Customer Reviews

Rediscovering God in America: Reflections on the Role of Faith in Our Nation's History

5 star:		(94)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

While many people will rail against Newt Gingrich and this book without ever bothering to read it, I recommend that every American read this short, easy-to-read, and very informative book. It is not advocating a theocracy in any way. What Speaker Gingrich is warning against is that banning any possible mention of God from public life and education will distort the understanding of history.

He says of this book, "Its purpose is neither theological, nor an effort to proselytize on behalf of any religious worldview. All Americans - both those who believe in God and those who do not share this belief - are equal in rights and duties under our Constitution and equal in deserving the respect of their fellow citizens." (page 130)

Gingrich goes on, "Instead, the purpose of this book is to rediscover the historic source of American liberty and to rediscover the founding generation's understanding of what is required to sustain liberty in a free society. And to do this is to truly discover anew the centrality of God in American history and in the ongoing story of American liberty." (page 131)

The author simply takes us on a walking tour of some major monuments around the National Mall in Washington D. C. and around Arlington National Cemetery. He gives us a little background on the man being memorialized including his statements about God, faith, and religion. The article also gives us some information about the monument, how it came to be and what we see when we visit there. We learn that even those that are often cited as not being religious did attend church services, and in the case of Jefferson, IN THE CAPITOL! The back of the book has a map of the area, a small chapter on how to take the walking tour of these monuments, and some photographs of these places.

Speaker Gingrich opens the book with a good article about the work by a minority to sterilize the public square of all references to God as if the discussion of religion, God, and faith were not a part of the very fabric of our nation. While it would be easy to believe that their efforts are ridiculous and could never result in the re-writing of history and the sandblasting of our monuments, some have already expressed a desire to do so. And the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has already ruled that "UNDER GOD" cannot be said in the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools (although, I believe, that ruling is currently enjoined while under appeal).

This is a very good book to read and think about. More important, it is a good book to share, give as a gift, and to talk about. Since the vast majority of us want to be able to talk about what matters to us and how we make our decisions about important matters, which may very well include our faith, we cannot let a small minority of self-appointed censors restrict us. Certainly, we must remain tolerant of all faiths and even the lack of faith (which is often a faith of sorts), but we must also assert our right to speak and pray and teach as we see fit. To pretend that our founders did not talk about God or pray or read the Bible is to pervert and distort history. And this constitutes a miseducation of our young people. We need to stand up to this and make sure it is corrected.

With a bit of initial reluctance I opened Newt Gingrich's `Rediscovering God in America: Reflections on the Role of Faith in Our Nation's History and Future' after some prodding by a well-read friend. Let me begin by saying that I'm ambivalent to Speaker Gingrich; however, credit must be given to this fascinatingly structured and well researched book that puts the question of `religious intent and integration' of the Founding Fathers into a different type of view.

Regardless if you agree or do not agree with how far the Founding Fathers intended to integrate religion into American society and law, readers will enjoy the historical tour and timeline Gingrich brings the reader on, essentially providing a most unique tour of Washington's past and present, and reviewing the doctrines and landscapes that created this nation. Funny, I actually felt as if I was on a history tour: well done.

Starting out in the nation's capital, the reader begins the `tour' so to speak at the National Archives where we review the opening commentary of The Declaration of Independence. Immediately, the words from the Declaration of Independence that we "are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights". These words act to pound the drum of Gingrich's defense of a monotheism base, and specifically a Christian theme that is the fundamental basis for which all thing evolving around mankind's rights to freedom, liberty, and justice are based upon. Essentially, Gingrich is saying and I can't disagree, that the Creator has given to each of us the right of liberty, justice, and freedom. This is what our government has based itself on, though clearly as George Washington said during the night of his inauguration on Wall Street at Federal Hall, "Liberty is an experiment entrusted to the American people".

Gingrich does a nice but unpersuasive job in presenting the facts that the founding doctrines of our American society have been influenced by belief in the Creator and religion has a pivotal role in our American culture. Where Gingrich fails in his argument is in a lack of presentation to the beliefs of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who each believed that religion could not and should not mix with the political affairs of our nation.

