Protestantism And The American Founding

by Thomas S. Engeman, Michael P. Zuckert

This welcome new book explores the relationship between Protestant theology and American political thought of the founding era. It gathers together both new and well-known essays by scholars and outstanding thinkers in political philosophy, beginning with Michael Zuckert's lead essay, derived from his work "The Natural Rights Republic, that the thought of the American founding era is best described as an amalgam of Protestantism and Lockean political philosophy. Some contributors challenge Zuckert's "amalgam thesis," arguing, on the one side, that Locke himself was a Protestant political theologian, and, on the other, that Lockean political philosophy is incompatible with Christian political thought. Others defend or develop a middle ground between these two perspectives. Most of the contributors argue that the influence of Protestantism on the Founding helped create a dynamic role for religion that made America the most religious modern nation. The debate on the influence of Protestantism is enriched by classic selections from Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America. The resulting dialogue provides fresh and provocative insights into the way in which politics and religion interacted during the founding of America. Thomas Engeman's introduction and Michael Zuckert's reflection on the issues raised by the essayists round out the book. Protestantism and the American Founding will serve as a valuable classroom guide for discussion and debate about issues in American and modern political philosophy.

296 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2004

Reviews

[Alan Johnson]

This is a collection of essays by various scholars that present different perspectives on the relationship between Protestantism and the American Founding. I have now read all of the essays, and I disagree with some of them. However, I have found Michael P. Zuckert's "Natural Rights and Protestant Politics" (adapted from his 1996 book The Natural Rights Republic) to be of particular interest. Zuckert recognizes, contrary to much American mythology and some American scholarship, that the Pilgrims and Puritans came to America in the seventeenth century to establish their own theocratic order, not to promote liberty of conscience generally and certainly not to support separation of church and state. I look forward to reading Zuckert's extant books on seventeenth- and eighteenth-century political philosophy and history, the American founding, and John Locke. He is currently working on a book entitled Completing the Constitution: the Post-Civil War Amendments, which should also be of great interest when it is published.

There is much more I could say about Zuckert's analysis and his disagreements with the views of other contributors to this volume (including that of his fellow Straussian Thomas G. West). However, I will wait until I have read Zuckert's books on this subject before commenting further.

(Originally posted 12/29/2015; revised 3/28/2016.)

[Blaine Welgraven · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The most important benefit for recent students of the American founding is a realization that this particular historiographical battle is unwinnable. In particular, the clash of interpretations has pushed understanding of the really existing historical situation toward greater flexibility, multi-vocality, and nuance...Recognizing that neither an airtight republicanism nor an equally hegemonic liberalism dominated public intellectual life has led at least some historians to reevaluate the place of religion."--Mark A. Noll, The Contingencies of Christian Republicanism

[Abram Overturf · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ~ sharp essays on an embattled history that haunts American religious life.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've given this collection a five star rating solely because of Tom West's essay, which is a tour de force.