Library Journal

Booklist starred

Kirkus Review

Examines the history of the relationship between Christianity and government in the U.S., discussing the separation of church and state, describing patterns of religious fervor and cooldown, and arguing that the Religious Right poses a threat to enlightened religion in America.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [554]-598) and index.

Pre-Enlightenment religion -- Puritans -- Mary Dyer must die -- The Puritan psyche -- The Puritan conscience -- The Puritan intellect -- Preludes to Enlightenment -- Precursors : Samuel Sewall, Roger Williams -- Spur to Enlightenment : the Great Awakening -- Enlightened religion -- Unitarians -- Against the awakening -- Quakers -- Deists -- Disestablishment -- Beyond tolerance -- Jefferson's statute -- Madison's remonstrance -- First Amendment -- Madisonian separation -- The romantic era -- Transcendentalism -- Schism in New England -- Emersonians -- Religion of the heart -- The second Great Awakening -- Schisms over slavery -- God of battles -- Religion in the gilded age -- Culture wars -- Doomsday or progress? -- Second-coming theology -- Second-coming politics -- The social gospel -- Reversals -- Evangelicals riding high -- Evangelicals brought low -- Religion in a radical time -- Religious nation -- Euphoria -- Great religious truce -- The rights revolution -

- Evangelicals counter attack -- The Karl Rove era -- Faith-based government -- Ecumenical Karl - - Life after Rove.