So Help Me God : The Founding Fathers and the First Great Battle Over Church and State

Today's dispute over the line between church and state (or the lack thereof) is neither the first nor the fiercest in our history. In this retelling of the birth of the American body politic, religious historian Forrest Church describes our first great culture war-a tumultuous yet nearly forgotten conflict that raged from George Washington's presidency to James Monroe's. On one side of the battle, the proponents of order--Federalists, Congregationalists, New Englanders--believed that the only legitimate ruler of men is God. On the other side, the defenders of liberty--republicans, Baptists, Virginians--cheered the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, and believed that only the separation of church and state would preserve man's freedom. Would we be a nation under God, or with liberty for all? In this vigorous history, Church offers a new vision of our earliest presidents' beliefs, reshaping assumptions about the debates that still reverberate across our land.--From publisher description. Read more... Abstract: Today's dispute over the line between church and state (or the lack thereof) is neither the first nor the fiercest in our history. In this retelling of the birth of the American body politic, religious historian Forrest Church describes our first great culture war-a tumultuous yet nearly forgotten conflict that raged from George Washington's presidency to James Monroe's. On one side of the battle, the proponents of order--Federalists, Congregationalists, New Englanders--believed that the only legitimate ruler of men is God. On the other side, the defenders of liberty--republicans, Baptists, Virginians--cheered the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, and believed that only the separation of church and state would preserve man's freedom. Would we be a nation under God, or with liberty for all? In this vigorous history, Church offers a new vision of our earliest presidents' beliefs, reshaping assumptions about the debates that still reverberate across our land.--From publisher description

A prominent expert in religion and historian of American politics examines the role established religion has played in the administrations of American presidents, from Washington to the present

Kirkus Reviews

Religious historian and minister Church examines freedom of religion in late-18th- and early-19th-century America. Discussion about the separation of church and state often devolves into one-sided, black-and-white debate-either America was founded as a "Christian nation" or every last framer was deeply committed to secularism. In this fascinating and subtle study, Church (The Separation of Church and State: Writings on a Fundamental Freedom by America's Founders, 2004, etc.) shows that the matter was not nearly so simple. Some early Americans believed that the new nation needed "a strong Christian government" to survive, and others favored a clear separation between church and state. Central to the victory of the latter view-and thus to the story Church tells-is Thomas Jefferson's drafting of the "Statute Establishing Religious Freedom in Virginia," which disestablished the Anglican Church and created a model for the religious freedom later enshrined in the First Amendment. Church is especially good at revealing small but significant episodes: George Washington's insisting his troops honor the Sabbath during the Revolutionary War, James Madison's thoughts on the constitutionality of chaplains in Congress. Perhaps the most fascinating character in this narrative is John Adams, who, though himself disdainful of orthodox Christian teaching, believed that religion was necessary to maintain virtue in the new nation. Church also investigates the seeming irony that a nation with no established religion should remain so religious. There's no contradiction there, he suggests; in fact, disestablishment guaranteed that churches would not be manipulated by politics, and thus freed them to focus onmatters of faith, not statecraft. The author's discussion of Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists-a letter that includes the phrase "a wall of separation between church and state"-would have been enriched if Church had made better use of recent scholarship tracing the origins of that phrase. Nonetheless, an important, nuanced book, likely to overshadow titles like David Holmes's The Faiths of the Founding Fathers (2006).

The author of The American Creed tells "the story of our nation's historical encounters with God and culture" (Peter J. Gomes, New York Times bestselling author). Today's dispute over the line between church and state (or the lack thereof) is neither the first nor the fiercest in our history. In a revelatory look at our nation's birth, Forrest Church recreates our first great culture war—a tumultuous, nearly forgotten conflict that raged from George Washington's presidency to James Monroe's. Religion was the most divisive issue in the nation's early presidential elections. Battles raged over numerous issues while the bible and the Declaration of Independence competed for American affections. The religious political wars reached a vicious peak during the War of 1812; the American victory drove New England's Christian right to withdraw from electoral politics, thereby shaping our modern sense of church-state separation. No longer entangled, both church and state flourished. Forrest Church has written a rich, page-turning history, a new vision of our earliest presidents' beliefs that stands as a reminder and a warning for America today. "An illuminating study of the great tangle of our time. If we look back to our early years, we may well find a way forward." —Jon Meacham, #1 New York Times bestselling author of His Truth is Marching On "In this beautifully crafted and timely work, the aptly named Church takes us through the complex thoughts and actions of the nation's founders in a way that will give pause to most readers . . . This is an important work that delights and informs." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) Todays dispute over the line between church and state (or the lack thereof) is neither the first nor the fiercest in our history. In a powerful retelling of the birth of the American body politic, religious historian Forrest Church describes our first great culture wara tumultuous yet nearly forgotten conflict that raged from George Washingtons presidency to James Monroes. On one side of the battle, the proponents of orderFederalists, Congregationalists, New Englandersbelieved that the only legitimate ruler of men is God. On the other side, the defenders of libertyrepublicans, Baptists, Virginianscheered the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, and believed that only the separation of church and state would preserve mans freedom. Would we be a nation under God, or with liberty for all? In this vigorous history, Forrest Church offers a new vision of our earliest presidents beliefs, reshaping assumptions about the debates that still reverberate across our land. Content: Act I. George Washington. Out of many, one -- With liberty and order for all -- Unum versus pluribus -- Act II. John Adams. A churchgoing animal -- Black cockades and tricolors -- "Order is heaven's first law" -- "The grand question -- Act III. Thomas Jefferson. The American dreamer -- For Jefferson and liberty -- Utopia meets reality -- Act IV. James Madison. Constructing freedom's altar -- Defending the empire of liberty -- Act V. James Monroe. All for one and one for all -- Considerations of humanity.