American Heretics: Religious Adversaries of Liberal Order

by Jerome E. Copulsky

A penetrating account of the religious critics of American liberalism, pluralism, and democracy—from the Revolution until today
 
“A chilling consideration of persistent mutations of American thought still threatening our pluralist democracy.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
 
The conversation about the proper role of religion in American public life often revolves around what kind of polity the Founders of the United States envisioned. Advocates of a “Christian America” claim that the Framers intended a nation whose political values and institutions were shaped by Christianity; secularists argue that they designed an enlightened republic where church and state were kept separate. Both sides appeal to the Founding to justify their beliefs about the kind of nation the United States was meant to be or should become.  
 
In this book, Jerome E. Copulsky complicates this ongoing public argument by examining a collection of thinkers who, on religious grounds, considered the nation’s political ideas illegitimate, its institutions flawed, and its church‑state arrangement defective. Beholden to visions of cosmic order and social hierarchy, rejecting the increasing pluralism and secularism of American society, they predicted the collapse of an unrighteous nation and the emergence of a new Christian commonwealth in its stead. By engaging their challenges and interpreting their visions we can better appreciate the perennial temptations of religious illiberalism—as well as the virtues and fragilities of America’s liberal democracy.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Religion, Church History, Christianity, Politics

384 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a detail-heavy account of the American fight to connect church and state. It started with the Brits calling the colonists heathens, continued through the god fearing confederates and their new constitution with bible approved human trafficking and here we are today. Kudos on the research involved in this, however it got a bit clunky and dry.

[Fran · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's dense and detailed, like a textbook, and gives a close look at some of the christian nationalist religionists through USA history. They've been there since white people began taking control of these lands, and the lives of Black people, and their god was always on their side.
Copulsky gives us trees, not much forest. One core criticism is that he treats the theological positions as though they are authentic, sincerely held independently-arrived-at philosophies, rather than stances that lead to desired political outcomes (just as conservatives claim constitutional 'originalism' as long as it helps them justify and get their objectives).

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of new-to-me information but dry. Took me awhile as s result.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The farther into the book the author gets, the more apparent his biases become. Up to the history in the late twentieth century, it's excellent; I'm docking a star for the terrible conclusion.

[Canon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat irritated with myself that I gave even more of my attention to the viewpoints and arguments of reactionaries and religious authoritarians than what I’m already daily confronted with by U.S. mainstream media, politics, and culture.