The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom: Its Evolution and Consequences in American History (Cambridge Studies in Religion and American Public Life)

by Merrill D. Peterson (Editor), Robert C. Vaughan (Editor)

This book examines the famous Jefferson document that foreshadowed the Constitution's guarantee of religious liberty, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Jefferson wrote the Virginia Statute and shepherded it through a decade-long struggle for adoption. The statute reflects two key Revolutionary principles: absolute freedom of religious conscience and the separation of church and state.

392 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 1988

About the author

Merrill Daniel Peterson was a history professor at the University of Virginia. After spending two years at Kansas State University, Peterson earned his B.A. at the University of Kansas and then took his Ph.D. in the history of American civilization at Harvard University. Before teaching at the University of Virginia, he taught at Brandeis and Princeton.

Reviews

[Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating subject! The essays ranged from pedantic to wonderful, with one being basically irrelevant. But the ones that were good made it all worth it. It was very illuminating to get a more thorough understanding of the history leading up to this statute, its huge influence on the First Amendment, and how Jefferson and Madison themselves interpreted religion and civic duties. The answer, as it always is, is complicated, but I believe that these two principle minds behind the First Amendment would be glad we don't have prayers or Bible readings in schools, for example. They were pretty strict about a real wall being between the two (important in their own way) spheres, though they were also pragmatic about compromises as well.

In the end: if you want a wide variety of academic looks at the history of religious freedom in America, this is a great book to start with.