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The Christian Past That Wasn't: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History
America was not founded as a Christian nation.
Who gains what from myths about the past? Why are many of us susceptible to their power? And how can the truth about a nation's past prevail? In this lively book, Warren Throckmorton, coauthor of Getting Jefferson Right, investigates the gloss that Christian nationalist storytellers put on history and equips readers to debunk seven myths that they propagate.
Working in the tradition of muckraking journalists, Throckmorton, whose fact-checking of David Barton's book The Jefferson Lies convinced the publisher to pull it from the shelves, picks a fight with fables told about the past by those who are trying to erase the separation of church and state. Did the Puritans actually establish a covenant with God, and were all the founders evangelical Christians? Are the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution based on the Bible, and did delegates at the constitutional convention in Philadelphia actually kneel for daily prayers? With keen attention to primary sources, Throckmorton dismantles the myths, piece by historical piece. And he How are the genocide of Indigenous people and enslavement of millions of Africans not definitive repudiations of some righteous Christian past?
It's never been more important to understand why myths about the past wield so much force--and who those myths empower. White Christian nationalism thrives on origin stories, and Throckmorton equips readers to debunk the false ones. The real heritage of America is neither as a Christian state nor pure secularism; it is a more nuanced story, he says, one of religious tolerance and pluralism. To understand Christian nationalism, we must know the power of myth. To counter it, we must know the facts.
Who gains what from myths about the past? Why are many of us susceptible to their power? And how can the truth about a nation's past prevail? In this lively book, Warren Throckmorton, coauthor of Getting Jefferson Right, investigates the gloss that Christian nationalist storytellers put on history and equips readers to debunk seven myths that they propagate.
Working in the tradition of muckraking journalists, Throckmorton, whose fact-checking of David Barton's book The Jefferson Lies convinced the publisher to pull it from the shelves, picks a fight with fables told about the past by those who are trying to erase the separation of church and state. Did the Puritans actually establish a covenant with God, and were all the founders evangelical Christians? Are the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution based on the Bible, and did delegates at the constitutional convention in Philadelphia actually kneel for daily prayers? With keen attention to primary sources, Throckmorton dismantles the myths, piece by historical piece. And he How are the genocide of Indigenous people and enslavement of millions of Africans not definitive repudiations of some righteous Christian past?
It's never been more important to understand why myths about the past wield so much force--and who those myths empower. White Christian nationalism thrives on origin stories, and Throckmorton equips readers to debunk the false ones. The real heritage of America is neither as a Christian state nor pure secularism; it is a more nuanced story, he says, one of religious tolerance and pluralism. To understand Christian nationalism, we must know the power of myth. To counter it, we must know the facts.
319 pages, Hardcover
Published May 19, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
May 25, 2026
This is an in-depth examination of claims that Christian nationalists make about the founding of America. Throckmorton is generous to call them "myths" while also showing us that men like Barton and Wilson are lying, and that they know they are lying. (He does call them "storytellers," which made me giggle - felt like he was gentle parenting them.)
Throckmorton is a retired professor, and takes great care to show his work and cite his sources. The book is a little dry for my taste, but if you are interested in the topic of Christian nationalism and want to be able to argue/discuss claims about America's establishment, founding fathers, and founding documents, I really do not know of a better or more accessible resource.
Throckmorton is a retired professor, and takes great care to show his work and cite his sources. The book is a little dry for my taste, but if you are interested in the topic of Christian nationalism and want to be able to argue/discuss claims about America's establishment, founding fathers, and founding documents, I really do not know of a better or more accessible resource.
July 31, 2026
I highly recommend this book. Throckmorton cites primary historical documents (e.g. the minutes of the Constitutional Congress, not urban legends) and sets the record straight. Frankly, I have little respect for pseudo historians who insist on a past that wasn’t. It’s not a good look to promote myths about a Christian nation while breaking the ninth commandment. (AKA lying.) If you are home educating your children, this is a good resource for vetting your curricula.
May 20, 2026
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ The Christian Past That Wasn’t by Warren Throckmorton ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
➝ • 3.5/5 ☆ •
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
This book takes on the myths about America’s founding and the idea that it was built as a Christian nation. It uses sources and historical context to separate fact from long standing political storytelling. I learned a lot from the sections that unpacked how those myths formed and how they continue to circulate. The research feels solid and the documentation is thorough.
My main issue was the writing style. A few sections lean more academic than narrative, and that shift made it harder to stay fully focused. The information itself is strong, but the delivery occasionally feels more formal than it needs to be. Still, the content itself is valuable and the historical corrections are well supported.
This is a good choice for readers interested in American history, religion in politics, or myth busting nonfiction. It might not change minds across ideological lines, but it does offer clear, well sourced information for anyone who wants to understand where these claims come from.
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ religious history
✔️ American founding myths
✔️ fact checking nonfiction
✔️ church and state discussions
✔️ historical debunking
✔️ reexamining American history
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
📅 Pub Day: Out now! 📚
💌 ARC gifted via NetGalley from Broadleaf Books. All opinions are my own.
➝ • 3.5/5 ☆ •
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
This book takes on the myths about America’s founding and the idea that it was built as a Christian nation. It uses sources and historical context to separate fact from long standing political storytelling. I learned a lot from the sections that unpacked how those myths formed and how they continue to circulate. The research feels solid and the documentation is thorough.
My main issue was the writing style. A few sections lean more academic than narrative, and that shift made it harder to stay fully focused. The information itself is strong, but the delivery occasionally feels more formal than it needs to be. Still, the content itself is valuable and the historical corrections are well supported.
This is a good choice for readers interested in American history, religion in politics, or myth busting nonfiction. It might not change minds across ideological lines, but it does offer clear, well sourced information for anyone who wants to understand where these claims come from.
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ religious history
✔️ American founding myths
✔️ fact checking nonfiction
✔️ church and state discussions
✔️ historical debunking
✔️ reexamining American history
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
📅 Pub Day: Out now! 📚
💌 ARC gifted via NetGalley from Broadleaf Books. All opinions are my own.
May 26, 2026
I wasn't sure what to expect when picking this one up. Christian Nationalism can be a loaded term that means different things for different people, but I think the author did an excellent job of defining it. He also gave a great historical case for the Founding Fathers intending to provide a nation where all religions could find liberty in a pluralist society - not just Protestant Christians.
I learned so much from this book, and (now that I am paying more attention) was surprised at how often I heard these myths since starting to read it.
If you are a Christian that is interested the concept of "seperation of church and state", and want to know what our history has to say about it - this is a great book. The author goes right to the historical source, and backs up his claims. I also think you would love this book if you just enjoy reading history!
I learned so much from this book, and (now that I am paying more attention) was surprised at how often I heard these myths since starting to read it.
If you are a Christian that is interested the concept of "seperation of church and state", and want to know what our history has to say about it - this is a great book. The author goes right to the historical source, and backs up his claims. I also think you would love this book if you just enjoy reading history!
May 11, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review: Growing up in the American South, these myths are things I heard at least weekly. Living in the Bible Belt, at times feels like living on a different planet. I wish my family and other community members would read this book without feeling like they have to drop their religion. You can be religious and not nationalist. For anyone who wants to understand more about the intersection of religion and government, I highly recommend.
Review: Growing up in the American South, these myths are things I heard at least weekly. Living in the Bible Belt, at times feels like living on a different planet. I wish my family and other community members would read this book without feeling like they have to drop their religion. You can be religious and not nationalist. For anyone who wants to understand more about the intersection of religion and government, I highly recommend.
June 8, 2026
The debate has been ongoing for decades: Is the United States a Christian nation? Although Christians of some kind have been in the majority since the founding of the nation. Of course, we must have a caveat here because these conversations always omit indigenous people who were not Christians. As Daniel Hawk has demonstrated so clearly in his book Undoing Manifest Destiny: Settler America, Christian Colonists, and the Pursuit of Justice, European settlers, most of whom claimed to be Christian, have a less-than-stellar reputation. Although there are efforts underway during the 250th anniversary of the declaration of independence by the American colonies from British rule to emphasize only what makes the nation look good ("Patriotic History"), things are a lot more complicated than what some would like us to believe. So, is the United States a "Christian nation," at least constitutionally, we are not. Although there are plenty of mythmakers and storytellers who would tell us otherwise, there are others who have pushed back against these efforts to hijack American history in support of Christian nationalism.
Among the latest efforts to address the myths surrounding the idea that the United States was, at its birth, Christian, is Warren Throckmorton's "The Christian Past that Wasn't: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths that Hijack History" (Broadleaf, 2026). Throckmorton is a retired psychology professor who taught for many years at a Christian College. This is important to point out. Throckmorton has devoted significant time to unmasking Christian nationalist efforts to portray the founders as evangelical Christians intent on making the United States a Christian nation. He has done this not as a non-believer, but as a committed Christian. He's not alone in these efforts undertaken by Christian scholars. In this excellent, must-read book, Throckmorton step-by-step unpacks the myths told by such figures as pseudo-historian David Barton and his supporters. Now, Throckmorton is not a professional historian, but he has consulted with leading American historians and brings his background in psychology to the conversation, helping us understand why people embrace myths about the nation's founding.
