my frustration) of the book is the way Turner is intentionally conflating God (as a deity) and our understanding of God. Of course he is right that when we understand God differently that makes a difference. But as I think he would clearly said if pressed, that God (as God) is unchanged. Which is where Turner really starts (with a story about a friend of his talking about how much America has done for God over its history.) Turner is a gadfly, a necessary voice, but not alway one that is easy to hear. Still this is the best of his books that I have read.

Click through for about 1000 word review. http://bookwi.se/our-great-big-americ...

[Danns · Rating 4 out of 5]

While at times Turner can be a bit irreverent, this book was a very interesting and eye opening if short jaunt through the history of how God has been received and presented by the different denominations of Christianity in the United States. What I found particularly interesting was the discussion of how integrated the Church was in the politics of the state before the independence was declared and how disastrous that was.

There were times I wish there was more in depth information provided about specific events or characters. I suspect that there is a lot more in the notes at the end but the version I read on the Kindle did not have easily accessible links to move back and forth to that information.

For a quick taste of the history of different denominations of Christianity in the United States to the present political movements we see today, this book is a great start.

[Emily McFarlan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book from Matthew Paul Turner was entertaining and engaging from start to finish – probably not what you would expect from a book tracing how America's view of God has changed throughout its history and how that, in turn, has impacted the country. But this isn't a dense theological or historical work. It's clearly told from Turner's point of view, which includes its fair share of broad brushstrokes and sweeping conclusions. It might have benefitted from a brief explanation of that point of view at the outset, some sort of framework for understanding the author's interpretation of theology and history (although, if you've read his previous books or blog, you probably already have a pretty good idea). Still, it's a compelling introduction for those who might want to dig deeper into the topic.

[Alger Smythe-Hopkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Underwhelming.

As a short introductory history of popular religion in the United States this works. Unfortunately, it is just too superficial for anyone except the casual reader. As a history, or just a book that does more than tell the reader who imagined what of God, this falls short. I was attracted to the purpose of the book, and the writing is fine and occasionally witty, but I cannot see the value of this book to anyone who already knew, in even broad outlines, the story of the peculiar obsessions Americans have had with God. For anyone with a detailed knowledge of even one religious movement it should be quickly obvious that this is a very hurried survey that flattens out the real diversity of religious thought to present an uncomplicated and directed narrative. Neither is there reflection upon how people lived with these ideas, only upon who had these ideas.

[Joy Matteson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating take on American religious history. Mr. Turner explores from 1611 Plymouth Rock until today how Americans have so easily mixed together God and patriotism. It was a fascinating red on the eve of Fourth of July this year, and Turner's witty and engrossing research easily carries this book to its unavoidable conclusion. This is easily digested (and snarky enough) for the masses, and yet profoundly deep, answering some of my own questions about American historical theology that was missing from my undergraduate degree. I hope readers of all Christian denominations will read this, since the book is a compelling case for why God and American patriotism has been mixed together for over 300 years.

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging look at the ways America has changed God to suit its needs throughout the years, starting with the Puritans and on up to the present. I learned a good deal about past popular teachers and preachers, as well as the way they viewed and interacted with God. Much of this set the stage for the Moral Majority and TV ministries we are begrudgingly accustomed to today. Turner spares no one and his POV is readily apparent, which was good for me but also sadly limits who I can pass the book along to. Many people would benefit from reading it but they may not receive its message because of the occasional snide tone. Still, I commend Turner's work and hope it will provoke more engagement on how patriotism and religion have crossed each other's lines.