Revolutionary Spirits: The Enlightened Faith of America's Founding Fathers [Hardcover]

Gary Kowalski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2008

Bringing to life the complex creeds and personalities of America's Founding Fathers, this book confronts many of the myths about the religious views of some of the most notable figures in history. Offering clear and candid portraits of Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Paine, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison as both religious reformers and political rebels, this analysis tells the illuminating story of these unorthodox men of faith and thought and reclaims their spiritual inheritance for all Americans. Providing a careful examination of how the Founders’ nature-based spirituality was tied to their fascination with science, this record includes discussions on Washington’s aversion to using the word "God" in public pronouncements, Jefferson's mathematical calculations to show that the biblical great flood would have been impossible, and Paine's thoughts on the possibilities of alien life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

What did the founding fathers believe about God and the Bible? Unitarian Universalist minister Kowalski (The Souls of Animals) joins the chorus of answers with this elegantly written book, which clearly situates the founders in an Enlightenment tradition that privileged reason. Charting a middle ground between those who claim the founders either as orthodox Christians or total skeptics, Kowalski argues that they were religious liberals who believed in a Creator and in moral law. Benjamin Franklin was more interested in solving scientific riddles than in otherworldly mysteries; nonetheless, he became friendly with revivalist George Whitefield. For George Washington, who harbored some doubts about Christian doctrine, Christianity was more about right behavior than belief. Thomas Jefferson believed in Providence and remained an Episcopalian all his life, but was more at home with classical learning than faith. James Madison, Thomas Paine and John Adams receive similarly nuanced treatments. Kowalski illustrates his arguments with just the right quotations from the founders themselves, and his economy of prose is to be commended: he never belabors his points. This slim volume will sit nicely on the shelf with similar offerings by Forrest Church, Jon Meacham and David Holmes. (Feb.)
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Review

"An interesting and valuable contribution to the growing literature of the Founders and their precious legacy of freedom of religion."  —Willard Sterne Randall, author, Thomas Jefferson: A Life

“Imaginatively conceived and very well-written.”  —Jon Roberts, author, Darwinism and the Divine in America

"A masterful synthesis of the founding fathers' spiritual inclinations."  —James E. McWilliams, author, A Revolution in Eating: How the Quest for Food Shaped America

"To the ongoing debate over the place of religion in the early Republic, Gary Kowalski has made a vigorous, thoughtful, and eminently readable contribution."  —Forrest Church, author, So Help Me God: The Founding Fathers and the First Great Battle over Church and State

"Should be read for the sheer joy of the read, certainly; but more to the point, it should be required reading for every voting American."  —Phyllis Tickle, author, The Shaping of a Life

"A well written look at the beliefs held by America's founding fathers, this readable book will appeal to anyone interested in learning what drove the authors of the Constitution."  —MonstersandCritics.com

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Bluebridge (February 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933346094
• ISBN-13: 978-1933346090
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #543,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Reverend Gary Kowalski is the author of bestselling books on animals, nature, history and spirituality. A graduate of Harvard College and the Harvard Divinity School, his work has been translated into German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and Czech and been voted a "Reader's Favorite" by the Quality Paperback Book Club. Whether investigating the moral instinct in animals, de-mystifying faith of America's Founding Fathers, unpacking the Bible or pondering the frontiers of modern physics, Gary's work centers on the connection of spirit and nature ... acknowledging our kinship with each other and with a universe that is passionate, evolving and alive. Gary currently serves as interim minister to the First Parish of Sudbury, Massachusetts. Visit his website at www.kowalskibooks.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Researched, April 26, 2008

By 

J. Farley (Ohio) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Revolutionary Spirits: The Enlightened Faith of America's Founding Fathers (Hardcover)

I borrowed Revolutionary Spirits from my local library and after the first two chapters I went online and ordered a copy to keep on my bookcase at home. This volume is wonderfully researched and the writing is a pleasure to read. Anybody who is interested in really understanding the theological culture of this time period should consult this book. Anybody who is interested in understanding the political culture of this time period should consult Forest Church's "So Help Me God".

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Continuing American Experiment, April 16, 2008

By 

David G. Hutchinson ""north woods recluse... (Houlton, ME USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Revolutionary Spirits: The Enlightened Faith of America's Founding Fathers (Hardcover)

With the election of 2008 looming close, there are several new books on the market revisiting the early years of the American Experiment. One of the classics of an earlier era was a little paperback titled America's Real Religion written by A. Powell Davies, minister of All Souls in Washington DC, published back in 1949. It was a historical look at several key Founding Fathers noting their progressive philosophical and political leanings. I view Gary Kowalski's book Revolutionary Spirits in this same tradition. Nothing is quite so interesting and helpful as seeing the actual words of what someone said. Like any good interviewer, the author of this new work knows what questions to ask and finds plenty of solid material in his research to share with the reader. As you read this book these revolutionary spirits seem just as relevant to our times as they were to theirs. Go out and buy the book.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and insightful, February 7, 2008

By 

Deborah Straw "author" (Burlington, Vermont United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Revolutionary Spirits: The Enlightened Faith of America's Founding Fathers (Hardcover)

I have always enjoyed Gary Kowalski's work. It is both scholarly and readable and its message is always humanistic. Revolutionary Spirits continues that style; it introduces some little-known facts about our founding fathers: Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Paine, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. All highly intelligent and creative men, their religious and spiritual lives ran the gamut of church affiliation or lack thereof. Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, in particular, were highly influenced by the natural world. They were all "religious liberals" and believed that diversity was a national treasure.
In this time of conservative thought and political action, it would do anyone good to read about what our founding fathers believed, what influenced their thoughts and actions, and how they established this country's government and set of core precepts and values.