Under the Cope of Heaven: Religion, Society, and Politics in Colonial America [Hardcover]

Patricia U. Bonomi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 13, 1986 | ISBN-10: 0195041186 | ISBN-13: 978-0195041187

In this pathbreaking study, a prominent colonial historian argues that religion was as instrumental as either politics or the economy in shaping early American life and values. Looking at Puritan New England as well as at the middle and southern colonies, Bonomi finds an abundance of religious vitality throughout the colonial years among clergy and churchgoers of diverse religious backgrounds. The book focuses on 18th-century religious activity, when churches stabilized and extended their influence to all parts of the colonies, and examines the everyday life of the clergy, the tension between religious competition and religious toleration, and the attitudes and practices of churchgoers from every rank and region. The book also explores the tightening relationship between religion and politics--especially evident in the schisms of the Great Awakening, the growth of denominational factions, and the emergence of an "ideology of dissent"--and illuminates the vital role religion played in the American Revolution. Written with grace and style, Under the Cope of Heaven presents a stimulating new perspective on the formative era of American religious culture.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A splendid overview of the topic of religion in the colonial period. The book is gracefully and economically written, provocative yet respectful of opposing views.... Goes far toward providing a genuinely balanced account of the role of religion in the formation of the American mind." --William and Mary Quarterly

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Patricia U. Bonomi is at New York University (Emerita). --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (November 13, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195041186
• ISBN-13: 978-0195041187
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,468,598 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Answers many questions about religion and politics pre-Revolution, June 13, 2011

By 

Joseph M. Hennessey (Weston, MA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Under the Cope of Heaven: Religion, Society, and Politics in Colonial America (Paperback)

On p. 102, we find that the title of this book is part of a quotation of a sermon of Cotton Mather in 1713.

In general, i found this book loaded with insights surrounding the question of to what extent (very) the colonies were (Protestant Christian) religious prior to the Revolution, and how much this contributed to the onset of the events which brought about the Revolution (a lot.)

Two of these events were the possible advent of an Anglican bishop to the colonies, and the role of the Great Awakening as a spur to the Revolution. The colonists were mostly dissenters from Anglicanism, except for Virginia, and looked upon the imposition of a bishop as just another sign of the increasing domination from the mother country. The Great Awakening spoke to the individual's sense of faith, as opposed to its corporate dimension, and thus contributed to the proverbial American individualism.

On p. 72, Bonomi cites the fact that Congregational congregations tripled from 1700-1750, thus downplaying any suggestion of religious decline.

Reading Bonomi's anecdotes, the French proverb 'plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose' came to mind. So many of the trends which we believe are original to current church life, were present in colonial church life. Some of these were: not wanting ministers traveling around with no credentials, people in and out of church during the service, sleeping during sermons, almost every bride pregnant at the time of the wedding (p. 60,) and in the average congregation, 3/4 of folks in church were women.

This book is well worth your time, written in a pleasant style.

5 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, March 8, 2007

By 

Andrew M. Menger (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Under the Cope of Heaven: Religion, Society, and Politics in Colonial America (Paperback)

This book is very informative about religion and politics in the colonial period of United States history, up to the Revolution. It is very in-depth and contains citations for everything.

1 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Bad scan, June 10, 2010

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Justin T. Martin - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Under the Cope of Heaven: Religion, Society, and Politics in Colonial America (Kindle Edition)

I'm sure this book is awesome. However, due to what looks like a really crappy scan its pretty hard to read.