Jon Meacham's “American Gospel” is a book which shows us different aspects of religion and religious views during various time periods through the lense of the founding fathers. The book starts during the colonial time speaking of Historical figures including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington. It progresses into later time periods speaking of other important American figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King Jr. Meacham uses these figures and examples of their experiences to make the claim that religion and government should be intertwined. Meacham argues that the US government should embrace religious freedom as the founding fathers did. Throughout the first chapter of the book, Meacham tries to show that religious freedom has been a core concept of America since its creation. He acknowledges that religious freedom wasn’t the reason for the first settlers to come to America. On page 41, Meacham says “The first permanent English settlers arrived in search of gold not Gold.” Meacham tries to use this information to show that before the creation of America’s government, religious freedom wasn’t apart of America. Although this may clear up some ideas about America's founding, in the end, it is somewhat contradictory to Meacham’s argument. By opening the book with a segment about the lack of religious freedom in the early days of America, then proceeding to talk about how the founding fathers were religiously tolerant, this makes Meacham’s work inconsistent, occasionally confusing and hard to follow. On page 55 of the book, Meacham states the concept of religious freedom began to become accepted around the late 17th century. This is because of the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening happening during the time period. The founding fathers applied the concept of religious freedom to the Government's creation. They managed to use the term “God” in the Declaration of Independence without deliberately referencing any specific god or religion. Instead they also reference “nature” and a “creator”. They did this considering the concept of religious freedom. This is also why they didn’t reference God at all in America’s founding document, the U.S. Constitution. If the Founding Fathers wanted Religion to be tied in to the Government, they would have explicitly included this detail in the Constitution. Instead, they excluded the detail to allow people to believe what they want so that the chance of an oppressive or dominant rule that could be established would be lowered. This further shows evidence to why religion and government should be kept separate. On pages 56 - 61, Meacham tries explaining the diversity within the founding fathers. He goes into considerable detail about the complexities of their beliefs, especially the belief of Thomas Jefferson. Though they may have different religious beliefs, they are still not very diverse because they are all still different Christian sects. In order for the Founding Fathers to be truly diverse, other religions outside of Christianity would need to be represented. The Founding Fathers couldn't have accurately predicted the religious diversity represented today, therefore integrating religion into government would be too difficult and unfair for many people. Meacham’s work can also be hard to follow due to his constant movement between ideas. Though Meacham will stay within a certain time period, he will move from one area to a different, very loosely related topic that can make it hard for the reader to follow his writing style. For instance, on pages 123 to 126, Meacham talks about slave owners using the Bible to justify their actions. On page 127, Meacham uses a rough transition to speaking about “The 17th century battle between the Catholic hierarchy and Galileo on whether the Earth revolved around the sun or vise versa.” This transition amongst others can occasionally make Mecham’s work a bit more unappealing. Though his work may be hard to follow, Meacham still makes very compelling points about religion and brings up interesting religious perspectives. He speaks about religion's effect on leaders, decisions, opinions, and events such as Martin Luther King’s peaceful protests, Lincoln emancipating the slaves, the people’s opinion on John F Kennedy, and America’s involvement in WWII. He shows us that religion plays a major role in American society even if it isn’t apart of our government. Meacham’s writing brings ideas to your attention you normally wouldn’t recognize. This book is good for anyone who likes American history or anyone who likes to look into the subtext of ideas. If you like to learn about different religious ideas, events, and their impact on today’s society, then this is the book for you. Meacham, working as an editor and journalist for the Times, is a very educated historian. His insights on religions on American History and religion may sometimes be hard to follow, are always fascinating, highlighting key historical events. Though you may not always agree with Meacham’s views, each chapter is full of new events and content for you to learn about.

