The American Creed: A Biography of the Declaration of Independence [Paperback]

Forrest Church (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 031232023X | ISBN-13: 978-0312320232 | Publication Date: December 1, 2003

What makes us all Americans--whatever our differences--is adherence to a creed, a creed based upon cornerstone truths the founders believed "self-evident." From the earliest days, the survival of the new republic hinged not merely upon the expression of these grand principles of liberty and equality but upon their spiritual underpinnings. Freedom and faith were intertwined. America, as a foreign observer once put it, is a nation with the soul of a church.
In this stirring and timely book, Forrest Church charts the progress of this creed from the America's beginnings to the present day by evoking those whose words-whether in declarations, songs, inaugural addresses, speeches, or prayers-have expressed its letter and captured its spirit. What emerges is our shared destiny. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream that this country might someday "rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed," echoes Thomas Jefferson's belief that "equal and exact justice to all" is the "creed of our political faith." Our connection with the past represents our commitment to the future and vice versa.
A "spiritual and patriotic primer," The American Creed distills the essence of American history while also matching its sweep. Church lets the story of the Declaration of Independence unfold before our eyes, giving us both the big picture and the details that place it into brilliant focus. Those steeped in our nation's heritage will find fresh insight and renewed purpose. Those still discovering its riches could have no finer introduction. In its scope and embrace, this is a book for us all.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Church, senior minister at All Souls Unitarian Church in Manhattan and author of Bringing God Home and Life Lines, digs deeply into the American past in this brief treatise on history and faith. Church argues that the "American Creed"-which employs a language of faith but transcends "religious particulars, uniting all citizens in a single covenant"-is an appropriate and generous principle upon which to found a great nation. This creed, he says, is distilled in the Declaration of Independence, which he dissects here alongside many other American standards. He examines the motto "In God We Trust," analyzes national hymns such as "America the Beautiful" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" and studies the holiday tradition of Thanksgiving, which he calls "an American Seder." Those who are familiar with Church's opus, which often features him as a kind of bemused and even cynical observer of the national scene, will be startled to find him optimistic and open-handed here. He resists cheap shots at easy targets, such as the religious right, even while lauding such liberal icons as Martin Luther King Jr. and Eleanor Roosevelt alongside American presidents such as Washington and Lincoln. Innovative chapters also herald the theological contributions of Jonathan Edwards and Roger Williams to the fashioning of American ideals. Church argues for a middle course between fundamentalists who want to inject a narrow Christianity into the national agenda (and claim that the nation's founders would have approved of such an encroachment) and secularists who wish to divorce the state entirely from its roots, which are steeped in faith. This marvelous primer accessibly and fairly explores the intersection of freedom and faith in American life.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

A senior minister at All Souls Unitarian Church in New York City, Church (Bringing God Home) has authored or edited some 20 books. Here he looks at the union of freedom and faith in America, which resulted in the concepts of inalienable rights and everyone's being created equal. America has not always lived up to the ideals stated in the Declaration of Independence, but self-criticism, he argues, should not become self-hatred. "To live up to the promise of our creed, we must rekindle aspiration for its attainment," says Church. With this in mind, he traces the history of the country from the Pilgrims to 9/11, examining the creeds that have guided its development. Church believes that the union of freedom and faith is what informs the American soul, and the combination of American optimism and faith is what generates real hope for the future. He makes a convincing argument that our concepts of equality and inalienable rights come out of a faith in a higher being. His book should appeal to those interested in history as well as faith; recommended for public and academic libraries.
C. Robert Nixon, M.L.S., Lafayette, IN
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (December 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031232023X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312320232
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #534,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

FORREST CHURCH is currently serving his thirtieth year as minister of All Souls Church in Manhattan. He earned his doctorate in church history at Harvard and has written or edited twenty-two books, including The Separation of Church and State. He lives in New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TAPS INTO OUR OWN COURAGE AS AMERICANS, October 13, 2002

By 

English Major (The Northwest, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The American Creed: A Spiritual and Patriotic Primer (Hardcover)

FORREST CHURCH's BOOK : AMERICAN PRIMER

Forrest Church has done it again.

In this time of world chaos and national confusion,he provides not only food for thought and understanding about ourselves and others around the world, but helps us tap into our own courage and re-dedication to our principals as we make choices about actions.

He doesn't tell us how to think and act, but instead provides us information and perspectives. Good for any age.

Interesting discussions could be activated by this book in families, among friends or students as well as among our leaders.
B.O'Reilly, Idaho

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All Americans Should Read This, June 14, 2008

By 

Patepluma DXer "Don" (Iowa) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The American Creed: A Spiritual and Patriotic Primer (Hardcover)

In just a few pages (about 160), Church explains what the United States is all about. He doesn't gloss over the low points or over glamorize the highs. Instead, he just looks at when do we live up to the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence (the American Creed) and we do we trample on those ideals? American history is an up and down cycle of following that creed. Read this and then get the much heavier A People's History of the United States, and then you will be well versed on the real meaning behind American history.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Church, excellent as always, September 29, 2003

By 

Bobby Newman (Long Beach, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The American Creed: A Spiritual and Patriotic Primer (Hardcover)

Church doesn't resort to flag waving. Nor does he engage in self-loathing or America bashing. He takes an even-handed approach, describing what makes the country great, and why we have to eternally be considering and reconsidering our actions as a nation. He reminds us of the great basic premises of the country, citing history and philosophy. A true handbook of reflection for the patriot or student of American history.