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Holy Smoke: How Christianity Smothered the American Dream
“The US is a bizarre outlier among prosperous and educated nations. On the one hand it is the greatest scientific powerhouse in the world, boasting more than its fair share of the world’s top universities. On the other hand it is a quagmire of religious fanaticism no less ridiculous than the worst that Iran or Pakistan have to offer. The explanation for this strange incongruity must surely be sought in the religious history of the republic. Rick Snedeker’s erudite yet readable book gives us just such a history. And very illuminating it is.” — Richard Dawkins, author of “The God Delusion," in reviewing “Holy Smoke" The Dismantling of Church and State in America Since the first English Christian fundamentalists arrived in the 1600s on the shores of what would become the United States, Christianity has become increasingly embedded in the nation’s social and cultural fabric. This is completely contrary to the Founding Fathers’ original vision of America; it was designed by them to be a secular democratic republic built on evidence-based Enlightenment values, emphatically not religious faith. Indeed, the Founders purposefully intended that a high, strong “wall of separation” keep church and state apart in the new nation, while allowing individual religious freedom untrammeled by government—and vice versa. But Christians with theocratic dreams keep trying to breach the wall. Through their efforts, God is now in evidence everywhere in the country—on our money, in our schools, even in high-level-government officials’ speeches. Freedom of — and from — religion is the American promise to all its people whatever their belief—or disbelief. This is how the Founding Fathers wanted it to be, not the undemocratic theocracy zealous evangelicals are trying to force on American society.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2020
294 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Rick Snedeker
3 books4 followersRick Snedeker was born in Rockville Centre, New York, in 1950, but grew up from ages 3 to 11 in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, the headquarters of the Arabian American Oil Co. (Aramco), where his father worked as a mid-manager. Snedeker, a journalist and public relations professional during his career, retired in 2011 and now has plenty of time to write every day.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 10, 2022
"I talk to God, but the sky is empty" ~Sylvia Plath
Somewhat less antagonistic than the title would suggest, retired journalist Rick Snedeker's meticulously researched Holy Smoke is both a history and an indictment of American fundamentalism. Spanning over 500 years (1492 - 2020), Snedeker chronicles the ebb and flow of religious fervor in America and its impact on social and political institutions.
1620's - Contrary to what we, as American children, were taught in elementary school, the "Pilgrims" were not stalwart bastions of civility and tolerance. In fact, one of the main reasons they set up shop in the colonies is because they were reviled in both their native England and their adopted country, the Netherlands. Known then as Brownists, they were ferverently opposed to religious freedom (unless of course your faith of choice was their faith of choice).
1630's - Enter John Winthrop and his hundreds of English Puritans who established the Massachusetts Bay Colony that is now the city of Boston. Nestled in amongst the sundry items of baggage they imported is the notion that poverty is a sin. Their belief that the poor are lazy and inherently less pious is still a component of right-wing American philosophy.
"the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy" ~H.L. Mencken, describing Puritanism
1631 - Roger Williams arrives in Massachusetts and American colonial morality sees a positive uptick, if only briefly. Williams initially intended to be a Protestant missionary but, after witnessing the plight of Native Americans, he became distraught and disillusioned. Williams spoke out against Puritan authorities, many of whom accused him of heresy.
1636 - The Massachusetts Bay Colony banishes Roger Williams for "diverse, new and dangerous opinions."
Can you see a pattern emerging here?
Snedeker goes on to chronicle the role sanctimonious entities and pious underpinnings played in the course of American history. The Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Nat Turner's slave rebellion in 1831. The Ghost Dance movement of 1870. The massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890. All pieces of the complicated mosaic that is our collective identity. With so many skeletons in our closet, it's no wonder we're screwed-up.
Are we hopelessly lost? Snedeker doesn't think so. He has suggestions for our recovery (good ones) but he admits that our climb out of the abyss, IF it happens, will be slow and perilous.