Meacham offers a well-balanced view, taking neither the religious or secular point of view so dominant among people today. He notes that the Constitution was written at a time when most Americans were white and Christian, at least nominally. But the founders anticipated a more pluralistic future. They had ample opportunity to include Christian language and imagery in both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, but declined. Nevertheless, the author notes the important role played in their thinking.
"Religion shapes the life of the nation without strangling it," Meacham writes. "Belief in God is central to the country's experience, yet for the broad center, faith is a matter of choice, not coercion, and the legacy of the founding is that the sensible center holds."
Guided by the religiously inspired idea of God-given rights, America has created the most inclusive, most diverse, and most free nation on earth, Meacham contends.
He points out that those coming to this country initially didn't necessarily have pious goals. Economically minded settlers began enslaving Blacks in 1619, and massacring Native Americans soon afterward. At first, laws in most colonies mandated church attendance and "moral" behavior, with penalties for failing to comply ranging from jail time to death. Different colonies had majorities of Anglicans, Congregationalists, Baptists, Catholics, and Quakers, which ultimately helped create a more equitable Constitution. The Declaration of Independence marked an important shift. Rather than specifying Christianity and being tied to a state church, the document merely alluded to God. At the time, much of Europe had religious tests for officeholders.

So often one hears "we need to return to the faith of our Founding Fathers" or words to that effect. This book is well worth reading to remind us that the Founding Fathers were a diverse group of men who wisely refrained from overt references to a particular religion - the Constitution does not mention a creator or god at all; the Declaration refers to a creator but there is no mention of Christ. (I did not know that there were Jewish people in the US as early as the 17th century.) I like the phrase the author uses -"public religion" - to define the traditional use of prayer and supplication in the US in public venues. The book starts with the founding of the US and discusses religious issues up to the present. What we need to get back to is the values of the Founding Fathers and keep in mind what Thomas Jefferson wrote - "Our particular principles of religion are a subject of accountability to our God alone. I inquire after no man's, and trouble none with mine; nor is it given to use in this life to know whether yours or mine, our friend's or our foe's, are exactly the right.

The first 1/2 of this book provides an interesting look at the founding fathers and their approach to incorporating God and religion into the founding documents of America. It is well researched and includes lots of interesting quotes I have not read before.

However, the second half of the book was a bit perplexing. I’m not sure it was needed. Meacham covers the rest of history from the founding up to Ronald Reagan, in order to show the continuation of public religion and the debate surrounding it. Part of me feels like this would be better in a longer book. The overview is just too quick and short to be of much value.

The writing can be tough at times to follow, but the message is clear. The United States was founded to be a nation that is free and open to all religion, and excluding none. As a result, religion can influence the government but not control it.

Reading this in 2023, it provides an interesting framework to think about the current debates over abortion, laws, and religion.

Very nice middle of the road examination of the real role of Christianity in our Nations most powerful office and its influence on the founders.

Church and state may be separated, but that doesn't mean religion and politics are.

We are actually a country that is grounded in religion—from the Puritans, who made it a crime (punishable by prison) not to attend two worship services on Sunday, to the Jamestown settlers, who immediately built a makeshift chapel and held two worship services every day of the week.

What we believe and practice in private is one thing, but what we believe and practice as a country is the stuff of great speeches, vitriolic arguments, and even war. And imminent author Jon Meacham has assembled this history for us so we can examine how religion shaped our country without strangling it.

Our Founding Fathers—no matter their own personal beliefs—were in agreement that the new country needed a public religion. Mind you, this is vastly different than a private religion or a civil religion that is forced upon the people by the state. A public religion (the phrase came from Benjamin Franklin) was all about morality. In Meacham's words it is "about the sacred origin of individual rights, the virtue of the populace…and the American sense of duty to defend freedom at home and, at times, abroad."

Put another way, our individual liberty is central to the faith the Founders passed on to us.

But it was not an clear and easy path. Find out…
• …why the first fight the Founding Fathers had at the inaugural session of the Continental Congress was over faith and how they resolved it.

• …why Thomas Jefferson edited his copy of the four Gospels with a razor blade.

• …how many references there are to God in both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

• …the deal Abraham Lincoln made with God that resulted in the Emancipation Proclamation.

• …which 20th century president carried his Bible almost everywhere, including camping trips, but at the same time thought that engraving "In God We Trust" on our money was blasphemous.

• …how President Franklin D. Roosevelt led what is arguably the largest single mass prayer event in human history.

Why should we even care? It is only by understanding the history of how religion shaped our country's founding that we can fully appreciate and use that knowledge and reason when modern-day politicians use religion—for better or worse—to shape policies and laws. The Founders, who wrote the First Amendment that separated church and state, believed religion could be a force for unity and not division. As Meacham writes, "The sound and fury of our own time could be calmed by grasping what they [the Founders] had to say about the role of faith in the nation."

