A God-Shaped Nation: Five Hundred Years of Religion in America

by Brook Wilensky-Lanford

A kaleidoscopic history that shows how the quest to worship freely became one of the nation’s most vexing tensions, shaping life for believers and nonbelievers alike.

It seemed a vast, bountiful continent appeared to Europeans just as religious turmoil was reaching a fever pitch in their own. Spanish Catholics, British Protestants, and French Jesuits all set their hopes on this “new world.” Yet it was a land already settled by indigenous people with their own religious life. Soon it teemed not just with rival Christian sects but with immigrants and enslaved people who brought a global array of beliefs with them. It didn’t take long for Americans to begin spinning out faiths all their Mormonism, Christian Science, Spiritualism, and the apocalyptic Millerism that had followers waiting in vain for Jesus’s return on a rainy October night in 1844.

In A God-Shaped Nation, Brook Wilensky-Lanford reveals how religion in all its manifestations has been at the heart of the nation’s deepest divides and its moments of transcendent unity. The history she unfurls is not bound by the walls of temples, synagogues, mosques, and churches. There is Anne Hutchinson, preaching in her parlor in defiance of colonial Puritan clergy; Reform rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise shocking his kosher guests at an 1883 banquet by serving soft-shell crab; Wovoka, the Paiute man from whose prophecy emerges the Ghost Dance movement; and the Chinese immigrants whose pantheon of Daoist gods offered protection over their backbreaking work constructing the transcontinental railroad.

Following both the leaders of religious movements and the everyday people who brought them alive, Wilensky-Lanford shows that no area of American life—not even the most secular—has been untouched by the push-and-pull of religious freedom.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Religion

672 pages, Hardcover

First published June 9, 2026

About the author

Brook Wilensky-Lanford is a religion writer, editor, and teacher. She is the author of A God-Shaped Nation: Five Hundred Years of Religion in America, forthcoming in June 2026; and Paradise Lust: Searching for the Garden of Eden, a 2011 New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice; both are by Grove Press. A former managing editor of the twenty-five-year-old literary magazine Killing the Buddha, Brook's work has been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, The New Republic, and elsewhere. Currently the Associate Director of Sacred Writes Public Scholarship, she holds an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from Columbia University, and a PhD in Religion in the Americas from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she lives.

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bigoted Polemic. Just 105 days ago, I wrote of Chosen Land by Matthew Avery Sutton that "his assessment told only half the story" - and this tale tells even less in most ways, while at the same time genuinely showing more in some. Covering 500 or so years in a span of just under 700 pages (including roughly 15% bibliography, meeting at least that standard, though really there should have been even more, given some of the claims herein), there really is virtually no way to really cover "religion in America" in even a very shallow depth and do it evenly over that time period in that few pages. Yes, that few. At nearly 700 pages. So any attempt at all is to be commended at least for the undertaking.

Unfortunately that is about the only commendable thing here, as Wilensky-Lanford shows balance only in showing many different religions over that history period, rather than Sutton's focus on Christianity in a more condensed period. (And to be clear, his text was almost exactly the same page count as Wilensky-Lanford's, with about 2/3 the bibliography.) Devoting roughly half of the narrative of a near 700 page book purporting to cover 500 years of religious history in America to the last 80 ish years of that period is a choice. Choosing to editorialize virtually every move made my virtually anyone white and/ or Southern and/ or conservative as racist or otherwise vile is a choice - and a blatantly bigoted one. Going so far as to cast aspersions on the much revered Billy Graham long after his death is a choice, and a bigoted one. Promoting the propaganda of an "insurrection" on Jan 6, 2021 is a choice. Promoting the "Project 2025" conspiracy theory that is nothing more than a leftist version of the ultra right wing "QAnon" *that fueled the very event you claim is an "insurrection"* is a choice.

Now, for those who happen to agree with Wilensky-Lanford's choices here... you're going to have a better overall experience with this text. You need to read *better* and *more balanced* histories too, but you'll enjoy reading this one. Even for those who vehemently disagree with the choices herein, you too will likely learn some things - even I hadn't been aware of much of the Taino religious practices that Wilensky-Lanford covers in this text, and indeed even as recently in the history as the early Civil Rights period, there are indeed some events covered even I wasn't aware of. And yet, even with these inclusions and even as flawed as it is, Sutton's history is still a far more comprehensive one, covering many of the developments within Christianity in America Wilensky-Lanford does here in at least a *somewhat* more balanced fashion.

To be clear, the star deductions are thus for these reasons: one star lost for focusing far too much of the narrative on such a small slice of the overall time period in question, one star lost for such blatant and pervasive bigotry, one star lost for lack of coverage of even ostensibly favorable events that didn't fit well within the bigoted perspective and even several that fit well within it (speaking to women's movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries among both white and colored communities in forcing some of the changes Wilensky-Lanford later highlights and even praises here), and one star deduction for losing any sense of objective historical reporting at all once the narrative moves closer to and into the 21st century.

Ultimately, I leave it to you, the reader of this review and potentially of this book. Even for all of its problems, again, there are absolutely a few flecks within this text of things that you will almost certainly genuinely learn about for the first time. Unfortunately you really do have to wade through an entire decade's worth of industrial bovine *and* porcine excrement to find them. That isn't a gold mine *I* would choose to dig through again. But if you do choose to read this book, please do leave a review wherever you see this one. Maybe I'm too gentle on Wilensky-Lanford here. Maybe I have no fucking clue what I'm talking about and am the world's biggest absolute fucking moron. Feel free to call me out, should you feel the need. But please do leave that review if you choose to read this book.