Somewhat less antagonistic than the title would suggest, retired journalist Rick Snedeker's meticulously researched Holy Smoke is both a history and an indictment of American fundamentalism. Spanning over 500 years (1492 - 2020), Snedeker chronicles the ebb and flow of religious fervor in America and its impact on social and political institutions.
1620's - Contrary to what we, as American children, were taught in elementary school, the "Pilgrims" were not stalwart bastions of civility and tolerance. In fact, one of the main reasons they set up shop in the colonies is because they were reviled in both their native England and their adopted country, the Netherlands. Known then as Brownists, they were ferverently opposed to religious freedom (unless of course your faith of choice was their faith of choice).
1630's - Enter John Winthrop and his hundreds of English Puritans who established the Massachusetts Bay Colony that is now the city of Boston. Nestled in amongst the sundry items of baggage they imported is the notion that poverty is a sin. Their belief that the poor are lazy and inherently less pious is still a component of right-wing American philosophy.
"the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy" ~H.L. Mencken, describing Puritanism
1631 - Roger Williams arrives in Massachusetts and American colonial morality sees a positive uptick, if only briefly. Williams initially intended to be a Protestant missionary but, after witnessing the plight of Native Americans, he became distraught and disillusioned. Williams spoke out against Puritan authorities, many of whom accused him of heresy.
1636 - The Massachusetts Bay Colony banishes Roger Williams for "diverse, new and dangerous opinions."
Can you see a pattern emerging here?
Snedeker goes on to chronicle the role sanctimonious entities and pious underpinnings played in the course of American history. The Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Nat Turner's slave rebellion in 1831. The Ghost Dance movement of 1870. The massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890. All pieces of the complicated mosaic that is our collective identity. With so many skeletons in our closet, it's no wonder we're screwed-up.
Are we hopelessly lost? Snedeker doesn't think so. He has suggestions for our recovery (good ones) but he admits that our climb out of the abyss, IF it happens, will be slow and perilous.
November 7, 2022
This book is just me attempting to understand how the democracy in the United States can be on the brink of collapse. I can definitely see how Christian indoctrination and children not learning to think for themselves at an early age has been detrimental. My partner was saying that "look how badly the world is turning out with all that education" and I'm like "if you do not learn critical thinking and science, that's not being 'educated'". In some American schools, intelligent design has to be taught alongside the theory of evolution, which still, a large number of Americans think is just "a theory". Sweet heavens, explaining what a scientific theory is in what, 8th or 9th grade science? At least I remember it being repeated then. The American dream has long since smothered. I'm afraid that by tomorrow, there will only be a few sorry remnants of democracy left, now that most Americans will vote the authoritarian, anti-democratic Republican party to bigger power. In two years, Trump will be voted back to office and it could be goodbye NATO, hello World War III.
March 27, 2020
“Holy Smoke” challenged my beliefs, awareness and knowledge of our American systems. I’m a practicing – albeit “cafeteria” – Catholic. I expected this book to be preachy and probably offensive to me and those like me. Rather, it was well-researched, logical, and eye-opening.
I do not think Christianity is a bad thing, in fact, quite the opposite. But the theory that it is superior, exclusive and a defense for crimes against humans and the world IS a bad thing. As our Founding Fathers prescribed, our government should be separated from all religion, and I was surprised to learn - or perhaps, to be reminded - just how entrenched religion is in our government and educational system. The historical research here was comprehensive and enlightening. While I was aware of some of the history of our nation’s religious evolution, there was a lot of information that was new to me. Snedeker’s writing style takes a dry topic and makes it approachable and interesting.
I have watched my own Millennial children move away from organized religion. What “Holy Smoke” caused me to realize is that their critical thinking skills may be more evolved than mine (I’m a product of parochial education, after all), as mine are more evolved than my devout grandparents.
I say, teach philosophy and critical thinking, yes, but allow me to find comfort and hope in my beliefs as well. I appreciate that Snedeker does not really disparage those who profess faith, but effectively challenges its place in our government and public education.