Nevertheless, it is clear that belief in the Creator and the values that all religions openly state regarding benevolence, acting in kindness toward one another, etc., are values that have driven our Founding Fathers when many of the guiding doctrines of our nation were created. I can't disagree with Speak Gingrich's position completely. It is my opinion that our individual religious beliefs assist each of us in creating our own values, and so our own ethics - all of which are foundations required to create the governing laws of man. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and Speaker Gingrich does an excellent job in keeping the historical components presented quite interesting.

At the end of Wilski's review he quotes (misquotes) our founding fathers.
For example, his first quote on John Adams is "This would be the best of all possible worlds if there were no religion in it." But actually it is a deceitful misquote of Adams. Now Wilski is probably just repeating what others have told him or he read somewhere and never really read what John Adams had to say. But you will find this quote of Adams given as a classic example of deceitfully misquoting by taking something out of context which totally distorts its meaning. Here is Adam's quote in context...

"Twenty times, in the course of my late reading, have I been on the point of breaking out, 'this would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it!!!!' But in this exclamation, I should have been as fanatical as Bryant or Cleverly. Without religion, this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in public company-I mean hell."

Reminds me of a famous misquote from the bible - "There is no God". Maybe Wilski would like to use this quote as well. Yes, that is in the Bible but ... let's look at the full context.

"The fool has said in his heart there is no God."

"REDISCOVERING GOD IN AMERICA" IS A REFRESHING LOOK AT THE LIFES OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS AND HOW MUCH OF A ROLE FAITH PLAYED IN THERE LIFES AND SHAPED THE DESTINY OF THIS NATION.I REALLY APPRIEATE SPEAKER GINGRICH WRITING THIS BOOK AND SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT OUR FOUNDERS CAUSE SOME CRITICS OUT THERE WOULD SUGGEST THAT OUR FORMER PATROTS WERE NOT MEN OF FAITH BUT THIS WELL RESEARCHED AND DOCUMENTED BOOK HAS FACTS THAT PROVE OTHER WISE THAT OUR FOUNDERS WERE INDEED MEN OF GREAT CHRISTIAN FAITH WHO STOOD FOR PRINCIPLES THAT MATTER THE MOST. THE WRITER OF THE BOOK HOLDS A PHD IN HISTORY AND TEACHS IN GA.

Returning to his origins as a historian, the author presents an important argument for the role of god in American life, not only in the life of the home but in public life. What this books shows very convincingly is that god was very much on the minds of the founders. Even the most secular revolutionary founders such as Jefferson wrote about the 'creator' and many of the founders and signers of the declaration were deeply religious. When they spoke of Freedom of Religion they spoke in terms fo freedom from the church of England and by extension the English government extending its control over America. The people who wrote the constitution were descendants of non-conformists who fled religious persecution in England. Later those fighting against too much religion in schools would be protestants opposing catholic schools using public money. But there was not an intention to strip the cross out of public life or to pretend like Christmass isnt an integral part of AMerican life where 90% of the people celebrate it.

The book shows us that throughout the monuments in Washington, right down to the archives there is a deep attachment to god in the United States, not an attachment to a certain god, but a beleif that god grants equality and freedom and rights and that is why dictatorship and tyranny are wrong, becuase of the natural rights granted by god. It was beleif in god that led abolitionists to fight against slavery, secularism didnt end slavery or inspire John Brown or Fredrick Douglas or Lincoln. It was always god and in particular christianity that laid behind many of the great campaigns for freedom, democracy and human rights, of which the U.S was a pioneer. Those like George Crook who fought against the oppression of the Native Americans, were influenced by the 'creator'.

So here we have a very important work that shows why the Ten Commandments and 'under god' and 'in god we trust' are all integral to America. It also shows why America has always been so tolerant of other faiths. But it dares to show that athiesm is not tolerant of all faiths and atheism would strip america of religious diversity in order to impose its will.

Seth J. Frantzman

Rediscovering God in America should absolutely be read by everyone. That includes those who are interested in the topic of "separation between church and state" as well as those who are not because this issue affects - and will continue to affect - the society in which all of us Americans live. It should also be read by those who are both opposed to the Supreme Court's contemporary understanding of "separation between church and state" and by those who support it. Reason: this book is educational and timely.