Interesting yet somewhat meandering. American Gospel is enlightening when exploring the founding fathers and their views on religion. The book also extends into the modern day and gives thought-provoking input and illustration on how religion in American has helped shape it (to what extent, more or less, is the main discussion)

tOne of the most basic foundations of American government and society is the notion that the Church should be separate from the State. Everyone is supposed to be able to worship as they choose and the government is not supposed to promote religion within our daily lives. While this separation of church and state was made law at the very beginning of our country, in reality, we have always been a religious country and the balancing of religion and politics has always been a struggle for Americans. It is a concept that civilians and politicians alike continue to debate. Many religious people argue for the benefits of including religion in the government and emphasize the power of God in the nation, but secularists can list just as many reasons against doing so. Some of the secularists’ reasons include the detriments religion brings to society, and surprisingly even the harmful effects it will have on the church itself. Jon Meacham, an editor of Time Magazine and an author himself, takes a swing at this controversial topic with his book, American Gospel. Meacham's novel takes a historical viewpoint for his arguments, going back as far as the Founding of America. Despite the many flaws secularists have pointed out in interjoining religion and state, Meacham believes the positives for promoting religion have outweighed the negatives, and he spends the majority of his book analyzing just how admirably religion has served the country the past two hundred and forty one years.
tMeacham shares a wide breadth of information and analysis, regarding how the Founders created a balancing act between the extremes of religion and state. With a constant dispute between secularists and religious people over the influence of religion in the government, Meacham provides perspective. He looks back to the Founding of America, where a group of men chose not to side with one end of the spectrum on this controversial debate. Instead, they used a public religion to unify the country. This public religion did not choose secularists over conservatives, and vise versa, but rather allowed for a common ground between the two. This experiment, set in motion by Thomas Jefferson, included the creation of what Jon Meacham refers to as a Public God. As mentioned in the constitution, this symbolic figure did not identify with one religion, but was a God devoted to America. The Public God granted all citizens with inalienable rights, and in the words of Thomas Jefferson, in the Declaration of Independence, ensured that “all men are created equal” (7). This provided America with a bridge between two radical sides, and still gave the country comfort knowing a powerful spiritual leader was watching over them. Meacham goes on to explain how remarkable figures juggled this debate in America. From Abraham Lincoln’s confusion about the importance of religion, to Washington’s religious approach with his soldiers, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s struggle to change civil rights, each person provides historical context and a light in Meacham’s writing. Meacham chooses to draw upon the events that affected our history, as looking back on how our ancestors approached this argument gives us great insight. Ultimately, Meacham agrees religion should be separate from state, but explains how the church has had a positive impact on our country’s shape.
tMeacham persuasively conveys how religion has benefited America, by using historical facts where religion played a positive role. In the early nineteen sixties, Martin Luther King Jr. , an American Baptist Minister, began advocating for civil liberties. At a time where him and his fellow African Americans were oppressed by White people, Martin Luther King Jr. found a voice within his religion. He chose to speak up on behalf of his people, and his words were often influenced by his beliefs. In his sermon at the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, Martin Luther King Jr. “ called America to live up to the promise at the heart of the Declaration of Independence- that God had created all men equal” (205). Martin Luther King Jr. found a way to argue for better treatment of his race, by reminding people of the tether they all shared with the Declaration of Independence. They were unified by their entitlement to equality, and undoubtedly they could not argue against that. King reminds the crowd that God promised everyone equality, and no human being can argue against the equality God granted for his people. This is a great example on Meacham’s part, as it demonstrates how religion motivated a man to fight for his race, and furthermore how religion provided reasoning for better treatment of Black Americans. Meacham also mentions many other public figures who were guided by religion in their work, such as Thomas Jefferson, Jerry Falwell, James Madison, Franklin Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan. All these political figures, like Martin Luther King Jr. were inspired by their religious beliefs to get the good out of people in their country. Meacham demonstrates the importance of religion, by showing how so many people used religion to benefit America.
Meacham provides excellent historical evidence in his book, but he never describes the negatives to interjoining religion and state. In order to be a successful writer, the author must explore both sides to the topic they’re discussing. Meacham has some great references to historical figures that were very fond of religion, but he never mentions those who don’t. This can be a disadvantage to his work, as he presents himself as a one sided writer. Meacham could have shown how religion had downfalls in our government, and even if this contradicted his thesis, he could have shared a rebuttal. Maybe Meacham could have explained how minor downsides with religion in politics, were worth the benefits the balance produced. In my personal opinion, a successful writer has the duty to not be biased with the information they share. Meacham only provides his readers with one perspective of history, when truly he should show the full picture of how public religion affected the country, both negatively and positively.
After finishing this novel and gaining new insight into America’s tricky history with religion, I have been left with an appreciation of the Public God. I admired throughout the novel, how Meacham gave countless strong examples of religion inspiring some our most influential leaders. From Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a Dream” speech, to Ronald Reagan's devotion to his faith, so many people were inspired by religion to do incredible things. Rather giving speeches based on lessons from the bible, or lecturing the nation on our duty to honor the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, religion has shaped historical events. Prior to reading this novel, I was completely unaware of how powerful religion truly is. Most of us don’t realize it, but religion has impacted the way our country has evolved to be a more inclusive and morally righteous nation. While I still have some disappointment in aspects of this novel, I find value in Meacham’s perspective. I believe he is right when he argues about the importance of religion and politics affecting each other, because our government has benefited from religion, which Meacham proves in his evidence.

