Amazon.com: The separation illusion: A lawyer examines the first amendment (9780915134410): John W Whitehead: Books

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2.7 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)

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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenal Study!!!, December 24, 2004

By	Gregory Nyman (Winchendon, MA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This book was written many years ago, but it is incredibly timely and applicable to the time we live, and it's like John Whitehead knew where this nation was headed.

He examines the first amendment, and in particular the "establishment clause" and "free expression" clause, and shows in various ways how these have been perverted by the Highest Court of our land, as well as other courts since the turn of the 20th century. With vignettes from history as well as contemporary times, he examines the facts and reveals that the First Amendment to the Constitution allowed the states to build a wall of separation between them and the Federal government, and in such a way, give them the leverage to worship in any way they wanted to.

For the serious student of the Constitution, this is required reading. It's both scholarly and provocative, and it will give many hours of reflection and hopefully, action.

Highly recommended!!!

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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Well-Intentioned Failure, January 8, 2005

By	Anson Cassel Mills (Lake Santeetlah, NC) - See all my reviews

John Whitehead has attempted to analyze the causes of American declension and has failed. Certainly he is correct about the end result of statism. He also provides a few thought provoking discussions, such as that concerning the "wall of separation" controversy, and some nuggets of wisdom--mostly quotations from other authors--among his mish-mash of information and misinformation. Whitehead's confusion over the definitions of terms like "democracy" and "constitution" are only compounded by historical inaccuracies in his attempted explication of them.

The Separation Illusion can be recommended only as an example of a writing style that should be avoided. The book seems to have been hurried into print by an author who had not completely digested his wide (though shallow) reading, and it is the reader who suffers indigestion. Awkward phrases and mixed metaphors abound along with odd quotations from pop stars and rock songs.

Christians certainly need a clear explication of the roots of secularism in American society. In his attempt to provide such a book, Whitehead has produced only a well-intentioned failure.

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0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Nasty , April 2, 2005

By	Gregory R. Peterson (New Mexico) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The author thinks that God's natural aristocracy must rule, segregate themselves from those they must rule and perpetuate a continuing supernatural race war for God.

It's essentially pro-slavery antebellum and Jim Crow era delusions and apologetics with white supremacism sotto voice. The intro is by the founder of a pro-slavery and anti-democracy movement, Rousas John Rushdoony.