I highly recommend this book. Regardless of where you are on the faith continuum, “Holy Smoke” will make you think.
I do not think Christianity is a bad thing, in fact, quite the opposite. But the theory that it is superior, exclusive and a defense for crimes against humans and the world IS a bad thing. As our Founding Fathers prescribed, our government should be separated from all religion, and I was surprised to learn - or perhaps, to be reminded - just how entrenched religion is in our government and educational system. The historical research here was comprehensive and enlightening. While I was aware of some of the history of our nation’s religious evolution, there was a lot of information that was new to me. Snedeker’s writing style takes a dry topic and makes it approachable and interesting.
I have watched my own Millennial children move away from organized religion. What “Holy Smoke” caused me to realize is that their critical thinking skills may be more evolved than mine (I’m a product of parochial education, after all), as mine are more evolved than my devout grandparents.
I say, teach philosophy and critical thinking, yes, but allow me to find comfort and hope in my beliefs as well. I appreciate that Snedeker does not really disparage those who profess faith, but effectively challenges its place in our government and public education.
I highly recommend this book. Regardless of where you are on the faith continuum, “Holy Smoke” will make you think.
May 19, 2021
I'm truly surprised at the high ratings this book has received. I should add that I am on the author's side, as far as the topic is concerned -- this is not even close to a case of a Christian getting her feathers ruffled. However, I found the book to be poorly edited (punctuation, grammar, repetitive or unnecessary word choices that a good editor would have done something about, inconsistent use of footnotes, etc.), and ultimately unsatisfying.
Many sections seemed to just be getting rolling when he'd abruptly end and jump to something else. It didn't feel as if they knitted together -- it was more like "this is how Christianity got to the US, this is when there were some revivals, and hey, did I mention that Christianity sucks?" Fine, but I was wanting more in-depth discussion, I guess. And citing Encyclopedia Britannica at one point seemed a bit "undergrad-lazy." In general, that was my interpretation of it -- that it might be someone's junior thesis, self-published.
Imagine my surprise to find out that the author is a retired journalist, and that the book was actually edited. I read the Kindle version -- did someone upload an earlier draft as the Kindle book?
I got this through Kindle Unlimited -- I'm glad I didn't pay for it. The topic is great and I have read other related books that were far better written (and probably more deeply researched). Give this one a pass.
Many sections seemed to just be getting rolling when he'd abruptly end and jump to something else. It didn't feel as if they knitted together -- it was more like "this is how Christianity got to the US, this is when there were some revivals, and hey, did I mention that Christianity sucks?" Fine, but I was wanting more in-depth discussion, I guess. And citing Encyclopedia Britannica at one point seemed a bit "undergrad-lazy." In general, that was my interpretation of it -- that it might be someone's junior thesis, self-published.
Imagine my surprise to find out that the author is a retired journalist, and that the book was actually edited. I read the Kindle version -- did someone upload an earlier draft as the Kindle book?
I got this through Kindle Unlimited -- I'm glad I didn't pay for it. The topic is great and I have read other related books that were far better written (and probably more deeply researched). Give this one a pass.
June 17, 2021
This is a comprehensive description of Christianity in America and also touches on how it has interacted with other faiths, including Native American spiritual practices. In the end it argues for early teaching of philosophy and critical thinking to combat the harmful effects of religious beliefs.
November 26, 2020
The book covers Christianity through out the history of the United States, showing how Christians have try to insert religious control into government, despite the First Amendment of the Constitution. It starts with colonial times and ends pretty close to the copyright date (2020). It sets the stage with early colonization. The book continues with the so called “Great Awakenings” of religious fervor and revivals. It also highlighted some of the founders non-christian believes. It moves on to the civil war area and the rest of the 19th century. It provides analysis of Christianity’s influence on the country throughout. Next, the author covers the 20th and 21st centuries, continuing the analysis of Christianity’s influence and the harm that it does to the nation, such as trying to get “Intelligent Design” equal time with evolution and how it stifles the learning of science and critical thinking. He ends the book on what should be done to counteract Christianity’s hold on the United States.