In his opening chapter, titled "Why Do People Believe America was Founded as a Christian Nation? he speaks to the psychological elements of this belief. It is a belief that has important implications for an increasingly diverse and pluralistic nation. Fear of change makes people susceptible to believing myths told by people like David Barton and allies, especially in the political sphere, such as the Speaker of the House. In this opening chapter, Throckmorton defines Christian nationalism as the belief that the United States was born as a Christian nation and should stay that way. Thus, there is an effort to pursue power to enforce a form of Christianity on the nation. Why? Because there is a sense of safety in being part of a state that shares your beliefs. Plus, one can find hope in the power that comes from believing God is on one's side.
While there are several psychological triggers to this belief, where does one find support for the myths that undergird this belief system? History plays an important role, or should I say "pseudo-history." In Chapter 2, titled "Hijacking History," Throckmorton explores how proponents of a Christian nation ideology have used history, or perhaps better, misused and misconstrued history to support their position, starting with the famed painting of Gen. Washington praying at Valley Forge. Throughout the book, the name David Barton, a self-proclaimed historian with no credentials, will come up as the key storyteller, a person who has the ear of powerful leaders, including Mike Johnson and even Donald Trump. One of the figures that Barton depends on is Parson Mason Weems, who is responsible for many of the myths, including the story of Washington's encounter with the cherry tree. Then there is Barton's book "The Jefferson Lies," which was pulled from production by its publisher after it was demonstrated that Barton's book was full of historical errors. Nevertheless, Barton remains an important contributor to the hijacking of history, supported by leading evangelical entities such as Focus on the Family. There are other contributors, including Francis Schaeffer and Mike Johnson. Letting go of the myths might be difficult, but as Throckmorton notes, it might make us a bit freer.
Having introduced us to why people are susceptible to the mythmaking that goes with belief in a Christian founding aided by the hijacking of history in pursuit of an agenda, Throckmorton offers a series of seven chapters that lay out the myths that go with this embrace of Christian nationalism. While this is an important effort, I'm afraid that many who embrace the idea of a Christian founding of the United States are immune to this important medicine for the soul of the nation.
The first myth is explored in Chapter 3, "Myth One: America Is a Covenant Homeland for European Protestants." There is a myth being told by figures such as Kenneth Copeland that God made a covenant with the founders so that the United States would be a covenant nation for European Protestants. That should give us pause because not only would this covenant rule out Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc., but also Roman Catholics. Of course, defenders of a Christian America go back further to Columbus and the papal declaration of support for the conquest of the Americas. As for North America, the settlers in what became the United States were largely Protestant, and their establishments affirmed Protestant dominance. They also tended to portray the indigenous people as savages whose land could be seized. He goes through the stories starting with Jamestown and moving through Plymouth to George Washington's oath. The goal is to show that the United States is designed to be a nation for White Anglo-Saxon Protestants. There are lots of problems with this idea, including how God makes covenants.
In Chapter 4, we look at "Myth Two: America is a Christian Nation Because the Colonies Had State Churches." It is true that during the colonial period, the majority of colonies had established churches, the exceptions being Rhode Island and a few others. The question is whether those establishments provide support for a Christian founding, such that the structure of the government was designed to support Protestant Christianity. It should be noted that by 1833, even the states had disestablished their church-state relationships. That proved good for the churches as well as the states, as the states and the nation moved toward true religious freedom. The next myth, "Myth Three," has to do with the suggestion that "America Is a Christian Nation Because the Founders Were Orthodox Christians" (Chapter 5). Here is where things get tricky because some were orthodox Christians, but others weren't. What is true is that a number of them, including George Washington, were Freemasons, and much of the language for divinity has Masonic connections, not distinctively Christian senses. The suggestion that Jefferson and Adams were orthodox is clearly a myth, as both were Deists/Unitarians. This leads us to "Myth Four: The Founders Created a Christian Government" (Chapter 6). Here, he explores the role of religion in the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution to see what they say about Christianity and the government, addressing suggestions that the founders wanted a Christian form of government. If anyone pays attention to the Constitution, God is not mentioned, while religious tests are explicitly rejected. Then, of course, there is the First Amendment. Throckmorton speaks to the ways in which all of these decisions were made. He also addresses Jefferson's letters with the Danbury Baptists, in which Jefferson declares that the Constitution created a wall between church and state, something the Baptists supported. There is a lot more here, including the Treaty of Tripoli. Therefore, legally, there is no support for the United States being a Christian nation.
As we move on to the next myth, "Myth Five: The Charter Documents Are Based on the Bible and Christianity" (Chapter 7), once again, Throckmorton debunks the myth. Here, the myth suggests that the founders based the founding documents on the Bible, with large chunks of the documents being biblical quotations. He demonstrates quite clearly the falsehood of these suggestions, noting that the authors of these documents didn't mention the Bible as a source for their efforts. More often, it was Greek and Roman philosophers, as well as Enlightenment ones.
Donald Trump and people in his orbit have called for the teaching of Patriotic History, highlighting the positives while downplaying the negatives, such as slavery and the genocide of Native Americans. Supporters of Christian Nationalism are clearly embarrassed by these realities because they want to eliminate them from the story, especially since supporters of both slavery and manifest destiny rooted their support in Christianity, including their reading of the Bible. Thus, in the view of supporters of the Christian founding of the nation, America's virtues outweigh America's sins, such that they can be ignored. Throckmorton, fortunately, doesn't let this pass scrutiny.
The final myth, "Myth Seven," suggests that "Christianity Should be Promoted in Public Education." There is a myth that, before the 1963 Supreme Court case that abolished school prayer as an establishment of religion, the Bible and Prayer were prominent in the nation's public schools, and that this should be restored. So, we see efforts to post the Ten Commandments and even mandate the teaching of the Bible --- in Oklahoma, the Superintendent of Public Education wanted to mandate use of the so-called Trump Bible. While some states did mandate prayer and bible reading before 1960, it was not universal. Besides, publicly funded/mandated education didn't develop until long after the nation's founding. As he points out, one of the reasons why public education was developed, and Bibles were to be used, had to do with the Protestant confrontation with Roman Catholics. The mandated use of the KJV did not sit well with Roman Catholics. Now, the question concerns whether the current Supreme Court will open things up for the introduction of religion into public education by undermining the wall of separation.
This is an important book that addresses many of the myths put forth by supporters of Christian nationalism, seeking to embed a particular form of Christianity in the founding so that it might be used to push back against the growing pluralism of the nation. As he notes in his conclusion, he offers this book as evidence for those who question this Christian-American folklore and the purveyors of that folklore in pursuit of the quasi-establishment of Christianity as the state religion. I, for one, am grateful because I believe that this effort will end badly for both church and state.
Among the latest efforts to address the myths surrounding the idea that the United States was, at its birth, Christian, is Warren Throckmorton's "The Christian Past that Wasn't: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths that Hijack History" (Broadleaf, 2026). Throckmorton is a retired psychology professor who taught for many years at a Christian College. This is important to point out. Throckmorton has devoted significant time to unmasking Christian nationalist efforts to portray the founders as evangelical Christians intent on making the United States a Christian nation. He has done this not as a non-believer, but as a committed Christian. He's not alone in these efforts undertaken by Christian scholars. In this excellent, must-read book, Throckmorton step-by-step unpacks the myths told by such figures as pseudo-historian David Barton and his supporters. Now, Throckmorton is not a professional historian, but he has consulted with leading American historians and brings his background in psychology to the conversation, helping us understand why people embrace myths about the nation's founding.
In his opening chapter, titled "Why Do People Believe America was Founded as a Christian Nation? he speaks to the psychological elements of this belief. It is a belief that has important implications for an increasingly diverse and pluralistic nation. Fear of change makes people susceptible to believing myths told by people like David Barton and allies, especially in the political sphere, such as the Speaker of the House. In this opening chapter, Throckmorton defines Christian nationalism as the belief that the United States was born as a Christian nation and should stay that way. Thus, there is an effort to pursue power to enforce a form of Christianity on the nation. Why? Because there is a sense of safety in being part of a state that shares your beliefs. Plus, one can find hope in the power that comes from believing God is on one's side.
While there are several psychological triggers to this belief, where does one find support for the myths that undergird this belief system? History plays an important role, or should I say "pseudo-history." In Chapter 2, titled "Hijacking History," Throckmorton explores how proponents of a Christian nation ideology have used history, or perhaps better, misused and misconstrued history to support their position, starting with the famed painting of Gen. Washington praying at Valley Forge. Throughout the book, the name David Barton, a self-proclaimed historian with no credentials, will come up as the key storyteller, a person who has the ear of powerful leaders, including Mike Johnson and even Donald Trump. One of the figures that Barton depends on is Parson Mason Weems, who is responsible for many of the myths, including the story of Washington's encounter with the cherry tree. Then there is Barton's book "The Jefferson Lies," which was pulled from production by its publisher after it was demonstrated that Barton's book was full of historical errors. Nevertheless, Barton remains an important contributor to the hijacking of history, supported by leading evangelical entities such as Focus on the Family. There are other contributors, including Francis Schaeffer and Mike Johnson. Letting go of the myths might be difficult, but as Throckmorton notes, it might make us a bit freer.
Having introduced us to why people are susceptible to the mythmaking that goes with belief in a Christian founding aided by the hijacking of history in pursuit of an agenda, Throckmorton offers a series of seven chapters that lay out the myths that go with this embrace of Christian nationalism. While this is an important effort, I'm afraid that many who embrace the idea of a Christian founding of the United States are immune to this important medicine for the soul of the nation.