t

Admittedly, I'm only two thirds of the way through this book so far, but I want to remember some specific examples I take issue with.

Meacham is engaging enough (though perhaps a little full of his own opinion) in trying to support his point that religion both is and isn't important in the United States, a supportable argument, I'm sure. Yet Meacham doesn't do a good job at all of supporting it.

First, he relies on assumptions that Thomas Jefferson definitely was the father of at least one of Sally Heming's slave children, when there's no DNA proof of such and there's a decent case to be made against Jefferson's brother, who was over often and liked to pal around with the slaves. Meacham also assumes that Queen Elizabeth was a tolerant monarch, when she persecuted the Catholics with the same kind of bigotry that her older sister persecuted Protestants. Both are commonly held beliefs, but Meacham is presenting his thoughts as being historically accurate when at least some of them are not.

He also too often bounces around between points and times with very little logical cohesion or stylistic flow so that I often have to go back and reread the previous paragraph. He makes the case against a Christian founding based off of too few examples, repeatedly citing Jefferson - and Voltaire, who wasn't a Founding Father or an American at all - to back up his views. And when discussing complicated spirituality during the run-up to WWII, he cites how some Americans were Nazi supporters. Which is true. But there were also Nazi supporters in Britain as well. So how does that prove anything?

That's actually my main question throughout this book. How does this prove anything? Meacham's stated purpose is to educate and soothe both the left and right, but so far at least, all I feel like he's doing is muddying the waters further.

Update: I finished the book, and I do think the latter third relies on better logic overall. (Better, but not awesome.) There's one giant exception to this revised opinion, however. There's still Meacham's reference to two prominent Christian pastors who apparently blamed the 9/11 attacks on God's judgement on America for its liberal ways - while the rest of the country was still weeping and searching and trying to come to grips with what had happened. I wouldn't have any logical objection to the mention, since it does appear to have really happened, except that he calls it the "worst" that religion could display.

Really? I'm not saying I agree with their statements, their word choices or their timing, but hurtful words are the worst that religion can display after religious men flew planes into buildings, murdering thousands? Really? Plus, there's no mention of leftist Reverend Jeremiah Wright either, who famously said that "America's chickens are coming home to roost" - a matter of days later, I believe.

A simplified version of Meacham's thesis might read something like: The Founding Fathers were informed by Christianity, but by other traditions as well, and didn't intend for the United States to be a "Christian Nation." American history has been a balancing act between the religious and the secular, but American common sense has always prevented the pendulum from swinging too far either way.

Well, I guess that seemed like the case in 2006, when this book was published. 17 years later, anti-semitic incidents are on the rise in the U.S., over half of Republicans support or sympathize with Christian Nationalism, and state legislatures are passing laws overtly based on their interpretation of Christian teachings. Meacham's book is an interesting read, but unfortunately it seems naïve and outdated at this point.