Newt Gingrich is a tremendous person to have written this book because the topic is pure history. Gingrich himself is a history professor having received his Ph.D. from Tulane University. As such, the book takes a teaching approach and is not abrasively worded. The wording itself is not at all difficult to understand, and there are only 118 pages. The book can be quickly and easily read, and if you were not interested in this issue before, you'll be interested after reading Rediscovering God in America.

Gingrich points out that the words used in the first part of this review (separation between church and state) came from a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association. The Supreme Court has since taken those words and applied them in a way that Jefferson never intended. In fact, Jefferson himself attended church services in the U.S. Capitol. There are many such examples in the book.

There is also a common misunderstanding that all religious symbols associated with the U.S. government are Christian symbols and thus exclude other faiths. To this end Gingrich points out that though many of the Founders were, in fact, Christian, they strongly supported one's right to his or her religious convictions, whatever they may be. It's also noted that there are many Jewish carvings in various government buildings as well as Jewish events at the White House. There is also a carving of Muhammad in the Supreme Court.

The book is set up as a "walking tour" of D.C., and it corresponds with a map that can be found at [...]. The locations visited and explained are the National Archives, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, the Ronald Reagan Building, the White House, the World War II Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery.

If you are not sure if you're interested in this topic, this book will both enable you to decide and serve as an excellent way to begin your reading.

The secular left would like to silence all public religious expression ... unless it supports their left-wing causes. Thus, Democratic candidates routinely campaign from liberal pulpits, while conservative churches are attacked for allowing Republican candidates to appear.

The secular left seeks a radical purging of politics from the pulpit, and of God from politics. However, that is not how our nation was founded.

On the religious side, political sermons were common during the American Revolution. They were crucial for its success, providing much of the moral clarity required to sustain the long war for independence. See e.g. Ellis Sandoz, Political Sermons of the American Founding Era.

On the political side, Newt Gingrich's book takes the reader back to monuments and documents that cannot be ignored. It is almost startling to read the strongly theistic public statements by our nation's "secular" founders. The book does an excellent job of highlighting those religious statements, and explaining their original significance.

Our Founders did not simply refer to God as an accomodation to a religious culture. Instead, as the Speaker demonstrates, the Founders were ardent theists, who sought to bring God and faith directly into government. The most obvious example is the Declaration of Independence -- the entire legal basis for our new government. The Declaration makes no intellectual sense without Jefferson's argument about human rights coming from the Creator. A secularized Declaration is an incoherent document. Mr. Gingrich demonstrates this with interesting quotes from other Founders, who tracked and expanded upon Jefferson's argument.

A highly recommended book in a day when the liberal elites are encouraging people of faith to withdraw from politics.

Rediscovering God in America by Newt Gingrich, with appropriate credit to Callista Gingrich for the photography work.

What do I think of this book? Well, I think it's really 2 separate works. So, let's look at each work.

The first work is the combined photo layouts of memorials, architecture, and artwork around Washington D.C. and an explanation of the history and meaning of the symbolism behind them. It's based on a walking tour of D.C., and covers some well-known buildings, like the Washington Monument and the Capitol, and some that I wouldn't have thought of, like the Roosevelt Memorial or the Reagan Building.

Each stop is photographed, and various highlights also well photographed. The history and explanations are well written. I found it interesting to read the story behind the acquisition of Arlington Cemetery from the family of General Lee. I am also glad to have the photographs and walkthrough of the US Capitol, now that security concerns prevent Americans from visiting their own Capitol building.

The other part of the book, the second work under the same cover and title, is the former Speaker's personal opinions on the current political and anti-Christian leanings. These opinions are well stated. I struggle with listening to someone who paid one of the largest ethics fines in Congressional history express frustration about our lack of national morality. I also wonder where these expressions and sentiments were for the last 8 years. For example, Speaker Gingrich expresses that the National World War Two Memorial, as the newest memorial, is also the most secular. He's right, but the memorial is 5 years old at the time of writing!

Why was this book not written in 2006? While I find myself in agreement with many of the opinions expressed, they were just as true of the country and government then. It seems too much like the former Speaker is trying to connect America's departure from our heritage as a Christian nation with his opposition to the current President.

This book had the potential to be a good explanation of the Christian heritage of America, to show how the very buildings of our government cry out that our heritage is in the Lord. I think it would have been better had the weight of history been allowed to speak for itself, rather than having a currently politically active person use the information as an opportunity to advance his own opinions.

