{"product_id":"founding-faith-steven-waldman-9780812974744","title":"Founding Faith: How Our Founding Fathers Forged a Radical New Approach to Religious Liberty","description":"The culture wars have distorted the dramatic story of how Americans came to worship freely. Many activists on the right maintain that the United States was founded as a \"Christian nation.\" Many on the left contend that the First Amendment was designed to boldly separate church and state. Neither of these claims is true, argues Beliefnet.com editor in chief Steven Waldman. With refreshing objectivity, Waldman narrates the real story of how our nation's Founders forged a new approach to religious liberty. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eFounding Faith \u003c\/i\u003evividly describes the religious development of five Founders. Benjamin Franklin melded the Puritan theology of his youth and the Enlightenment philosophy of his adulthood. John Adams's pungent views on religion stoked his revolutionary fervor and shaped his political strategy. George Washington came to view religious tolerance as a military necessity. Thomas Jefferson pursued a dramatic quest to \"rescue\" Jesus, in part by editing the Bible. Finally, it was James Madison who crafted an integrated vision of how to prevent tyranny while encouraging religious vibrancy. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe spiritual custody battle over the Founding Fathers and the role of religion in America continues today. Waldman at last sets the record straight, revealing the real history of religious freedom to be dramatic, unexpected, paradoxical, and inspiring. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Steven Waldman\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0812974743\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780812974744\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Random House Trade\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/10\/2009\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 304\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.50lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.90h x 5.20w x 0.80d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAward:\u003c\/b\u003e Christopher Awards - Winner\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e 04\/12\/2009 pg. 24","brand":"Steven Waldman","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43992480252159,"sku":"9780812974744","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_eb69d408-d4dd-4631-a07f-8c8ec53967aa.jpg?v=1683319175","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/founding-faith-steven-waldman-9780812974744","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}