This is a hot topic these days, and after reading the book, it's evident it's been a hot topic all along. Through our church and other channels I've been encouraged to embrace some rather one-sided perspectives on the Christian heritage of America, but as a history aficionado, I've always felt an immediate discomfort over some of what I read. So this book, by an actual historian, has been a pleasure.

Don't misunderstand, I want to believe that a Christian worldview and doctrine had a very big impact on the founding of America, but as a Christian, I have a strong commitment to knowing the truth. It's not acceptable for me that some Christian authors would twist American history into a more "Christianized" version than evidence and solid historical research permits.

Accessible and well written, this book is a clear, even handed account of the influence of Christianity on America's foundation and evolution. I liked it and would recommend it over some of the other works that try to cast our early leaders as all born-again Christians.