3 stars out of 5. The photography and history rates 4. The Newt Gingrich political rhetoric gets a 2. Averages at 3.

Doug (Booksneeze from Thomas Nelson Publishers was the source of my free copy of this book.)

While this version of "Rediscovering God in America" is a couple of dollars more than the earlier edition, it is the one to purchase. Why? For several reasons. First, the beautiful color photos of these buildings and symbols by Callista Gingrich are completely integrated in the text where the earlier edition just stuck black and white photos at the end. Second, the larger format and beautiful paper make reading it a more pleasing aesthetic experience. And third, the text has been slightly edited to make it tighter. The text of the chapter on the Capitol building has been expanded to include statures the states sent of their important citizens including religious figures while the chapter on the White House took out the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. The material on the actual walking tour has also been removed. I suspect they figure you can find your way around these important buildings quite easily.

After a couple of years with the different versions of this book, I think it is more important than ever and I hope that you not only get a copy to read for yourself but that you get copies to share with your children, friends, and anyone you think can be benefited from learning about the true history of religion and faith in our public square.

Here is my (slightly edited) version of the original edition:

While many people will rail against Newt Gingrich and this book without ever bothering to read it, I recommend that every American read this short, easy-to-read, and very informative book. The authors are not advocating a theocracy in any way. What Speaker Gingrich is warning against is that banning any possible mention of God from public life and education is a great distortion and a misunderstanding of our history.

He says of this book, "Its purpose is neither theological, nor an effort to proselytize on behalf of any religious worldview. All Americans - both those who believe in Go and those who do not share this belief - are equal in rights and duties under our Constitution and equal in deserving the respect of their fellow citizens." (page 130)

Gingrich goes on, "Instead, the purpose of this book is to rediscover the historic source of American liberty and to rediscover the founding generation's understanding of what is required to sustain liberty in a free society. And to do this is to truly discover anew the centrality of God in American history and in the ongoing story of American liberty." (page 113)

The author simply takes us on a walking tour of some major monuments around the National Mall in Washington D. C. and around Arlington National Cemetery. He gives us a little background on the man being memorialized including his statements about God, faith, and religion. The article also gives us some information about the monument, how it came to be and what we see when we visit there. We learn that even those that are often cited as not being religious did attend church services, and in the case of Jefferson, IN THE CAPITOL!

Speaker Gingrich opens the book with a good article about the work by a minority to sterilize the public square of all references to God as if the discussion of religion, God, and faith were not a part of the very fabric of our nation. While it would be easy to believe that their efforts are ridiculous and could never result in the re-writing of history and the sandblasting of our monuments, some have already expressed a desire to do so. And the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has already ruled that "UNDER GOD" cannot be said in the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools (although, I believe, that ruling is currently enjoined while under appeal).

This is a very good book to read and think about. More important, it is a good book to share, give as a gift, and to talk about. Since the vast majority of us want to be able to talk about what matters to us and how we make our decisions about important matters, which may very well include our faith, we cannot let a small minority of self-appointed censors restrict us. Certainly, we must remain tolerant of all faiths and even the lack of faith (which is often a faith of sorts), but we must also assert our right to speak and pray and teach as we see fit. To pretend that our founders did not talk about God or pray or read the Bible is to pervert and distort history. And this constitutes a miseducation of our young people. We need to stand up to this and make sure it is corrected.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

Newt Gingrich takes the reader on a walking tour through Washington for one purpose: to remind us that God played a significant role in the founding, building, and survival of America. Our capital city is teeming with not-so-subtle references to a divine being, a creator, to whom we owe so much.

Honest, objective historians and most educated Americans already know this. In fact, Gingrich's target audience won't get much from the premise of the book. But what you will get is an appreciation for what the Founding Fathers intended this country to become and an understanding that what we have become has, in many ways, contradicted that intent. Even Jefferson, the left's favorite deist and Mr. Wall of Separation himself, attended Christian church services in the capitol building. It's hard to imagine that coinciding with a complete "separation of church and state".

I appreciate this book, and so will many others. Judeo-Christian principles were paramount in America's 200+ year history and that should never be forgotten if this country is going to survive another 200 years. This is a truly inspiring walk through time and through the thoughts and hopes of those who built the greatest nation known to man.