The first myth is explored in Chapter 3, "Myth One: America Is a Covenant Homeland for European Protestants." There is a myth being told by figures such as Kenneth Copeland that God made a covenant with the founders so that the United States would be a covenant nation for European Protestants. That should give us pause because not only would this covenant rule out Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc., but also Roman Catholics. Of course, defenders of a Christian America go back further to Columbus and the papal declaration of support for the conquest of the Americas. As for North America, the settlers in what became the United States were largely Protestant, and their establishments affirmed Protestant dominance. They also tended to portray the indigenous people as savages whose land could be seized. He goes through the stories starting with Jamestown and moving through Plymouth to George Washington's oath. The goal is to show that the United States is designed to be a nation for White Anglo-Saxon Protestants. There are lots of problems with this idea, including how God makes covenants.
In Chapter 4, we look at "Myth Two: America is a Christian Nation Because the Colonies Had State Churches." It is true that during the colonial period, the majority of colonies had established churches, the exceptions being Rhode Island and a few others. The question is whether those establishments provide support for a Christian founding, such that the structure of the government was designed to support Protestant Christianity. It should be noted that by 1833, even the states had disestablished their church-state relationships. That proved good for the churches as well as the states, as the states and the nation moved toward true religious freedom. The next myth, "Myth Three," has to do with the suggestion that "America Is a Christian Nation Because the Founders Were Orthodox Christians" (Chapter 5). Here is where things get tricky because some were orthodox Christians, but others weren't. What is true is that a number of them, including George Washington, were Freemasons, and much of the language for divinity has Masonic connections, not distinctively Christian senses. The suggestion that Jefferson and Adams were orthodox is clearly a myth, as both were Deists/Unitarians. This leads us to "Myth Four: The Founders Created a Christian Government" (Chapter 6). Here, he explores the role of religion in the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution to see what they say about Christianity and the government, addressing suggestions that the founders wanted a Christian form of government. If anyone pays attention to the Constitution, God is not mentioned, while religious tests are explicitly rejected. Then, of course, there is the First Amendment. Throckmorton speaks to the ways in which all of these decisions were made. He also addresses Jefferson's letters with the Danbury Baptists, in which Jefferson declares that the Constitution created a wall between church and state, something the Baptists supported. There is a lot more here, including the Treaty of Tripoli. Therefore, legally, there is no support for the United States being a Christian nation.
As we move on to the next myth, "Myth Five: The Charter Documents Are Based on the Bible and Christianity" (Chapter 7), once again, Throckmorton debunks the myth. Here, the myth suggests that the founders based the founding documents on the Bible, with large chunks of the documents being biblical quotations. He demonstrates quite clearly the falsehood of these suggestions, noting that the authors of these documents didn't mention the Bible as a source for their efforts. More often, it was Greek and Roman philosophers, as well as Enlightenment ones.
Donald Trump and people in his orbit have called for the teaching of Patriotic History, highlighting the positives while downplaying the negatives, such as slavery and the genocide of Native Americans. Supporters of Christian Nationalism are clearly embarrassed by these realities because they want to eliminate them from the story, especially since supporters of both slavery and manifest destiny rooted their support in Christianity, including their reading of the Bible. Thus, in the view of supporters of the Christian founding of the nation, America's virtues outweigh America's sins, such that they can be ignored. Throckmorton, fortunately, doesn't let this pass scrutiny.
The final myth, "Myth Seven," suggests that "Christianity Should be Promoted in Public Education." There is a myth that, before the 1963 Supreme Court case that abolished school prayer as an establishment of religion, the Bible and Prayer were prominent in the nation's public schools, and that this should be restored. So, we see efforts to post the Ten Commandments and even mandate the teaching of the Bible --- in Oklahoma, the Superintendent of Public Education wanted to mandate use of the so-called Trump Bible. While some states did mandate prayer and bible reading before 1960, it was not universal. Besides, publicly funded/mandated education didn't develop until long after the nation's founding. As he points out, one of the reasons why public education was developed, and Bibles were to be used, had to do with the Protestant confrontation with Roman Catholics. The mandated use of the KJV did not sit well with Roman Catholics. Now, the question concerns whether the current Supreme Court will open things up for the introduction of religion into public education by undermining the wall of separation.
This is an important book that addresses many of the myths put forth by supporters of Christian nationalism, seeking to embed a particular form of Christianity in the founding so that it might be used to push back against the growing pluralism of the nation. As he notes in his conclusion, he offers this book as evidence for those who question this Christian-American folklore and the purveyors of that folklore in pursuit of the quasi-establishment of Christianity as the state religion. I, for one, am grateful because I believe that this effort will end badly for both church and state.
July 7, 2026
IMPORTANT NOTE: I don't like writing book reviews, and have produced few over the years; but some books come on the scene in critical times. This is one of those book in one of these moments.
In The Christian Past That Wasn't: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History, Warren Throckmorton provides a clear, engaging, and well-researched critique of historical assertions commonly upheld by proponents of Christian nationalism. Instead of disputing the significance of Christianity in American history, Throckmorton critiques the manipulation of historical narratives for political and ideological purposes. He posits that a truthful representation of the nation’s history will ultimately benefit both the church and society more than comforting falsehoods.
The book is structured around seven prevalent assertions advocated by notable Christian nationalist authors and speakers. These include claims that the United States was founded as a distinctly Christian nation, that the founders aimed to create a Christian government, that the Constitution is based on biblical principles, and that America has experienced moral decline due to its departure from Christian foundations. Throckmorton engages with primary sources and historians' accounts to evaluate each assertion, highlighting discrepancies between these claims and actual historical evidence.
One of the strengths of this book is its accessibility. Throckmorton steers clear of complex historical terminology and adopts a conversational writing style that makes it approachable for general readers while maintaining academic integrity. Each chapter addresses a specific myth independently, allowing readers to delve into each topic without feeling overwhelmed by excessive detail. The documentation throughout is thorough yet manageable, with conclusions drawn from historical facts rather than personal opinions.
Throckmorton maintains a balanced tone throughout his work. He does not dismiss Christianity's influence on early American culture but acknowledges how Christian beliefs and practices shaped colonial society while recognizing some extent of constitutional or legal adherence to Christianity in the United States. This nuanced perspective promotes thoughtful discourse rather than one-sided arguments.
Throckmorton challenges not only widely quoted sayings and anecdotes but also scrutinizes prevalent narratives within Christian nationalism. By tracing many claims back to their original sources—or revealing their absence—he underscores the importance of responsible historical inquiry. His ongoing appeal for Christians to prioritize truth over political expediency serves as both a moral and intellectual foundation for his arguments.
One of the most important contributions of the book is Trockmorton's critique of Christian nationalist and pseudo-historian David Barton. He tells the story of Barton's relationship with Christian conservative outlets and their willingness to continue to promote his distorted history rather than repudiate it. He offers an excellent critique of Barton's selective use and misuse of souces. This critique alone is worth the price of the book.
The Christian Past That Wasn’t contributes meaningfully to discussions regarding religion and American identity; it emphasizes that historical accuracy complements faith rather than contradicts it—reflecting intellectual integrity. For pastors, church leaders, students, and anyone interested in exploring the connections between Christianity, history, and politics, Throckmorton's work serves as an insightful corrective to many myths surrounding America's founding narrative. It stands as an essential resource for informed and respectful conversations about the nation's religious heritage.
I highly recommend this book as a crucial read in these current times.
In The Christian Past That Wasn't: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History, Warren Throckmorton provides a clear, engaging, and well-researched critique of historical assertions commonly upheld by proponents of Christian nationalism. Instead of disputing the significance of Christianity in American history, Throckmorton critiques the manipulation of historical narratives for political and ideological purposes. He posits that a truthful representation of the nation’s history will ultimately benefit both the church and society more than comforting falsehoods.
The book is structured around seven prevalent assertions advocated by notable Christian nationalist authors and speakers. These include claims that the United States was founded as a distinctly Christian nation, that the founders aimed to create a Christian government, that the Constitution is based on biblical principles, and that America has experienced moral decline due to its departure from Christian foundations. Throckmorton engages with primary sources and historians' accounts to evaluate each assertion, highlighting discrepancies between these claims and actual historical evidence.
One of the strengths of this book is its accessibility. Throckmorton steers clear of complex historical terminology and adopts a conversational writing style that makes it approachable for general readers while maintaining academic integrity. Each chapter addresses a specific myth independently, allowing readers to delve into each topic without feeling overwhelmed by excessive detail. The documentation throughout is thorough yet manageable, with conclusions drawn from historical facts rather than personal opinions.
Throckmorton maintains a balanced tone throughout his work. He does not dismiss Christianity's influence on early American culture but acknowledges how Christian beliefs and practices shaped colonial society while recognizing some extent of constitutional or legal adherence to Christianity in the United States. This nuanced perspective promotes thoughtful discourse rather than one-sided arguments.
Throckmorton challenges not only widely quoted sayings and anecdotes but also scrutinizes prevalent narratives within Christian nationalism. By tracing many claims back to their original sources—or revealing their absence—he underscores the importance of responsible historical inquiry. His ongoing appeal for Christians to prioritize truth over political expediency serves as both a moral and intellectual foundation for his arguments.