The following are a few quotes and my comments on the them. Numbers in brackets [] refer to Kindle page numbers, except the first one, which is a Kindle location.
[75] “In fact, not until very recently did the church unambiguously revise this damning stipulation [not making it to heaven], when the last two popes—Benedict XVI in 2007, and Francis I in 2013. The publicly assured the faithful that not only non-Catholics but even godless atheists might enter the two pearly gates by personifying true goodness during their lives.” Benedict never changed official doctrine, and Francis has yet to. I reread the Catholic Catechism sections (836 – 848)† on salvation to non-Catholics. To be honest it is not very clear. There is no boom boom boom list of who makes it in. Exactly where you make it to, I found to be less than clear. So other Christians appear cool, and so do those of the Jewish and Muslim faiths. For other religions it seems you are in, but need to behave. The non-believers (atheist and agnostics) sound kind of iffy. Vatican II wanted to include all under the church regardless of, and the still official, no salvation outside the Church. If this reinterpretation is true, it also appears they are gathered with the rest of the saved at the end time. But, it is problematic because it compels one to a life in the church forever. There is no get out of jail free card—I rather play Monopoly. This, of course, really only applies if there is actually and afterlife, and it is the Catholic version. I happen to think not on either count.
[14] “The new land even contained prominent skeptics, such as colonial atheist firebrand Thomas Paine . . .“ Thomas Paine was not an atheist. He identified as a deist or had deist views.
[35] “. . . according to Religion in American Life.” He seems to rely a lot on books like this one, and rarely uses primary sources.
[159] “. . . although he [Thomas Jefferson] admired the kindly sensibilities attributed to Jesus in the New Testament.” Ignoring the not so nice parts, like damning people to hell if they did not believe him to be the son of god, belittling his disciples, or disrespecting his family. Or, Jesus’ childish behavior towards a fig tree.
The book is good as it stands, but I do not think the author used many primary sources, which albeit does not make what he has written invalid. It paints a fair picture of the state of the religious right’s political agenda; although I wouldn’t expect it, he writes nothing about how they want to erase transgender and gender diverse persons from everything, but their own personal misery if they got their way. Although, I do not think they will be successful in their ultimate goal, they can still make it miserable for many of us (I am a transgender woman). His suggestions are sound, but as cynical as I am they do not seem obtainable at this time.
A good book for those that want a glimpse what the religious right is up to with a good picture of the real historical account, instead of the often told myth that the US is a Christian nation.
† Link online - https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/f...)
The following are a few quotes and my comments on the them. Numbers in brackets [] refer to Kindle page numbers, except the first one, which is a Kindle location.
[75] “In fact, not until very recently did the church unambiguously revise this damning stipulation [not making it to heaven], when the last two popes—Benedict XVI in 2007, and Francis I in 2013. The publicly assured the faithful that not only non-Catholics but even godless atheists might enter the two pearly gates by personifying true goodness during their lives.” Benedict never changed official doctrine, and Francis has yet to. I reread the Catholic Catechism sections (836 – 848)† on salvation to non-Catholics. To be honest it is not very clear. There is no boom boom boom list of who makes it in. Exactly where you make it to, I found to be less than clear. So other Christians appear cool, and so do those of the Jewish and Muslim faiths. For other religions it seems you are in, but need to behave. The non-believers (atheist and agnostics) sound kind of iffy. Vatican II wanted to include all under the church regardless of, and the still official, no salvation outside the Church. If this reinterpretation is true, it also appears they are gathered with the rest of the saved at the end time. But, it is problematic because it compels one to a life in the church forever. There is no get out of jail free card—I rather play Monopoly. This, of course, really only applies if there is actually and afterlife, and it is the Catholic version. I happen to think not on either count.
