Rediscovering God in America: Reflections on the Role of Faith in Our Nation's History [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by Newt Gingrich (Author)
Key Phrases: White House, Supreme Court, George Washington (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
This brief mandate by Gingrich, the architect of 1994's conservative congressional manifesto "The Contract with America," opens with a battle cry: "There is no attack on American culture more deadly and more historically dishonest than the secular effort to drive God out of America's public life." The book's arguments are predictable: Gingrich claims that references to God are sprinkled everywhere in our nation's founding documents; that most Americans believe in God; and our classrooms and courtrooms are the laboratories where such belief is being irrevocably eroded. He trots out quotations from founding fathers that suggest their allegiance to Christianity or at least to theism, but conveniently ignores evidence that some of these men—particularly Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson—believed religion should have little, if any, role in the nation's government. If the book's thesis is tired and essentially unpersuasive, its unique contribution is its innovative, even brilliant, method of organization. Gingrich presents his arguments as a "walking tour" of the nation's capital, beginning with the National Archives and winding through the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, Capitol, White House and other sites. This structure does much to freshen up a book that is otherwise indistinguishable from prior offerings by Pat Robertson and David Barton. (Aug. 22)
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Product Description

A simple walk through Washington, D.C. began a profound journey of personal discovery and renewal for Newt Gingrich, one of America's most influential politicians and commentators. At the National Archives, the immortal words from the Declaration of Independence that we "are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights," jumped off the page and into his heart with the simple truth that from day one in our country's history, the Author of freedom was not the state nor even the Founding Fathers. Our basic human rights and freedoms were-and are-"Creator-endowed." Gingrich sounds a clarion call for us to recognize that the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness that we hold so dear are inseparable from a sincere and humble acknowledgement that these gifts are only the Creator's to give. As a bonus, the book includes a "walking tour" of Washington, D.C.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591454824
• ISBN-13: 978-1591454823
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #165,781 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

155 of 170 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful to read and think about. Better to share and talk about., October 27, 2006

By	Craig Matteson (Ann Arbor, MI) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

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.

145 of 175 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Field Trip Into The Birth Of Our Nation., October 21, 2006

By	Peter Senese "A book is a free ticket to anyw... (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews

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.

103 of 126 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FAITH OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS, August 10, 2006

By	TOM CHASTAIN "TOM CHASTAIN" (TAMPA FLORIDA) - See all my reviews

"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.