One of the most important contributions of the book is Trockmorton's critique of Christian nationalist and pseudo-historian David Barton. He tells the story of Barton's relationship with Christian conservative outlets and their willingness to continue to promote his distorted history rather than repudiate it. He offers an excellent critique of Barton's selective use and misuse of souces. This critique alone is worth the price of the book.
The Christian Past That Wasn’t contributes meaningfully to discussions regarding religion and American identity; it emphasizes that historical accuracy complements faith rather than contradicts it—reflecting intellectual integrity. For pastors, church leaders, students, and anyone interested in exploring the connections between Christianity, history, and politics, Throckmorton's work serves as an insightful corrective to many myths surrounding America's founding narrative. It stands as an essential resource for informed and respectful conversations about the nation's religious heritage.
I highly recommend this book as a crucial read in these current times.
July 27, 2026
Interesting and enjoyable. The author dismantles a number of stories about the founding fathers commonly told by those who insist the founding of the country was deliberately Christian. David Barton is foremost among those storytellers. I recall one of the stories from an episode of Adventures in Odyssey. Throckmorton’s book is to be appreciated, though he does seem to write with a chip on his shoulder, and at times, his own reading of the sources may be subject to review (for instance, considering the legal issue linking Jefferson’s indebtedness to his owning slaves). Further, I’m not sure I know from this book–or would agree with–Throckmorton’s positive account of the founding. He seems to tip his hat several times to ideas (agendas?) historical and contemporary that I do not share. I also wish he would have reconciled a difficulty of his own creation: He argued that the founders did really terrible things that are incompatible with true Christianity. But he contends that they were also deliberately secular in the state they set up, and that this is a good thing. But if the atrocities would have reflected poorly on the founder’s supposed Christianity, would it not actually reflect poorly on their secularity? This is a nagging question.
May 31, 2026
Throckmorton names names: David Barton, the Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, Eric Metaxas, Francis Schaeffer, Glenn Beck, Stephen Wolfe, Charlie Kirk, and others. In the face of legit evangelical historians who know their stuff, these “thought leaders” promote Christian nationalist myths about the founding. Why? This is where Throckmorton, a psychologist, shines. My favorite section is about why psychologically they feel compelled to make flat-out fabrications and take sources out of context. This was a perfect book to read in the aftermath of Rededicate 250.
Money quote: “Our cultural worldview provides a buffer against the anxiety triggered by awareness of the inevitability of death. In times of social stress, many people want the government to take responsibility for easing their anxiety by ensuring the dominant culture stays dominant. When people feel threatened by changes brought on by diversity, they view separation of church and state and religious pluralism as problems, not blessings.”
Money quote: “Our cultural worldview provides a buffer against the anxiety triggered by awareness of the inevitability of death. In times of social stress, many people want the government to take responsibility for easing their anxiety by ensuring the dominant culture stays dominant. When people feel threatened by changes brought on by diversity, they view separation of church and state and religious pluralism as problems, not blessings.”
August 4, 2026
Level-headed examination of American history, especially its founding. The author both pokes holes in common Christian/American folklore, and provides researched, documented alternatives, while calling out communicators of common lies (David Barton, Charlie Kirk, etc). Easy to read and kept my interest throughout. I wouldn’t have minded some more depth and length, but I understand the desire to keep things at a popular level. 4 stars not because there is anything wrong with it, but just because it didn’t blow my socks off.
September 19, 2026
I rated this a 3 but a 3.5 would be more fitting. On the one hand, it offers a legitimate correction to many exaggeratedly tall tales and outright fabrications from a particular branch of Christian nationalists, and for this it should be corrected. I deduct points because at one point the author observed that he needed to be careful not to overcorrect, but that's exactly the outcome I observed in several places. To be clear, I believe this book is far more accurate than the works it corrects.
But let me give you some examples of what I consider to be the author's unfairness. He argues America couldn't have been a Christian nation because the founders allowed slavery to continue. We take it for granted that slavery is a moral evil in the civilized world today, but at the time of the founding, slavery had been universally practiced and continued to be practiced in every country in recorded human history. The founders, for the most part, recognized their hypocrisy in allowing it to continue and acknowledged its evil. The fact that they lacked the ability to fully realize their convictions does not mean they didn't have said convictions or that those convictions were not grounded in Christian principles.
Another critique the author rightly levels is that Christian nationalists often whitewash the country's treatment of American Indians. That's is undoubtedly true. But then the author largely whitewashes the atrocities committed by those same Indians against white settlers. At one point, the book lughably claims that Indians regularly respected property boundaries and were careful to keep their end of treaties. Thank goodness I wasn't drinking when I read that or I would have done a spit take all over the page. Throckmorton more or less perpetuates the lie that Indian tribes lived in harmony with one another before the supposed Christians showed up. In reality, history paints the picture that the same kind of tribal fighting that has been universally to human history in every corner of the world throughout time was just as prevalent before, during, and after the founding of our country. Certainly our Founders were not paragons of monastic virtue, but neither were they any more guilty than any other secular power that had come before them.
But that's precisely the question. It is not whether they livde up to the standards of civilization that we hold today. Standards, I should not hesitate to point out, which are born from the judeo Christian principles and Western humanism they enshrined into our founding. The question should be whether the founders created something totally new in the history of the world? The author criticizes the notion of American exceptionalism, but his moral stance is a product of that very exceptionalism. He criticizes the founders for not living up to the "promissory note" (as MLK put it) of their principles, but they were exceptional precisely because they created the first country in the history of the world to be founded on any such noble principles.
Every other country had been founded upon a shared ethnicity, history, geography, or military conquest. Ours remains to this day one of the only countries in the history of the world where anyone who shares our ideals can truly belong. In his eagerness to criticize those who lionize the founders, the author fails to give the founders credit for their remarkable and groundbreaking advancement in the furtherance of human rights. We can say that the founders should have gone further, but what is so wrong with acknowledging that they did more to instill Christian values into the functioning of a government than anyone before them ever had?
But let me give you some examples of what I consider to be the author's unfairness. He argues America couldn't have been a Christian nation because the founders allowed slavery to continue. We take it for granted that slavery is a moral evil in the civilized world today, but at the time of the founding, slavery had been universally practiced and continued to be practiced in every country in recorded human history. The founders, for the most part, recognized their hypocrisy in allowing it to continue and acknowledged its evil. The fact that they lacked the ability to fully realize their convictions does not mean they didn't have said convictions or that those convictions were not grounded in Christian principles.
Another critique the author rightly levels is that Christian nationalists often whitewash the country's treatment of American Indians. That's is undoubtedly true. But then the author largely whitewashes the atrocities committed by those same Indians against white settlers. At one point, the book lughably claims that Indians regularly respected property boundaries and were careful to keep their end of treaties. Thank goodness I wasn't drinking when I read that or I would have done a spit take all over the page. Throckmorton more or less perpetuates the lie that Indian tribes lived in harmony with one another before the supposed Christians showed up. In reality, history paints the picture that the same kind of tribal fighting that has been universally to human history in every corner of the world throughout time was just as prevalent before, during, and after the founding of our country. Certainly our Founders were not paragons of monastic virtue, but neither were they any more guilty than any other secular power that had come before them.
But that's precisely the question. It is not whether they livde up to the standards of civilization that we hold today. Standards, I should not hesitate to point out, which are born from the judeo Christian principles and Western humanism they enshrined into our founding. The question should be whether the founders created something totally new in the history of the world? The author criticizes the notion of American exceptionalism, but his moral stance is a product of that very exceptionalism. He criticizes the founders for not living up to the "promissory note" (as MLK put it) of their principles, but they were exceptional precisely because they created the first country in the history of the world to be founded on any such noble principles.
Every other country had been founded upon a shared ethnicity, history, geography, or military conquest. Ours remains to this day one of the only countries in the history of the world where anyone who shares our ideals can truly belong. In his eagerness to criticize those who lionize the founders, the author fails to give the founders credit for their remarkable and groundbreaking advancement in the furtherance of human rights. We can say that the founders should have gone further, but what is so wrong with acknowledging that they did more to instill Christian values into the functioning of a government than anyone before them ever had?
July 29, 2026
We hear the term often these days, but what exactly is “Christian Nationalism”? I find the following definition useful - it’s from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s “Civic Life and Faith Social Statement” (see page 80):
"A cultural framework that idealizes and advocates fusion of highly selected Christian beliefs with U.S. civic life. This nationalistic ideology holds, among other things, that the U.S. Constitution was divinely inspired, that Christianity should be a privileged religion in the United States, and that this nation holds a uniquely privileged status in God’s eyes. Proponents range from those who believe the U.S. legally should be declared a Christian nation to those involved in more virulent strains that are openly racist, patriarchal, and antidemocratic."
Note the phrases “highly selected Christian beliefs”, “Christianity should be a privileged religion in the United States” and “openly racist, patriarchal, and antidemocratic”. Reading between the lines then, I could sum up Christian nationalism as narrow minded, anti-constitutional and bigoted religious zealotry. It is about certain Protestant fundamentalists seeking a power over American culture and institutions they do not now and never did have.
Warren Throckmorton has long been engaged in a battle with Christian nationalist thinking, and the proponents of it. Throckmorton has spent years successfully debunking myths and pointing out facts in the face of Christian nationalist propaganda. He is well qualified to write this book.
The book tackles seven myths that Christian nationalists use to bolster their quest for power. Throckmorton lays out the facts that dispel these myths in a clear, straightforward and rational manner. His argument is so persuasive that on reading the book you may well wonder, as I did, how anyone could be so credulous as to fall for these “myths”.
But that thought neglects the real and significant scholarship and patience required by Throckmorton and like-minded historians needed to research the historical record, find the relevant facts, and lay them out before us. Mythmakers (or in this case propagandists) rely on those who hear their stories NOT doing the research, and so not understanding that much of what they are hearing isn’t true, nor that the conclusions being drawn are built on a house of cards.
I was raised Catholic myself, but do not consider myself particularly religious. I am also not one to deny or dissuade anyone else from their own spiritual journey — to each their own.
I am also a lover of history, and like the author I have been perplexed by how some Christian nationalists can misunderstand basic things about American history like the separation of Church and State called for in our Constitution. I respect the author’s factual historical analysis. I have no respect for the cooked-up nonhistorical suppositions intended to deceive - what the author here calls “myths”.
That is why I was drawn to this book, and I will say I liked it more than I expected I would. If you are similarly situated, I think you will too.
"A cultural framework that idealizes and advocates fusion of highly selected Christian beliefs with U.S. civic life. This nationalistic ideology holds, among other things, that the U.S. Constitution was divinely inspired, that Christianity should be a privileged religion in the United States, and that this nation holds a uniquely privileged status in God’s eyes. Proponents range from those who believe the U.S. legally should be declared a Christian nation to those involved in more virulent strains that are openly racist, patriarchal, and antidemocratic."
Note the phrases “highly selected Christian beliefs”, “Christianity should be a privileged religion in the United States” and “openly racist, patriarchal, and antidemocratic”. Reading between the lines then, I could sum up Christian nationalism as narrow minded, anti-constitutional and bigoted religious zealotry. It is about certain Protestant fundamentalists seeking a power over American culture and institutions they do not now and never did have.
Warren Throckmorton has long been engaged in a battle with Christian nationalist thinking, and the proponents of it. Throckmorton has spent years successfully debunking myths and pointing out facts in the face of Christian nationalist propaganda. He is well qualified to write this book.
The book tackles seven myths that Christian nationalists use to bolster their quest for power. Throckmorton lays out the facts that dispel these myths in a clear, straightforward and rational manner. His argument is so persuasive that on reading the book you may well wonder, as I did, how anyone could be so credulous as to fall for these “myths”.
But that thought neglects the real and significant scholarship and patience required by Throckmorton and like-minded historians needed to research the historical record, find the relevant facts, and lay them out before us. Mythmakers (or in this case propagandists) rely on those who hear their stories NOT doing the research, and so not understanding that much of what they are hearing isn’t true, nor that the conclusions being drawn are built on a house of cards.
I was raised Catholic myself, but do not consider myself particularly religious. I am also not one to deny or dissuade anyone else from their own spiritual journey — to each their own.
I am also a lover of history, and like the author I have been perplexed by how some Christian nationalists can misunderstand basic things about American history like the separation of Church and State called for in our Constitution. I respect the author’s factual historical analysis. I have no respect for the cooked-up nonhistorical suppositions intended to deceive - what the author here calls “myths”.
That is why I was drawn to this book, and I will say I liked it more than I expected I would. If you are similarly situated, I think you will too.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Trapped in Myths
The Christian Past that Wasn’t: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History, by Warren Throckmorton
Growing up within a very patriotic church and family culture, I did not need to be asked twice to read an advance copy of a book to guide those like me in identifying the false myths of my youth. Attending a Christian college that required we grasp why we believed the Christian message and to devote ourselves to integrating the message of the Gospel with our lifelong learning. I became a historian as the fruit of a lifelong love of studying the past. As a result of integrating my faith with learning, I saw the flaws in what we commonly call Christian Nationalism. Especially that linked to the white American Church.
Dr. Throckmorton opens his book by giving readers the definitions of Christian Nationalism. Not only is it a real thing (that some deny), but it has been with us in the United States and elsewhere. It is an ideology that merges a form of Christianity with the compulsion of the state. Christian Nationalism seeks to build a select and unified culture, but the gospel seeks to put everything to rights and unify us as children of God. This ideology is the opposite of the Gospel. Why is this a problem? It is the documented belief that those holding Christian Nationalist beliefs are much more prone to resort to violence to enforce their own variant of Christianity. [pg. 28-29] The large voting bloc that is hostile to American democracy, using the excuse of faith, can destabilize all of American society.
Dr. Throckmorton takes the time to explain why we believe myths promoted by Christian Nationalism. The myths sound convincing, and our need to belong in community and be part of something bigger than ourselves makes the myths powerful. Can we, by understanding more, change our identity? Perhaps, but it will not be easy. The first task he works through is that the nature of group identity has built Christian Nationalism and makes its members tremendously vulnerable to propaganda and what is called “groupthink”.
Like a counselor who helps us to dive into the origins of our habits, Dr. Throckmorton goes into the history hijacked by this ideology. Support for this thinking is rooted in flawed history and theology. Through these tools, the author identifies seven myths of our past and faith that need to be worked out of our thinking. These myths touch on our national founding, politically and culturally. The nature of the founding generation and a false belief in their religion’s orientation. Myth four is the founding myth of a conscious Christian republic. I remember reading Samual Adams desiring the United States to become a Christian Sparta, which is a profound oxymoron. Other myths will take us to the use of public education to demand universal adherence to a particular version of Protestant Christianity, or that most insidiously, our national “virtues” justify our national sins.
The Christian Past that Wasn’t: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History, by Warren Throckmorton
Growing up within a very patriotic church and family culture, I did not need to be asked twice to read an advance copy of a book to guide those like me in identifying the false myths of my youth. Attending a Christian college that required we grasp why we believed the Christian message and to devote ourselves to integrating the message of the Gospel with our lifelong learning. I became a historian as the fruit of a lifelong love of studying the past. As a result of integrating my faith with learning, I saw the flaws in what we commonly call Christian Nationalism. Especially that linked to the white American Church.
Dr. Throckmorton opens his book by giving readers the definitions of Christian Nationalism. Not only is it a real thing (that some deny), but it has been with us in the United States and elsewhere. It is an ideology that merges a form of Christianity with the compulsion of the state. Christian Nationalism seeks to build a select and unified culture, but the gospel seeks to put everything to rights and unify us as children of God. This ideology is the opposite of the Gospel. Why is this a problem? It is the documented belief that those holding Christian Nationalist beliefs are much more prone to resort to violence to enforce their own variant of Christianity. [pg. 28-29] The large voting bloc that is hostile to American democracy, using the excuse of faith, can destabilize all of American society.
Dr. Throckmorton takes the time to explain why we believe myths promoted by Christian Nationalism. The myths sound convincing, and our need to belong in community and be part of something bigger than ourselves makes the myths powerful. Can we, by understanding more, change our identity? Perhaps, but it will not be easy. The first task he works through is that the nature of group identity has built Christian Nationalism and makes its members tremendously vulnerable to propaganda and what is called “groupthink”.
Like a counselor who helps us to dive into the origins of our habits, Dr. Throckmorton goes into the history hijacked by this ideology. Support for this thinking is rooted in flawed history and theology. Through these tools, the author identifies seven myths of our past and faith that need to be worked out of our thinking. These myths touch on our national founding, politically and culturally. The nature of the founding generation and a false belief in their religion’s orientation. Myth four is the founding myth of a conscious Christian republic. I remember reading Samual Adams desiring the United States to become a Christian Sparta, which is a profound oxymoron. Other myths will take us to the use of public education to demand universal adherence to a particular version of Protestant Christianity, or that most insidiously, our national “virtues” justify our national sins.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Just finished reading my advance copy of The Christian Past that Wasn't: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths that Hijack History , written by Warren Throckmorton. I hope to write a lengthier review soon (subscribe to atberg.substack.com to see that!), but here’s a few quick thoughts:
First, I loved the thorough use of primary documents. I majored in history in college, but I was blown away by the facts in here and Throckmorton’s close analysis of many, many primary documents. One of the most mind-blowing quotes was on page 161 from the the Treaty of Tripoli, ratified by the US Senate and signed by President John Adams in 1797: "As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religious, or tranquility of [Muslims], ... it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries." I don’t think that treaty would ever be ratified by the Senate nowadays!
Secondly, I appreciated his specific debunkings of Christian nationalist talking points put forth by people like David Barton, Mike Johnson, and others. I grew up hearing and repeating a lot of these talking points, which, thanks to people like David Barton, I thought were based on historical fact. This book debunks a lot of things that I still believed and thought were correct. Throckmorton shows how through deliberate omission, cherry-picking, and outright lying, Christian nationalists make the Founding Fathers appear much more orthodox (and more in favor of a “Christian nation”) than they actually were.
Third, I am grateful that Throckmorton emphasizes that separation of church and state is ultimately as much for the good of the Church as it is for the government. Repeatedly throughout this work, Throckmorton highlights how America’s founders eventually reacted against the concept of state-sponsored churches. While many colonies had official churches when they first started, by the early 1800s all of them had amended their laws to reject any establishment of one faith over the rest. Thus, instead of looking to the Massachusetts colony, Throckmorton points us to the Rhode Island colony as a more truly American colony, as it protected freedom of worship and freedom of conscience for all, including Quakers and other religious minorities.
In a year when many of us will be looking back at the 250th anniversary of the US’ founding, it’s worth taking the time to get the history right. This book helps with that.