[14] “The new land even contained prominent skeptics, such as colonial atheist firebrand Thomas Paine . . .“ Thomas Paine was not an atheist. He identified as a deist or had deist views.
[35] “. . . according to Religion in American Life.” He seems to rely a lot on books like this one, and rarely uses primary sources.
[159] “. . . although he [Thomas Jefferson] admired the kindly sensibilities attributed to Jesus in the New Testament.” Ignoring the not so nice parts, like damning people to hell if they did not believe him to be the son of god, belittling his disciples, or disrespecting his family. Or, Jesus’ childish behavior towards a fig tree.
The book is good as it stands, but I do not think the author used many primary sources, which albeit does not make what he has written invalid. It paints a fair picture of the state of the religious right’s political agenda; although I wouldn’t expect it, he writes nothing about how they want to erase transgender and gender diverse persons from everything, but their own personal misery if they got their way. Although, I do not think they will be successful in their ultimate goal, they can still make it miserable for many of us (I am a transgender woman). His suggestions are sound, but as cynical as I am they do not seem obtainable at this time.
A good book for those that want a glimpse what the religious right is up to with a good picture of the real historical account, instead of the often told myth that the US is a Christian nation.
† Link online - https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/f...)
July 29, 2021
Stunningly Insightful
This book exposes to a great degree the anesthetizing effect of unquestioning reliance on religious myths and the effect of undoing the Enlightenment principles on which our country was founded. It is clearer than ever that many people are not capable of critical thinking.
This book exposes to a great degree the anesthetizing effect of unquestioning reliance on religious myths and the effect of undoing the Enlightenment principles on which our country was founded. It is clearer than ever that many people are not capable of critical thinking.
April 3, 2022
Less informative than I was hoping.
January 4, 2021
Rick Snedeker dispels the idea that the USA was founded as a Christian nation. How a bunch of fanatics left Europe, (clearly only packing the old testament) and since have tried to enforce Christianity on the rest of the population. And how "religious freedom" is often used to violate other people's freedom of speech and in general, human rights. And how they try to control education, with the result is the teaching of creationism and the creation of Christian charter schools
For me, it seems like especially the branch of Evangelicals in their eagerness to make the US a theocracy while in general, this administration is a textbook example of Kakistocracy.
For me, it seems like especially the branch of Evangelicals in their eagerness to make the US a theocracy while in general, this administration is a textbook example of Kakistocracy.
December 30, 2022
I think the same way...
Great value for me as a 1985 German immigrant. I had religion in school for 13 years. Only one sided protestant. But we studied international writers and thinkers as well. So we were educated to think different ways. During my life, by observing and further self education, I turned into an atheist. The history of all religions is cruel. Reason, they are all man made. But I respect religious people as Rick does. Some of us seem to need a believe in the unbelievable.
Great value for me as a 1985 German immigrant. I had religion in school for 13 years. Only one sided protestant. But we studied international writers and thinkers as well. So we were educated to think different ways. During my life, by observing and further self education, I turned into an atheist. The history of all religions is cruel. Reason, they are all man made. But I respect religious people as Rick does. Some of us seem to need a believe in the unbelievable.
January 10, 2022
Children should not be educated by ignorant parents
Enjoyed this book and the rational argument put forth by the author. Fortunately I escaped from being brain washed growing up in the deep South.
Enjoyed this book and the rational argument put forth by the author. Fortunately I escaped from being brain washed growing up in the deep South.
July 31, 2020
Critical thinking will be our 'saving grace'
Thought provoking read. As well as some hope for how we all recover and move beyond the dominance of superstition.
Thought provoking read. As well as some hope for how we all recover and move beyond the dominance of superstition.
November 24, 2020
Really informative overview of Christianity in America. I'm a Christian, so I can't give him five stars.
May 17, 2022
it was a good history of Christianity in America wish he would have gone deeper on some issues
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews