The culture wars have distorted the dramatic story of how Americans came to worship freely. Many activists on the right maintain that the United States was founded as a "Christian nation." Many on the left contend that the Founders were secular or Deist and that the First Amendment was designed to boldly separate church and state throughout the land. None of these claims are true, argues Beliefnet.com editor in chief Steven Waldman. With refreshing objectivity, Waldman narrates the real story of how our nation's Founders forged a new approach to religious liberty, a revolutionary formula that promoted faith . . . by leaving it alone. The spiritual custody battle over the Founding Fathers and the role of religion in America continues today. Waldman provocatively argues that neither side in the culture war has accurately depicted the true origins of the First Amendment. He sets the record straight, revealing the real history of religious freedom to be dramatic, unexpected, paradoxical, and inspiring.
Were our Founding Fathers men of faith? What would they have thought about today's battles over religious freedom? In an attempt to answer these questions, Waldman, cofounder and editor of Beliefnet, looks back at religious regulation and persecution in early American settlements and the beliefs of leaders such as Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison. David Colacci keeps his reading lively throughout Waldman's analysis of the arguments and decisions that shaped the nation's policies toward religion. Although this work is mostly focused on history, Waldman's optimistic view of our religious freedoms is present throughout, as are his criticisms of both sides of the culture wars. His portraits of the men who made our nation and their faith are fascinating listening. J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
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