Not recommended.

[KRISTEN CONNELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

A God-Shaped Nation: Five Hundred Years of Religion in America by Brook Wilensky Lanford is a sweeping, insightful, and beautifully researched history that explores the profound influence of religion on the development of the United States. Spanning five centuries of cultural, political, and spiritual transformation, Wilensky-Lanford examines how diverse religious traditions, competing beliefs, and the enduring pursuit of religious freedom have shaped the nation's identity. The result is an ambitious and deeply engaging work that offers readers a richer understanding of America's complex religious landscape and its lasting impact on public life.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its extraordinary breadth. Rather than focusing on a single faith tradition or historical period, Wilensky-Lanford presents a panoramic narrative that includes Indigenous spiritual traditions, European Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Asian religions, new religious movements, and countless other expressions of faith. This expansive approach reflects the remarkable diversity that has characterized American religious life since its earliest beginnings.

Particularly compelling is the author's exploration of religious freedom as both an ideal and an ongoing source of tension. Wilensky-Lanford demonstrates that the promise of religious liberty has inspired extraordinary innovation, resilience, and social change while also generating conflict, exclusion, and political debate. By examining these competing forces, the book presents religious freedom not as a settled achievement but as an evolving principle that continues to shape American society.

Another notable strength is the book's emphasis on the experiences of both prominent historical figures and ordinary individuals. Alongside influential religious leaders and reformers, Wilensky-Lanford highlights the stories of immigrants, Indigenous communities, enslaved people, women, and marginalized groups whose beliefs and practices have enriched the nation's spiritual history. This inclusive perspective creates a more complete and nuanced account of America's religious development.

The book also excels in illustrating how religion extends far beyond houses of worship. Wilensky-Lanford reveals how faith has influenced politics, education, social reform, immigration, civil rights, community life, scientific debate, and cultural identity. By tracing these connections across centuries, she demonstrates that religion has consistently intersected with nearly every aspect of American history.

Despite covering an immense historical scope, the writing remains engaging, accessible, and thoughtfully organized. Wilensky-Lanford skillfully balances scholarly research with vivid storytelling, making complex historical developments understandable without sacrificing intellectual depth. Her clear prose invites readers from a wide range of backgrounds to engage with challenging historical questions.

Perhaps the book's most significant contribution is its reminder that America's religious story is fundamentally one of diversity, adaptation, and continual negotiation. Rather than presenting a single narrative, Wilensky-Lanford shows how countless communities have contributed to the nation's evolving spiritual identity, demonstrating that religious pluralism has long been one of America's defining characteristics.

Comprehensive, thought-provoking, and exceptionally well-crafted, A God-Shaped Nation: Five Hundred Years of Religion in America is a remarkable contribution to American history, religious studies, cultural history, and social thought. Brook Wilensky Lanford has produced an essential work for historians, educators, students, religious scholars, policymakers, libraries, and readers seeking a deeper understanding of how religion has shaped and continues to shape the American experience.

[Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book. It takes on a kaleidoscope-level of religion in the United States from the country's creation through the present, sad day. The separation of church and state has been a nebulous goal and the line has wavered throughout the last 500 years. The author similarly treads the line of descriptive and prescriptive, but leans toward historical accuracy. While I am not religious, I appreciate the view that the book takes that religion is intertwined with the United States, for better or worse.

[Jerry Edward Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Religion has long been a central fact of American life. Many Americans have, furthermore, consistently regarded Christianity as a singular defining social and political characteristic. The negative impacts of religion, when they did occur, have often been misunderstood and challenged. The fates of indigenous peoples in the western hemisphere can be only one dramatic example. The author of this new book extensively describes the role religion has played in America since the 1490s. The author has extensive experience teaching and writing about religion in its many facets and holds graduate degrees in nonfiction writing and religion. Her previous book, Paradise Lust: Searching for the Garden of Eden, describes the many attempts at locating the symbolic Biblical feature as a specific geographic spot on Earth. This new book is a history that begins far before the United States as a nation and the adoption of its national constitution which addresses the presence of religion among its First Amendment freedoms. The author writes that the story of religion in America is one of confused teaching, mixed messages, and the real heroism and even martyrdom of individual religious adherents. She addresses the place of diverse religion and religious freedom in America in the face of an almost relentless nationalist Christianity. The author writes of differing religious perspectives on significant historic events. The history begins in 1495 with a small group of Spanish adventurers on the island of Hispaniola. Christopher Columbus was the group’s leader at that time. The expedition included a Catholic priest as well. From that small group would come a vast Spanish colonial empire based in major part on a strong religious impulse and strength. Yet one aim of the early colonizers was to replace and destroy all of the native indigenous religion and religious symbols. The chapter focusing on The Mayflower colonists may be especially illustrative of the impact of religion since there are some thirty-five million who claim family descent from these 1620 colonial settlers. This seems almost like an encyclopedic treatment of history in America. The breadth of ideas and persons written about is truly impressive. Highly recommended for readers who want an understanding of just how religion fits in and impacts our entire American life.