First, I loved the thorough use of primary documents. I majored in history in college, but I was blown away by the facts in here and Throckmorton’s close analysis of many, many primary documents. One of the most mind-blowing quotes was on page 161 from the the Treaty of Tripoli, ratified by the US Senate and signed by President John Adams in 1797: "As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religious, or tranquility of [Muslims], ... it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries." I don’t think that treaty would ever be ratified by the Senate nowadays!
Secondly, I appreciated his specific debunkings of Christian nationalist talking points put forth by people like David Barton, Mike Johnson, and others. I grew up hearing and repeating a lot of these talking points, which, thanks to people like David Barton, I thought were based on historical fact. This book debunks a lot of things that I still believed and thought were correct. Throckmorton shows how through deliberate omission, cherry-picking, and outright lying, Christian nationalists make the Founding Fathers appear much more orthodox (and more in favor of a “Christian nation”) than they actually were.
Third, I am grateful that Throckmorton emphasizes that separation of church and state is ultimately as much for the good of the Church as it is for the government. Repeatedly throughout this work, Throckmorton highlights how America’s founders eventually reacted against the concept of state-sponsored churches. While many colonies had official churches when they first started, by the early 1800s all of them had amended their laws to reject any establishment of one faith over the rest. Thus, instead of looking to the Massachusetts colony, Throckmorton points us to the Rhode Island colony as a more truly American colony, as it protected freedom of worship and freedom of conscience for all, including Quakers and other religious minorities.
In a year when many of us will be looking back at the 250th anniversary of the US’ founding, it’s worth taking the time to get the history right. This book helps with that.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If anyone ever tells you that history is a useless subject with no bearing on the real world, then I think I could offer this book as a counter-example to that claim.
Christians should care about truth, and so they should care when history is misused or lied about. Throckmorton addresses many American tales that are either misrepresented or simply made up. These include:
- The Constitutional Convention opening its sessions with prayers at Benjamin Franklin’s urging (it ignored Franklin’s calls and continued without prayer).
- The mythical James Madison quote that “We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government... [but] upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves... according to the Ten Commandments of God.”
- George Washington praying at Valley Forge (this is later mythmaking).
- The Founders were, by and large, orthodox Christians (any claims to Jefferson, Adams, or Franklin’s orthodoxy are awful representations of their patently unorthodox beliefs; Founders are a mixed bag, but many could be considered theistic rationalists).
- The Bible is quoted verbatim in the Constitution (it simply isn’t, and anyone who knows their Bible should be able to see that readily enough).
I can, for the most part, wholeheartedly recommend the historical conclusions (I find his handling of education questions to be somewhat prejudicial). I wish that more conservative Christian laypeople would not be led astray by people like David Barton (Throckmorton addresses Barton far more than anyone else throughout the book), and I wish that they would value the accurate telling of history over politically useful interpretations. To that end, I can applaud Throckmorton’s work.
However, I am afraid that Throckmorton will largely be preaching to the choir. His tone is polemical, sarcastic, and downright uncharitable at many points. “Christian nationalists” are painted with a wide brush. White Protestants are typically the bad guys of history. Throckmorton will not be heard by the audience that most likely would benefit most from having myths about America’s founding dispelled, and that, to me, seems to limit the value of the book.
Christians should care about truth, and so they should care when history is misused or lied about. Throckmorton addresses many American tales that are either misrepresented or simply made up. These include:
- The Constitutional Convention opening its sessions with prayers at Benjamin Franklin’s urging (it ignored Franklin’s calls and continued without prayer).
- The mythical James Madison quote that “We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government... [but] upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves... according to the Ten Commandments of God.”
- George Washington praying at Valley Forge (this is later mythmaking).
- The Founders were, by and large, orthodox Christians (any claims to Jefferson, Adams, or Franklin’s orthodoxy are awful representations of their patently unorthodox beliefs; Founders are a mixed bag, but many could be considered theistic rationalists).
- The Bible is quoted verbatim in the Constitution (it simply isn’t, and anyone who knows their Bible should be able to see that readily enough).
I can, for the most part, wholeheartedly recommend the historical conclusions (I find his handling of education questions to be somewhat prejudicial). I wish that more conservative Christian laypeople would not be led astray by people like David Barton (Throckmorton addresses Barton far more than anyone else throughout the book), and I wish that they would value the accurate telling of history over politically useful interpretations. To that end, I can applaud Throckmorton’s work.
However, I am afraid that Throckmorton will largely be preaching to the choir. His tone is polemical, sarcastic, and downright uncharitable at many points. “Christian nationalists” are painted with a wide brush. White Protestants are typically the bad guys of history. Throckmorton will not be heard by the audience that most likely would benefit most from having myths about America’s founding dispelled, and that, to me, seems to limit the value of the book.
July 10, 2026
Written by a former professor at a Christian college, this book looks at some of the important myths of American history, and explains the context and untruths within them. The author focuses on myths that the Founding Fathers were evangelical Christians, who deliberately founded the United States on Christianity. I had heard some of these myths before, but was not as familiar with the organizations and writers/speakers who this book focused on. I think many of these writers/speakers who promote the idea of the United States as an exclusively Christian nation work through more mainstream Christian writers and thinkers to promote their ideas. The author talks about this a bit, but doesn't go in to detail.
The myths that I know the most about are the ones related to George Washington. To be fair, he was a church member throughout his life (he was a vestryman in the church where I had my wedding), so he was likely more orthodox in his beliefs than many of the other Founding Fathers, such as Jefferson or Franklin. But, his step-granddaughter (as well as other family members of the next generation) had an evangelical conversion later in life, and sought to recast Washington as a kind of proto-evangelical. That is where the stories about chopping down the cherry tree, the prayer at Valley Forge, etc came from. I think these were generally seen as harmless eccentricities, but are now taking on a much darker tone.
I would have liked the author to talk more about how these myths often went from somewhat harmless to being used in vicious ways over time. He is more focused on confronting the myths themselves, and providing evidence that they are inaccurate. This is important, and I commend him for doing so. However, I think there are other parts of the story that should be discussed as well. I also noticed that the author did not discuss the charismatic movement, and the role that it plays in perpetuating these myths (and introducing some of them to more mainstream Christians).
Overall, I think this was a good book, but could have been better with some additional material included.
The myths that I know the most about are the ones related to George Washington. To be fair, he was a church member throughout his life (he was a vestryman in the church where I had my wedding), so he was likely more orthodox in his beliefs than many of the other Founding Fathers, such as Jefferson or Franklin. But, his step-granddaughter (as well as other family members of the next generation) had an evangelical conversion later in life, and sought to recast Washington as a kind of proto-evangelical. That is where the stories about chopping down the cherry tree, the prayer at Valley Forge, etc came from. I think these were generally seen as harmless eccentricities, but are now taking on a much darker tone.
I would have liked the author to talk more about how these myths often went from somewhat harmless to being used in vicious ways over time. He is more focused on confronting the myths themselves, and providing evidence that they are inaccurate. This is important, and I commend him for doing so. However, I think there are other parts of the story that should be discussed as well. I also noticed that the author did not discuss the charismatic movement, and the role that it plays in perpetuating these myths (and introducing some of them to more mainstream Christians).
Overall, I think this was a good book, but could have been better with some additional material included.
May 21, 2026
The Christian Past That Wasn't: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History by Warren Throckmorton
This book is a contemporary look at an issue that resurfaces regularly in American history and is, in my opinion, in a more destructive phase than has been previously. I think this is an excellent scholarly (but still accessible) survey of common misconceptions, cherished Christian/Political folklore about our founding and Founding Fathers.
These ideas are pervasive in the white evangelical Christian context. That is a world I grew up in and am still a part of in many ways. I literally grew up listening to cassette tapes of speakers as well as the occasional book that attempted to lay out the Christian faith of the Founding Fathers and thus conclude that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. In my youth I accepted it as feeling right, but also felt it was uncomfortably thin. The original material they were working from was never as explicit as you would expect. This book has confirmed what I had learned over the years that the reality was far more complex and that the Founders intentionally did not attempt to found a Christian nation. That isn't to say they didn't value virtue and Christian values in the populace, but the Constitution and Declaration were not structured to shape the nation to be a Christian nation or to favor one religion over another.
Additionally Throckmorton does a good job of applying his psychology background to take a human look at what convinces well intentioned folks to fall sway to Christian Nationalism not to mention general groupthink. I would strongly recommend this book to others.
I'm grateful to Broadleaf Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This book is a contemporary look at an issue that resurfaces regularly in American history and is, in my opinion, in a more destructive phase than has been previously. I think this is an excellent scholarly (but still accessible) survey of common misconceptions, cherished Christian/Political folklore about our founding and Founding Fathers.
These ideas are pervasive in the white evangelical Christian context. That is a world I grew up in and am still a part of in many ways. I literally grew up listening to cassette tapes of speakers as well as the occasional book that attempted to lay out the Christian faith of the Founding Fathers and thus conclude that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. In my youth I accepted it as feeling right, but also felt it was uncomfortably thin. The original material they were working from was never as explicit as you would expect. This book has confirmed what I had learned over the years that the reality was far more complex and that the Founders intentionally did not attempt to found a Christian nation. That isn't to say they didn't value virtue and Christian values in the populace, but the Constitution and Declaration were not structured to shape the nation to be a Christian nation or to favor one religion over another.
