Faith of the Founders: Religion and the New Nation, 1776-1826

by Edwin S. Gaustad, Randall Balmer (Contributor)

In the lauded Faith of the Founders, revered historian Edwin Gaustad provides a careful consideration of the developing relationship between religion and the state after the American Revolution. With concise focus on Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and John Adams, Gaustad identifies seven varying—sometimes contrary—perspectives on religion that guided the nation's founders. Faith of the Founders masterfully shows how these figures possessed an intuitive understanding of religion that helped nourish a young country. Repackaged for a new generation of readers and with a new foreword by Randall Balmer, this brief but insightful book offers a look into the founding fathers' genius—and points to a way forward through the ideological boundaries that threaten to upend the daily doings of American government today.

Genres: History, American History

180 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 31, 2004

About the author

A leading scholar of American religious history, Edwin Scott Gaustad was Professor of History at the University of California, Riverside. He earned his B.A. in history from Baylor University (1947), and his M.A. (1948) and Ph.D. (1951) in History of Religions from Brown University.

Reviews

[Clifton Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Faith of the Founders: Religion and the New Nation, 1776-1826,” by Edwin S. Gaustad, long time professor of history at the University of California-Riverside, provides the reader with a look at the complex relationship between church and state from the time of the Declaration of Independence to the mid-1820s. He does this primarily by looking at the writings of five of the founding fathers: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and John Adams. While the book is relatively short (only 180 pages), it is a smorgasbord of information which is profitable for both the historian and the lay person. It helps explain how the United States transitioned from colonies with established religions to the religious liberty of the new nation.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

really fun and engaging, mad i have to write a paper on it tho

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have ever encountered concerning the religious beliefs/faiths of the most important Founding Fathers. Dr. Gsustad is a full professor of history at the University of California, and he does a wonderful job explaining how the enlightenment influenced the elites of the founding generation. Bravo!