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Jon Meacham

American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation Hardcover – April 4, 2006

by Jon Meacham (Author)

4.6 708 ratings

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The American Gospel–literally, the good news about America–is that religion shapes our public life without controlling it. In this vivid book, New York Times bestselling author Jon Meacham tells the human story of how the Founding Fathers viewed faith, and how they ultimately created a nation in which belief in God is a matter of choice.

At a time when our country seems divided by extremism, American Gospel draws on the past to offer a new perspective. Meacham re-creates the fascinating history of a nation grappling with religion and politics–from John Winthrop’s “city on a hill” sermon to Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence; from the Revolution to the Civil War; from a proposed nineteenth-century Christian Amendment to the Constitution to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s call for civil rights; from George Washington to Ronald Reagan.

Debates about religion and politics are often more divisive than illuminating. Secularists point to a “wall of separation between church and state,” while many conservatives act as though the Founding Fathers were apostles in knee britches. As Meacham shows in this brisk narrative, neither extreme has it right. At the heart of the American experiment lies the God of what Benjamin Franklin called “public religion,” a God who invests all human beings with inalienable rights while protecting private religion from government interference. It is a great American balancing act, and it has served us well.

Meacham has written and spoken extensively about religion and politics, and he brings historical authority and a sense of hope to the issue. American Gospel makes it compellingly clear that the nation’s best chance of summoning what Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature” lies in recovering the spirit and sense of the Founding. In looking back, we may find the light to lead us forward.

“In his American Gospel, Jon Meacham provides a refreshingly clear, balanced, and wise historical portrait of religion and American politics at exactly the moment when such fairness and understanding are much needed. Anyone who doubts the relevance of history to our own time has only to read this exceptional book.”–David McCullough, author of 1776

“Jon Meacham has given us an insightful and eloquent account of the spiritual foundation of the early days of the American republic. It is especially instructive reading at a time when the nation is at once engaged in and deeply divided on the question of religion and its place in public life.”–Tom Brokaw, author of The Greatest Generation

“An absorbing narrative full of vivid characters and fresh thinking, American Gospel tells how the Founding Fathers–and their successors–struggled with their own religious and political convictions to work out the basic structure for freedom of religion. For me this book was nonstop reading.”–Elaine Pagels, professor of religion, Princeton University, author of Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas

“Jon Meacham is one of our country’s most brilliant thinkers about religion’s impact on American society. In this scintillating and provocative book, Meacham reveals the often-hidden influence of religious belief on the Founding Fathers and on later generations of American citizens and leaders up to our own. Today, as we argue more strenuously than ever about the proper place of religion in our politics and the rest of American life, Meacham’s important book should serve as the touchstone of the debate.”
–Michael Beschloss, author of The Conquerors

“At a time when faith and freedom seem increasingly polarized, American Gospel recovers our vital center–the middle ground where, historically, religion and public life strike a delicate balance. Well researched, well written, inspiring, and persuasive, this is a welcome addition to the literature.”–Jonathan D. Sarna, Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History, Brandeis University, author of American Judaism: A History

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Print length

416 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Random House
Publication date

April 4, 2006
Dimensions

5.95 x 1.21 x 8.54 inches
ISBN-10

1400065550
ISBN-13

978-1400065554
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Customers find the book informative and well-researched. They describe it as a compelling read with an engaging narrative. The writing style is described as knowledgeable and creative, combining facts in a logical way. Readers appreciate the original topic and the volume of source material and anecdotes. They find the pacing solid and the account well-supported. The book provides a thoughtful and nuanced look at the founding fathers' principles.

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Information quality Writing quality Readability Interest Pacing Enlightened look Logicalness Thought provoking

81 customers mention "Information quality"73 positive8 negative

Customers find the book enlightening and well-researched. They appreciate the thoughtful interpretations and descriptions of the actual words and deeds of the Founding Fathers. The book blends facts in an enjoyable read, introducing many interesting points and sharing a lot of information.

"...The extraordinary vision of the Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin in particular and their thoughtful focus on creating a..." Read more

"Well written and well researched." Read more

"Good read. Arguable conclusions. Not everyone will agree with author’s arguments." Read more

"...His research is outstanding in the many quotes he comes up with which detail comments and thoughts various ones of our "founding fathers" and..." Read more

42 customers mention "Writing quality"39 positive3 negative

Customers find the book well-written with a creative and logical approach. They appreciate the author's passion for the subject and the flow of his writing style. The book provides a clear explanation of the "public religion" concept. Readers appreciate the extensive source notes, bibliography, and appendix. Overall, it is considered another great title by Jon Meacham.

"...All up It’s a wonderful book. The writing is straightforward and easy to follow...." Read more

"Well written and well researched." Read more

"...It is a well researched book about the influence of religion in American government...." Read more

"...I do commend him on the extensiveness of his source notes, bibliography, and appendix of several primary source documents like Madison's Memorial..." Read more

41 customers mention "Readability"41 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable. They praise its compelling content and writing style. The book is described as worthwhile, easy to access, and a masterpiece.