“American Gospel”, by Jon Meacham, is a book that shows the reader different perspectives on how religion has affected the history of the United States. In this book, Jon Meacham addresses the role religion has had on the United States. Jon Meacham argues in the introduction of his book, that having religion in the past has proven to be more beneficial than not having religion. Meacham covers the influence religion has had in the United States from early colonial history, to influential people such as Martin Luther King Jr.. Meacham’s Arguments seem very lacking through the way he writes; by using quote after quote, Meacham simply does not have any viable analysis of the quote, making them seem obsolete. This book was chosen to read in our Honors United States History Class, and frankly, I feel we could have used our time far more efficiently. I believe that Meachum’s argument is wrong; I believe that religion has proven to be more consequential than beneficial in the history of the United States of America.
tMeacham argued that religion has provided bounds for a moral compass in the past, present, and future of the United States. History has proven time and again that this is false; that just because religion is active, it does not mean people acquire an autonomous, internal, moral compass. On page 28 of his book, Meachum quotes John Adams as saying, “Without religion… this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in polite company, I mean Hell,” (28). This is clearly not the case. Meacham makes his argument appear streamlined and clear, however he does not fully cover certain events in history that prove this claim wrong, that make it seem like we would be better off without religion. In the past, there have been several genocides of Native American tribes. These genocides occurred because the Native Americans practiced different religions, had different skin colors, and spoke different languages. Meacham briefly goes over this event, and tries to justify it through the excuse of religion. He believes that religion has provided a moral compass, but where was it then? Meacham also briefly goes over World War II. Specifically why the United States did not intervene earlier when its allies were getting attacked. Meacham calls this immoral, and unacceptable. However, Meacham does not realize that calling this act immoral contradicts his claims. Throughout the book, Meacham explains that public religion or the act of believing in god provides a moral compass. This compass does not just vanish into thin air, so where was it then?
tReligion is a controversial topic in the United States. People believe that religion is wonderful, and that it united people, and others believe that we would be better off without religion. I believe that the history of the United States has proven time and again that religion has not proven to be mutually beneficial. In the past, events such as the mass murder of the native americans as well as many wars prove that religion does not provide a moral compass. For example, the Iraq War, was started for oil. Crude oil. The slaughter of the Native Americans was solely due to the fact that they practiced different religions. The religion that Meacham discusses did not provide a moral compass, and it surely did not make the massacre okay.
tAnother topic that I would like to address in Jon Meacham’s book, is his writing skills. Meacham seems to be lacking even the most basic of writing skills. He puts in quote, after quote, after quote, with seemingly no analysis or explanation of them. For example “Without religion… this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in polite company, I mean Hell,” (28). This quote is an excerpt from a larger quote, which is a page long. Meacham provides virtually no explanation to this, hoping that the quote could explain itself.
Many scholars, historians, and writers address both sides of the coin; they cover the argument(s) that they support, as well as the arguments against their claim. Meacham does not do a thorough job of doing so. He provides historical context, quotes, however seemingly no passages or quotes about the counterargument; he has no passages to put down the opposition. In order to be a compelling writer, the author must address the other point of views, and make them seem false, in order to shine light and attention to their claim.
tAlthough Jon Meacham’s writing is very flawed, he did show some strength in the quotes that he picked. Yes, he did not provide a proper analysis, however, Meacham’s quotes were very compelling and persuasive. “The government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion…” (19). This quote is extremely important because it reflects on what George Washington, the first president of the United States, said about public religion in a new found land; that the United States is not a Christian Nation, but a nation of acceptance, a nation for, and of all. Meacham also has a very compelling argument discussing Martin Luther King Jr. Meacham reminds the reader of how MLK Jr. used religion as a basis for his civil rights movement. At a time when oppression was everywhere, religion seemed to be the only hope, and Martin Luther King Jr. took that chance, and changed the nation. MLK Jr. addressed the Declaration of Independence. Specifically the fact that God made men equal. By tying his equality to religion, King, ties an extremely controversial issue to something most Americans believed in, and practiced.
tOur whole class in Honors US History read this book for school. Not one person was eager to read it each night. Jon Meacham needed to cut down on the quotes, and drastically increase his analysis, but he did not. The result? A long, boring, book that looked like it could be a first draft. Due to his writing skills, many of our class discussions about this book focused on the actual writing rather than the content. In other words, we would discuss some topics, then get sidetracked on the way he conveyed them. After reading this book, my understanding of religion in United States history has not changed very much. I have kept my opinions about actions done in the past, and I will continue to do so in the future. Meacham’s book was not persuasive or well written, so naturally, I do not feel compelled change my point of view. I do believe that religion can be beneficial if used properly, but in the past, it has simply been a scapegoat or an excuse for wrongdoings. I believe that the help that religious bodies has given to the communities is wonderful, but only for these reasons.