Additionally Throckmorton does a good job of applying his psychology background to take a human look at what convinces well intentioned folks to fall sway to Christian Nationalism not to mention general groupthink. I would strongly recommend this book to others.
I'm grateful to Broadleaf Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
The Christian Past That Wasn’t discusses the myth that America is a Christian nation. In this book, the author argues America was not founded as a Christian nation and explains the reasons why. Christian nationalists are usually the ones propagating these myths and Throckmorton has a long history of debunking these myths. He fact-checked David Barton’s book, The Jefferson Lies which led to the publisher pulling it from shelves. Throckmorton discusses the separation of Church and State and why people believe America was founded as a Christian nation. He debunks seven myths in this book such as the myth that America is a Christian nation because the colonies had State churches and the myth that the founders created a Christian government.
In a world where the American Secretary of Defense read a fake Bible verse from Pulp Fiction, it has never been more important to fact check Christianity. I have an interest in this topic because I think fake myths about Christianity ultimately push people away from the religion. I think this book is an important read and I learnt a lot from it. This book easily debunks myths about America and Christianity so I would say this is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in this topic. This is written well and it was easy to understand. My only issue with this book is that it was a little bit boring at times and sometimes I did start to lose focus reading this. That said, this stayed on topic and shows how people accidentally as well as purposefully mislead people on Christian beliefs about America. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
The Christian Past That Wasn’t discusses the myth that America is a Christian nation. In this book, the author argues America was not founded as a Christian nation and explains the reasons why. Christian nationalists are usually the ones propagating these myths and Throckmorton has a long history of debunking these myths. He fact-checked David Barton’s book, The Jefferson Lies which led to the publisher pulling it from shelves. Throckmorton discusses the separation of Church and State and why people believe America was founded as a Christian nation. He debunks seven myths in this book such as the myth that America is a Christian nation because the colonies had State churches and the myth that the founders created a Christian government.
In a world where the American Secretary of Defense read a fake Bible verse from Pulp Fiction, it has never been more important to fact check Christianity. I have an interest in this topic because I think fake myths about Christianity ultimately push people away from the religion. I think this book is an important read and I learnt a lot from it. This book easily debunks myths about America and Christianity so I would say this is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in this topic. This is written well and it was easy to understand. My only issue with this book is that it was a little bit boring at times and sometimes I did start to lose focus reading this. That said, this stayed on topic and shows how people accidentally as well as purposefully mislead people on Christian beliefs about America. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
June 29, 2026
Was the United States founded as a Christian nation? Did the Founders truly envision our country as a Christian haven meant for the furtherance of the Gospel and the establishment of the Kingdom of God here on earth?
Dr. Warren Throckmorton addresses these questions in his new book The Christian Past that Wasn't. His answer is an emphatic 'no.' No the United States was not founded as a Christian nation and no there was no mandate to establish it as such.
Much like in his previous volume Getting Jefferson Right, Throckmorton again and again demonstrates how the Christian Nationalists get it wrong. They distort the facts, they distort the past and make it into a fiction of their own fantasy.
Throckmorton divides his book into dealing with 'myths,' that are put forward by Christian Nationalists. He provides the evidence that disproves what the CN are saying and then provides a positive reconstruction of that history based on fact.
His writing is easy, fluid and avoids academic jargon. He deals with current ideas and demonstrates definitively why the Christian Nationalist agenda is defunct.
Because it deals with historic fact, members of MAGA and Turning Point USA may object vehemently to this. Also because it is written on a high school level, it may be inaccessible to the above mentioned crowd.
I highly recommend this book to all who are interested in American history, the issue of Church and State and for Christians who seek to understand their faith a bit more.
Grade: A
Dr. Warren Throckmorton addresses these questions in his new book The Christian Past that Wasn't. His answer is an emphatic 'no.' No the United States was not founded as a Christian nation and no there was no mandate to establish it as such.
Much like in his previous volume Getting Jefferson Right, Throckmorton again and again demonstrates how the Christian Nationalists get it wrong. They distort the facts, they distort the past and make it into a fiction of their own fantasy.
Throckmorton divides his book into dealing with 'myths,' that are put forward by Christian Nationalists. He provides the evidence that disproves what the CN are saying and then provides a positive reconstruction of that history based on fact.
His writing is easy, fluid and avoids academic jargon. He deals with current ideas and demonstrates definitively why the Christian Nationalist agenda is defunct.
Because it deals with historic fact, members of MAGA and Turning Point USA may object vehemently to this. Also because it is written on a high school level, it may be inaccessible to the above mentioned crowd.
I highly recommend this book to all who are interested in American history, the issue of Church and State and for Christians who seek to understand their faith a bit more.
Grade: A
July 11, 2026
Prior to reading this book, I knew nothing of Warren Throckmorton or his book "Getting Jefferson Right" or the book it sought to correct "The Jefferson Lies" and its author, David Barton. With this in mind, I had no idea what I was getting into. To be sure, everything shared about David Barton in this book is eye-opening, but after learning that the two authors' relationship spans decades, this book feel like the most recent entry in a personal vendetta. And look, I understand that Barton represents a stand-in for the Christian nationalist movement here. The stories about him are meant to be didactic and each personal anecdote meant to carry more weight than say, an objective retelling of the history of the movement and its mythmaking. At the same time, this book ends up feeling like it is unequal parts personal vendetta, history, and myth debunking. The first two chapters feel like extended table setting and center on the Throckmorton-Baron saga. These stories could be appendices, but instead they introduce the reader to the book. That was certainly a choice! Curiously, the first four of the seven myths deal with the founding of the country, while the last two center on more contemporary issues.
There are some genuinely interesting topics covered in this book, so it's frustrating that the author gets in his own way. That so much of this short book is bloated with personal stories or topics that feel tangential to the main thesis is too bad. I would have a hard time recommending this book to anyone.
There are some genuinely interesting topics covered in this book, so it's frustrating that the author gets in his own way. That so much of this short book is bloated with personal stories or topics that feel tangential to the main thesis is too bad. I would have a hard time recommending this book to anyone.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Given that our country is celebrating its 250-year anniversary in 2026, this work is needed and timely. It is an important corrective for us at a time when fake news and false histories are frequently baptized for political gain.
Christian Nationalism does not merely lean on a selective reading of America's past - it depends on a distortion of it. To gain a wider hearing, CN leaders have had to present a dishonest and oversimplified account of our nation's founding, one that collapses complexity into comfortable myths.
This book is not driven by tribal loyalties or political aspirations. And that alone makes it refreshing. Throckmorton reminds us that Christians never need to be afraid of good scholarship, accurate history, or intellectual honesty. In fact, we are called to pursue truth even when it unsettles us or refuses to cooperate with our preferred narratives.
The Christian faith does not require us to distort what is true in order to defend it.
Throckmorton insists that we look at the founding era with integrity and without agenda. If you believe CN leaders are offering an accurate version of history, read this book for yourself and then decide.
Serious Christians - and serious patriots - should welcome the opportunity to ground their convictions in reality rather than rhetoric. TCPTW helps us do just that.
Christian Nationalism does not merely lean on a selective reading of America's past - it depends on a distortion of it. To gain a wider hearing, CN leaders have had to present a dishonest and oversimplified account of our nation's founding, one that collapses complexity into comfortable myths.
This book is not driven by tribal loyalties or political aspirations. And that alone makes it refreshing. Throckmorton reminds us that Christians never need to be afraid of good scholarship, accurate history, or intellectual honesty. In fact, we are called to pursue truth even when it unsettles us or refuses to cooperate with our preferred narratives.
The Christian faith does not require us to distort what is true in order to defend it.
Throckmorton insists that we look at the founding era with integrity and without agenda. If you believe CN leaders are offering an accurate version of history, read this book for yourself and then decide.
Serious Christians - and serious patriots - should welcome the opportunity to ground their convictions in reality rather than rhetoric. TCPTW helps us do just that.
September 3, 2026
This is a well researched response to the Christian nationalist movement that want to paint an idyllic picture of the founding of the United States as a Christian nation. Dr. Throckmorton goes step by step to look at the movement's claims and shows they are outright deceptive or clearly playing fast and loose with the facts.
The book is full of quotes and footnotes from a variety of source documents - public records, private letters, speeches, etc. Certainly many of the founding fathers were Christian, although many were not what we would consider orthodox, leaning more towards deism. Even those with strong Christian leanings were careful in creating the new nation to keep the government out of religion. Religious tolerance and separation of church and state were clearly foremost in their minds and in their intents.
The writing is clear and accessible. The arguments are clearly debunking other's claims, but the thrust is to make the truth clear, not to degrade the opponents.
The book is full of quotes and footnotes from a variety of source documents - public records, private letters, speeches, etc. Certainly many of the founding fathers were Christian, although many were not what we would consider orthodox, leaning more towards deism. Even those with strong Christian leanings were careful in creating the new nation to keep the government out of religion. Religious tolerance and separation of church and state were clearly foremost in their minds and in their intents.
The writing is clear and accessible. The arguments are clearly debunking other's claims, but the thrust is to make the truth clear, not to degrade the opponents.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Rating: ??
The Publisher Says: Known for his work debunking bad history, author and professor Warren Throckmorton addresses the seven myths Christian nationalists use to falsely claim that America was founded as a Christian nation, in order to equip readers to counter these claims.
America was not founded as a Christian nation.