"...All up It’s a wonderful book. The writing is straightforward and easy to follow...." Read more

"Good read. Arguable conclusions. Not everyone will agree with author’s arguments." Read more

"...It may not be a quick read but it is a very important read...." Read more

"...Woods commentary is both very persuasive and beneficial to the reader because is able to both provide his own research, and he is able to pick out..." Read more

10 customers mention "Interest"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and well-written. They appreciate the original topic, powerful narrative, and impressive source material and anecdotes. The research and logical, thought-out premises make for an enjoyable read.

"...Meacham is a wonderful writer and the volume of source material and anecdotes was impressive making for a quick enjoyable read...." Read more

"...him to make logical assumptions about what happened and explains it in a powerful narrative...." Read more

"This is an extremely interesting book my Sunday School class is studying, with all members of the class commenting on how interesting and worthwhile..." Read more

"...An interesting and informative read." Read more

7 customers mention "Pacing"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's pacing good. It provides an informative and quick-read discourse on public religion. The author is well-grounded and articulate, and the concepts are supported. While some readers may be offended, the wise center remains intact.

"...viciously defended and many are easily offended, this book holds the wise center intact...." Read more

"...detail is excellent, and his intrepretations are thoughtful and well supported...." Read more

"...That wasn’t the intention of our founders and this book is a solid account as to why." Read more

"...This work is a solid step stone in that path. I am recommending everyone read this book especially my history teacher friends." Read more

6 customers mention "Enlightened look"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and nuanced. They appreciate the vibrant, thoughtful story told in a clear and logical manner.

"...American Gospel tells the story in such a frank, plain and logical manner that it is hard to believe that it was such a unique concept at that..." Read more

"Jon Meacham presents a nicely nuanced view of how the founding fathers viewed religion and government, and how these views have been shaped by..." Read more

"Slow and careful in it's message while being vibrant and thoughtful in the story and prose...." Read more

"very informative, a lot of history and very eye opening concerning the faith of our Founding Fathers" Read more

6 customers mention "Logicalness"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book logical and easy to follow. They describe it as straightforward and a great effort.

"...All up It’s a wonderful book. The writing is straightforward and easy to follow...." Read more

"...American Gospel tells the story in such a frank, plain and logical manner that it is hard to believe that it was such a unique concept at that..." Read more

"...His writing combines facts in a creative, logical way. I do not know as a reader..." Read more

"Great effort and a great contribution to my personal belief (struggles at times). Well worth the effort" Read more

5 customers mention "Thought provoking"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and well-researched. They say it has character and heart.

"...As always, Meacham is thoughtful, temperate, polite, and very readable." Read more

"...This book has character and heart. If it had a pulse it would literally come alive. That is the magic spun by Meacham." Read more

"...pontificating about the Founding Fathers he shows that they were thoughtful men who showed a collective brilliance in crafting our public..." Read more

"...Thoughtful and well researched. A welcome cultural antidote to today's hysterical religious/political speech. Thank you, Mr. Meacham!" Read more

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Paul Wilson
America’s extraordinary visionaries
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2018
Verified Purchase
It’s not much wonder that Jon Meacham is a Pulitzer Prize winner. I’m only half way through American Gospel but already have gained a much better understanding of how religion, especially Christianity has been a powerful influence on the development of a uniquely American version of democracy. The extraordinary vision of the Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin in particular and their thoughtful focus on creating a society that was open and inclusive stands in stark contrast to the isolationist, fear driven, self serving leadership of so many of 21st century American politicians of both major Parties.
Meacham, wisely often inserts the actual words written and spoken by America’s revolutionary leaders. And in doing so reveals the depth of their commitment to a new social and political order founded on the principles of freedom for ALL irrespective of race, religion, or wealth. As I read further I may discover the Founders’ vision for America of freedom for all including women, and indigenous populations. However something tells me even their hope and intention for America didn’t quite meet the full test of inclusiveness, reasonableness and timeliness.
All up It’s a wonderful book. The writing is straightforward and easy to follow. Meacham is not biased or parochial in his description of America and it’s early post revolutionary days.
I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who is interested in better understanding the “why”, the “who” and the “how” of what made America great and perhaps what today puts that vision at risk.

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Sylvia K.
Good read
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2024
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Well written and well researched.

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Amazon Customer
Book review
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2024
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Good read. Arguable conclusions. Not everyone will agree with author’s arguments.

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J. G. Schulze
A Good Summary
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2006
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I just finished American Gospel, by Jon Meacham. I enjoyed it. I recommend it.

It was just recently released. I got it from Amazon this week. It's not unusual that I'll set aside all the other books I'm reading to start a new book, but it's less common that I'll actually finish it.

It is a well researched book about the influence of religion in American government. His premise is that the Founding Fathers created a kind of "public religion" in the words of Benjamin Franklin. The public religion was not specifically Christian, but broad enough to cover the Christian, the Jew, and the Deist. The Founding Fathers were classically educated as well. Annuit Coeptus is a paraphrase from Virgil. The Founding Fathers had a greater variety of religious beliefs than we realize. I find much truth in some of the ideas of Jefferson and Franklin, neither of which would be considered orthodox Christians in their time or ours. I think Thomas Payne offers some good ideas, too.

