The Bible and America’s Founding Fathers

Many of us have heard the argument that America needs to get back to its biblical (or Christian) roots which our founding fathers established.  But it isn’t quite that simple.  We have to ask this twofold question: what did our founding fathers think about the Bible and about Christianity? Noll, Hatch, and Marsden answer it …

The Impossibility of Returning to ‘Christian’ America

A few days ago I promised to return to this outstanding book: The Search for Christian America.  Here are a few paragraphs from the latter part of the book.  These words will be a tough read for those of us schooled with textbooks that exaggerated the “Christian” influence in America’s formative years.  I’m still amazed …

The (Futile?) Search for Christian America

Here’s a book that deserves to be brought back into our discussions and onto our reading lists: The Search for Christian America by Mark Noll, Nathan Hatch, and George Marsden.  It was first published in 1983 and then expanded in 1989.  But the message is completely relevant for Christians today. Here are some questions the …

Deism, Christianity, and the American Flag

George Marsden's Religion and American Culture is an absolute must read for Christians in the United States who are wrestling with the ever difficult question of how Christianity relates to the American culture.  Though some of our readers may disagree, for the past few years in my studies, I've come to the conclusion that America has …

Jefferson’s Good Friday Note

What does Good Friday look like to a deist?  Thomas Jefferson's bible is a good example (you can find the whole thing online in a few places).  Here's how he ends his cut-and-paste NT which he called The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth (it's from 17:62-64).  (Side note: I wonder if they mention this "text" in …