Who gains what from myths about the past? Why are many of us susceptible to their power? And how can the truth about a nation's past prevail? In this lively book, Warren Throckmorton, coauthor of Getting Jefferson Right, investigates the gloss that Christian nationalist storytellers put on history and equips readers to debunk seven myths that they propagate.
Working in the tradition of muckraking journalists, Throckmorton, whose fact-checking of David Barton's book The Jefferson Lies convinced the publisher to pull it from the shelves, picks a fight with fables told about the past by those who are trying to erase the separation of church and state. Did the Puritans actually establish a covenant with God, and were all the founders evangelical Christians? Are the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution based on the Bible, and did delegates at the constitutional convention in Philadelphia actually kneel for daily prayers? With keen attention to primary sources, Throckmorton dismantles the myths, piece by historical piece. And he asks: How are the genocide of Indigenous people and enslavement of millions of Africans not definitive repudiations of some righteous Christian past?
It's never been more important to understand why myths about the past wield so much force--and whom those myths empower. White Christian nationalism thrives on origin stories, and Throckmorton equips readers to debunk the false ones. The real heritage of America is neither as a Christian state nor pure secularism; it is a more nuanced story, he says, one of religious tolerance and pluralism. To understand Christian nationalism, we must know the power of myth. To counter it, we must know the facts.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: It's very important to wrench the religious conversation back from the control of the christofascists currently blaring their hate and the behavior-controlling it requires from behind the armor of the cross. It pays all of us to attend to their spreading of fallacies, lies, and evil-souled misdirections from their purported holy book to the people who look to it for guidance.
I am so very far from being the target audience that I felt seasick, repulsed, and enraged that anyone could actually buy this guff at all that I had to stop reading or risk more strokes. I had the last, sickest lurch during the discussion of David Barton's The Jefferson Lies. (If you don't know about it, maybe look it up in incognito mode.)
Broadleaf Books brings this book out on 19 May 2026. Don't let my readerly failings dissuade you from reading it then.
The Publisher Says: Known for his work debunking bad history, author and professor Warren Throckmorton addresses the seven myths Christian nationalists use to falsely claim that America was founded as a Christian nation, in order to equip readers to counter these claims.
America was not founded as a Christian nation.
Who gains what from myths about the past? Why are many of us susceptible to their power? And how can the truth about a nation's past prevail? In this lively book, Warren Throckmorton, coauthor of Getting Jefferson Right, investigates the gloss that Christian nationalist storytellers put on history and equips readers to debunk seven myths that they propagate.
Working in the tradition of muckraking journalists, Throckmorton, whose fact-checking of David Barton's book The Jefferson Lies convinced the publisher to pull it from the shelves, picks a fight with fables told about the past by those who are trying to erase the separation of church and state. Did the Puritans actually establish a covenant with God, and were all the founders evangelical Christians? Are the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution based on the Bible, and did delegates at the constitutional convention in Philadelphia actually kneel for daily prayers? With keen attention to primary sources, Throckmorton dismantles the myths, piece by historical piece. And he asks: How are the genocide of Indigenous people and enslavement of millions of Africans not definitive repudiations of some righteous Christian past?
It's never been more important to understand why myths about the past wield so much force--and whom those myths empower. White Christian nationalism thrives on origin stories, and Throckmorton equips readers to debunk the false ones. The real heritage of America is neither as a Christian state nor pure secularism; it is a more nuanced story, he says, one of religious tolerance and pluralism. To understand Christian nationalism, we must know the power of myth. To counter it, we must know the facts.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: It's very important to wrench the religious conversation back from the control of the christofascists currently blaring their hate and the behavior-controlling it requires from behind the armor of the cross. It pays all of us to attend to their spreading of fallacies, lies, and evil-souled misdirections from their purported holy book to the people who look to it for guidance.
I am so very far from being the target audience that I felt seasick, repulsed, and enraged that anyone could actually buy this guff at all that I had to stop reading or risk more strokes. I had the last, sickest lurch during the discussion of David Barton's The Jefferson Lies. (If you don't know about it, maybe look it up in incognito mode.)
Broadleaf Books brings this book out on 19 May 2026. Don't let my readerly failings dissuade you from reading it then.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this from Netgalley. I have always been fascinated with the advent if white Christian nationalism in this country. I have read several books on the subject but this book provides a very clear refutation if many of the points Christian nationalists try to make about the founding of the United States being Christian. The author, Throckmorton, provides exhaustive examples of this not being true. I give him kudos for attacking the arguments nationalists make. This is one of the strongest books out that can be utilized to refute white straight Christians who are trying to hijack the country. My only complaint is he continually brings up author David Barton, a Christian nationalist who appears to be the bane of his existence (he does defend his constant mentioning of him later in the book). This is an important and prescient book for our troubled times.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"The Christian Past That Wasn't: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History" examines the true history of America's founding and what the founders actually believed about the role of religion in government.
I learned a lot from this book. I grew up in the Bible Belt and have heard a number of these myths, from both teachers and church leaders. I have long suspected that these claims weren't entirely true, but I didn't have the knowledge to debunk them. I really liked the examination of primary documents, including notes from the Constitutional Convention.
My main critique is of the writing style. The way Throckmorton writes, you are very aware that he is trying to convince you of something. He often references the reader. It felt a little like reading someone's persuasive essay in English class. I wish he had been a little more subtle.
Thank you to Broadleaf Books for an advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I learned a lot from this book. I grew up in the Bible Belt and have heard a number of these myths, from both teachers and church leaders. I have long suspected that these claims weren't entirely true, but I didn't have the knowledge to debunk them. I really liked the examination of primary documents, including notes from the Constitutional Convention.
My main critique is of the writing style. The way Throckmorton writes, you are very aware that he is trying to convince you of something. He often references the reader. It felt a little like reading someone's persuasive essay in English class. I wish he had been a little more subtle.
Thank you to Broadleaf Books for an advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 23, 2026
This book is two books in one, and I imagine that readers will love one thread or the other.. For me, Dr. Throckmorton is at his best talking about the psychological lures of Christian nationalism -- or any kind of extremism. His idea that Christian nationalism is "threat management" is really interesting. Frightened people embrace extreme views.
The other part of the book, debunking fake Christian history, and fact-checking pretend scholars and the groups that support them, was a bumpy ride for me. People in this world will recognize the names, and be controversies, and find this part illuminating. For me, that was less interesting than the psychology. I did really appreciate the idea that a lot of America's Christian history is fiction, and I'll be wary about accepting these stories in the future.
The other part of the book, debunking fake Christian history, and fact-checking pretend scholars and the groups that support them, was a bumpy ride for me. People in this world will recognize the names, and be controversies, and find this part illuminating. For me, that was less interesting than the psychology. I did really appreciate the idea that a lot of America's Christian history is fiction, and I'll be wary about accepting these stories in the future.
May 29, 2026
It is hard for the common man to know the truth of the claims made today about the founding of the United States. When Christian nationalists became more vocal, Throckmortan began checking their claims, focusing on people like David Barton. He went back to original sources, such as journals to find the truth. He was diligent as he looked for documented evidence. He concludes the founders did not dedicate the US to the Christian God nor establish a preferred religion. He identifies himself as a firm advocate of the separation of church and state. He was a psychologist by career and I found his thoughts on why people are attracted to Christian nationalism to be very insightful.
In this era when it is hard to distinguish truth from myth, Throckmorton's book is a great resource.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.
In this era when it is hard to distinguish truth from myth, Throckmorton's book is a great resource.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.
June 20, 2026
"The Christian Past That Wasn't: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths that Hijack History" by Professor Warren Throckmorton is an extremely valuable book in correcting myths (and sometimes outright lies) in regard to American history and how Christianity factored into the founding of America. Prof Throck reveals how the religious right (he calls them Christian Nationalists) distort history and omit important historical contexts for the founding framers (and others) regarding what they actually believed and what actually influenced the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. There are 7 myths which Prof Throck debunks throughout the course of the book providing a window into *actual* history in a very straightforward manner.
I highly recommend this book as a resource for historical course construction of many of the distortions that we all hear today.
I highly recommend this book as a resource for historical course construction of many of the distortions that we all hear today.
June 12, 2026
Perhaps the most shocking thing I learned here is that 66% of Americans believe that the U.S was founded as a Christian nation, and 81% of evangelicals. I am a Christian, but have always believed our nation was established with clear separation of church and state. Were the founders Christian? I knew for certain some were not, but it's clear effort has been made to remake some as orthodox Christians. This book does exactly what the title states, and it cites the words of the founders themselves in making its case. The author is not a secular thinker, but himself a conservative Christian. His cause is truth, and as Christians shouldn't that take precedence over whatever myth we'd love to belive?
July 15, 2026
This is indeed a debunking masterpiece. I was especially impressed because Throckmorton is an evangelical Christian. If you want a ready reference source to respond to ill-informed letters to editor, newspaper columns, or perhaps friends and relatives, this is it.
His training as a psychologist gives him insights into the appeal of Christian Nationalist myths. He's good a pointing out the downright lies and falsifications of that group, but sometimes does not have the nuance or consideration of historical context that we'd expect of a professional historian.
His training as a psychologist gives him insights into the appeal of Christian Nationalist myths. He's good a pointing out the downright lies and falsifications of that group, but sometimes does not have the nuance or consideration of historical context that we'd expect of a professional historian.
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