Christianity was more divided at the time of the revolution than it is today, and the importance of the differences was considered greater. One thing that is hard to recognize today is that not only was there a certain animosity toward Jews, or even Catholics, but the Protestant sects considered their differences important. In 1774, there was opposition to prayer in the Continental Congress, inspired in part by the Episcopalians' fear that having everyone join in a prayer would tend to treat all the religious traditions as equal.

Many of the quotes we usually hear in debates whether the United States is a "Christian" nation are given here, but what is particularly useful is that they are put in context. It does little good to say Washington said this and Jefferson said that in the abstract, without knowing what they were talking about.

Frequently there are references to people who worship twenty gods, or no gods being treated equally. In fact there were few who worshipped no gods then, and probably fewer who worshipped twenty. The point was made, however. There were also references to the ideal that the Muslim would be just as free to worship as anyone else (I think an amazingly impressive foresight in a country that had few if any Muslims).

It's hard to pick and choose from the book. In a way, it's so objective that more will find fault with it than do not. That's probably a sign of a good objective overview.

The main problem I see with the book is there's too little perspective of what it has meant to be pluralistic or secular in the context of the rest of the world. At the time of the American Revolution, a state without an official religion was a strange concept. The way of the world had always been that the government was run by a King who ruled by the grace of God, and in return protected God's true religion from heretics and blasphemers. Now in large parts of the world democracies in which people are more or less free to worship as they please are at least the aspiration, if not the reality, in most of the world. America was unique in creating and sustaining a state without an official link to a particular religious tradition.

Today, I think much of the world has passed us up. Today, Franklin's public religion has been replaced by a generic Judeo-Christianity where we are lucky, and a doctrinaire narrow fundamentalist Christianity where we are not. The doctrinaire Christianity does not seem to me to have much to do with the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, but I've ranted about that before. It is true, however, that it is always hard work to maintain freedom, including freedom of religion. Preserving that freedom is a job that will never end.

This book may not be the definitive word on the subject, but it's balanced and well-researched. It's something that one should take into account before asserting that America is either a Christian nation or a godless one.

Gerry

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CKE
A new standard into politics and religon
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2006
Verified Purchase
In a time when discussions on religon and politics has split America in half; Jon Meachem has taken the high rode and explains how, to some extent, everyone is right. Religon was expected to play a vital role in the day-to-day life of America, but that religon was a central focus on God and not to one particular religon.

Meachem is masterful in bringing out the arguments in how the Founding Fathers wanted God to be a unifying focus of our lives, but were able to avoid the paradox of its dividing properties. Most Americans can rally behind the belief of God, but once that belief is broken down to a variety of sects - Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Judaism and so forth - this is where get our anger/angst from the divisions of doctrine. We become divided and argumenative in the "rightness" of our individual beliefs.

What Meachem effectively argues is that the Founders saw of this coming and therefore placed the seperation of church and state. Meachem also points out that in a treaty in 1790's the United States proclaimed that it "Was not a Christian Nation but a nation that accepts all faiths". While I am sure that some will say that this is an attack on Christianity, I say that this is Meachem effectively proving that Jerry Fallwell (and most of the extreme CHrisitan right) is a liar (And by the way - I am a Baptist!)

Why is this important in today's world? With the likes of Michael Moore and Ann Coulter each spewing their hate (and Coulter expecially) using religon to wedge our citizens further and further apart, we must be reminded of how we got here. Meachem shows us that great men have always kept the spheres of these two entities apart- he points to Billy Graham as a man of unquestioned faith who has mostly stayed out the political scene (here is a quick question who has Billy Graham endorsed in the last three elections? Answer: No one - he doesn't publicy support any canidate). What has this done for his ministry...? It has allowed him to UNITE his congregation behind his message without the nastiness that is involved with politics. Is there ANY question at all that Billy Graham has been the GREATEST evangelist of the last 100 years? There is a reason for that - his message is of God, Jesus, the Bible, and love - and not on why Bill Clinton is immoral. Why judge Clinton and his supporters and divide them away from his message about Christ? Graham realizes that if everyone follows the Bible and the teachings of Christ then Gay mariage ceases to be an issue.

In short- while Meachem's book reads as 250 page essay and is NOT filled with humorous anectdotes or side stories it does hit the mark. It may not be a quick read but it is a very important read. Today like no other time in the last 60 years America needs to be united we need to move away from the wedge issues that keep on dividing us through our individual beliefs. For that I feel that everyone who "American Gospel" will be indebted to Jon Meachem for giving us an insightful glimpse into the role religon plays and has played in our country.

A+

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Lindsey Clare Gee-Turner
I'd read more of his books...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 21, 2015
Verified Purchase
This is very good. I did know a lot of the background - about public religion in American society & politics from the days of the Founding Fathers onwards. Good to compare with Britain. I was going to Billy Graham in London in about 1990 but suddenly got too much work to do so didn't make it! I see the Margaret Suckley Papers are in the Wilderstein Collection, Rhinebeck, New York.

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