"In God We Trust", the official motto of the United States of America, emblazoned on places as important as the Supreme Court and as basic as an off-colour Lincoln penny. That simple, but powerful, sentiment fuels Meacham's exploration of the basis of religion in America, offset by the Founding Fathers' constitutionally entrenched separation of Church and State. By no means was this division as longstanding as the presence of people in the original colonies, for the early residents had fled England because of religious persecution and organised their settlements with a strong set of Christian beliefs. Meacham tackles discussions by those who attended the Constitutional Conventions, where early ideas of religion and faith within the new America proved somewhat divisive. Some wanted to entrench Christianity in their new country, as it was imbued in all laws and proved to be largely practiced throughout the Thirteen Colonies. However, Thomas Jefferson argued strongly that the country should be a more inclusive and less entrenched nation, possibly tied to his less than stalwart views on a Higher Being. The Founding Fathers knew that the country they sought to create would be one built on tolerance and, while not ridding the state of Christianity, ensured religious openness with the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment. Meacham explores how Washington steered the state through its early years, balancing on this precarious thread, which proved successful. Other presidents handled the religious debate with less aplomb, outwardly espousing the Christian God to save them in their time of need. Of greatest interest is Meacham's exploration of the three presidents who saw America through the tumultuous war years. Lincoln, whose various speeches sought to steer away from seeking God's blessing and sought instead to place his trust that the 'right' answer would come to pass. Woodrow Wilson and FDR took a more preacher-cum-president approach, seeking Americans to pray for success over their foes and vilifying those who did not fall into line or spoke out against these pleas to the Christian God. One might extrapolate this and look to Bush 43, whose fabrication of facts and declaration of a War on Terror bred xenophobia and a degree of Islamaphobia that still simmers to this day. The American State also had periods where public sentiment clashed with the inherent beliefs of some religious groups, namely acceptance of abortion and the ongoing debate over capital punishment. Meacham effectively argues that America weathered this storm and its leaders, while sometimes left to grit their teeth, never lashed out against all that was going on. These personal beliefs did not bring the country to its knees, nor did it create chaos amongst the masses, some of whom would not have worshiped the same God as their leaders. Meacham looks to the latter part of his book to explore public religion, which differs greatly from the personal tenets that Americans held in their hearts. Acknowledgement of religious holidays (Christmas and Easter), as well as the Judeo-Christian set of legal beliefs are two strong examples of this. These public ideals remove the neutrality that would be required for a complete separation between Church and State, though it does not adversely affect the citizenry, at least to the point of any violation of certain beliefs. This might seem like a minor point, but Meacham makes it nonetheless, wishing to keep all discussions aboveboard. Worthy of a brief mention, Meacham does touch on the judicial branch, which acted as a shepherd in guiding the state through some of its more trying times, ensuing that the First Amendment's freedoms were never curtailed, but that there was a balance to ensure the greatest cross-section of the population could live free from intrusion. While religion and the state remains a highly divisive issue and one that can spark many concerns, Meacham come to the conclusion that America's personal gospel is one of acceptance and openness, even when its leaders may seek to push the envelop and subtly turn the country into an 'us' versus 'them' battle. This is by no means a simple topic to digest, though Meacham has done a brilliant job in educating the masses.

Having recently completed a book that explored the depths of the First Amendment, I thought it a good idea to take some time to explore this topic. Meacham does a fabulous job in laying out his arguments clearly, with strong examples pulled from history, documents, and documented reports. He takes the entirety of the American political experience and focusses the Church versus State argument through the various political eras without weighing things down with too much information. Meacham's primary argument or freedom and acceptance flows throughout, while offsetting this with an equally compelling belief that one would have to live under a rock not to see the long-standing Christian values that shine through all laws and speeches made by political leaders. With two hundred and forty years of experience, America's views have held firm, though history has tossed enough tests into its path to force a few course corrections. But, as with any belief system, a reevaluation is always useful to match the flavour of the times.

Kudos, Mr. Meacham for another stellar political analysis. I wish I could do your work justice with my review. You take on so much and yet make it seem so effortless.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/