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The Second Mayflower: How Christian Ethics Can Restore Our Freedom
Four hundred years ago, a ship landed on the shores of New England bearing a fledgling band of people, committed to living life by the principles of God's Word. This people eventually formed a nation conceived in liberty and blessed by God. Now four hundred years later, their vision has almost faded. Liberty is dying. Humanism dominates. The family, by all indices, has disintegrated. But there still beats within the hearts of a remnant in this nation, the principles of the First Mayflower. In this 300 page manifesto, author Kevin Swanson lays out a vision by which the values of faith, family, and freedom may be salvaged for at least one nation for future generations. The voyage of the Second Mayflower is just beginning.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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78 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Swanson
92 books55 followersKevin Swanson is a husband, father, pastor, radio-host, and national speaker. Kevin is the pastor of Reformation Church in Elizabeth, Colorado (ReformationChurch.com).
He also serves as the Director of Generations; a ministry he founded to strengthen Christian families around the country. As a father who wants to leave a godly heritage for his five children, Kevin's passion is to strengthen and encourage families all over the world, and to cast a vision for generations to come.
For the last 13 years Kevin has hosted a daily radio program--Generations Radio-- that reaches families across the U.S. and in over 100 countries.
He also serves as the Director of Generations; a ministry he founded to strengthen Christian families around the country. As a father who wants to leave a godly heritage for his five children, Kevin's passion is to strengthen and encourage families all over the world, and to cast a vision for generations to come.
For the last 13 years Kevin has hosted a daily radio program--Generations Radio-- that reaches families across the U.S. and in over 100 countries.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 17, 2026
*Wow.*
This is a simply amazing book. If I made a list of the top ten books I've read, this would be on it.
There were many, many favorite sections and concepts much too large to include in this review, so I encourage you to pick up a copy and find out for yourself what I'm raving about. ;) I especially liked chapter two, which covers the puritan's view of the discipleship of children in the home, and particularly Cotton Mather's vision for his children as expressed in his 'Father's Resolutions'. There is also a very good section on family economy, and I especially appreciated the part regarding a daughter's role in the 'oikonomia' of the home.
A few favorite quotes:
"Our compacts must be based on the acknowledgement of God as both Creator and Lawgiver, and the Bible as the source of law. Freedom cannot exist without morality, and morality can only be defined by the God who, by definition is the source of morality.
John Knox's dying words were, 'Lord, grant true pastors to Thy kirk.' Such was the last prayer of a great man without whom there would have been no America, no Puritans, no Pilgrims, no Scottish covenanters, no Presbyterians, no Patrick Henry, no Samuel Adams, no George Washington. Could it have been so simple? John Knox's agenda was far from political. All he wanted were more pastors and elders. This is our agenda. Lord grant true pastors to Thy church!
Without freedom, the family and faith cannot survive. Without faith, we will see freedom and family languish. And without family, man will give up on a generational commitment to faith and freedom.
Ultimately, we must turn to the God who is both the One and the Many for the standard of His law. He created to live both as individuals and as corporate units; and His law perfectly balances the liberties of the many with the power of the one political unit."
This is a simply amazing book. If I made a list of the top ten books I've read, this would be on it.
There were many, many favorite sections and concepts much too large to include in this review, so I encourage you to pick up a copy and find out for yourself what I'm raving about. ;) I especially liked chapter two, which covers the puritan's view of the discipleship of children in the home, and particularly Cotton Mather's vision for his children as expressed in his 'Father's Resolutions'. There is also a very good section on family economy, and I especially appreciated the part regarding a daughter's role in the 'oikonomia' of the home.
A few favorite quotes:
"Our compacts must be based on the acknowledgement of God as both Creator and Lawgiver, and the Bible as the source of law. Freedom cannot exist without morality, and morality can only be defined by the God who, by definition is the source of morality.
John Knox's dying words were, 'Lord, grant true pastors to Thy kirk.' Such was the last prayer of a great man without whom there would have been no America, no Puritans, no Pilgrims, no Scottish covenanters, no Presbyterians, no Patrick Henry, no Samuel Adams, no George Washington. Could it have been so simple? John Knox's agenda was far from political. All he wanted were more pastors and elders. This is our agenda. Lord grant true pastors to Thy church!
Without freedom, the family and faith cannot survive. Without faith, we will see freedom and family languish. And without family, man will give up on a generational commitment to faith and freedom.
Ultimately, we must turn to the God who is both the One and the Many for the standard of His law. He created to live both as individuals and as corporate units; and His law perfectly balances the liberties of the many with the power of the one political unit."
December 1, 2013
Mr. Swanson pounds home the truth of the Bible for individuals, families, churches, and nations. A must read for every parent and graduate to catch this grand, generational vision for Christ's victory in all areas of life.
September 3, 2010
This is another of the books that was included in the Great Authors webinar series this year, but I didn’t finish reading it until later in the summer. The Second Mayflower begins with a look back to the impetus behind the first Mayflower. Mr. Swanson remarks, “Men of vision will always seek something better for their children and grandchildren. They will act upon that vision, and that is how history is made.” What an insightful and refreshing perspective in a culture that is so plagued by spiritual myopia!
The book goes on to explore the seeds of destruction that are leading to our downfall as a nation and the growing tyranny that has resulted. For those who would object to such a characterization of our country, Mr. Swanson makes a pointed observation, “…the tyrannized seldom know they are tyrannized, and that is precisely the reason why they are tyrannized.”
Perhaps the thing that I appreciate the most about this book is the way it helped me gain a perspective of the bigger picture of the history and present state of our nation. In particular, although I have been a proponent of home education for years, I feel like I have a renewed understanding of the diametrically opposing philosophies that govern state education versus home education. One of the fundamental purposes of compulsory state education – enacted first in Germany in 1819 and followed soon after by America in 1852 – was to remove children from their families and build a state-centered society. Not only has this been wildly successful, but because we have lost our sense of history, many people today no longer recognize the underlying worldviews that drive the educational choices that are laid before them. Even many in the modern homeschool movement have either forgotten or never fully understood the cultural war in which we are engaged. The homeschool movement, at its heart, is a conscientious objection to a counter-biblical worldview in which the state usurps the roles of family and God.
After laying forth the bleak state of our current affairs, Mr. Swanson spends the latter half of the book sharing his hope and vision with the reader. With his customary frankness, he identifies key problems and then proposes biblical solutions. I appreciated this point, “Those with the strongest commitment to their religion in terms of its application to daily life are usually the ones who are most influential in society, whether it be Muslims or Marxists. If Christians will reclaim this culture for Christ, they must develop a strong sense of God’s requirements on them in all areas of their lives.” While advocating the advancement of the Gospel, Mr. Swanson adds, “A Gospel stripped of a God-centered worldview will not penetrate very far into culture and life.” We can see the veracity of this statement all around us. It’s time for us to do something about it that will really make a difference!
The book goes on to explore the seeds of destruction that are leading to our downfall as a nation and the growing tyranny that has resulted. For those who would object to such a characterization of our country, Mr. Swanson makes a pointed observation, “…the tyrannized seldom know they are tyrannized, and that is precisely the reason why they are tyrannized.”
Perhaps the thing that I appreciate the most about this book is the way it helped me gain a perspective of the bigger picture of the history and present state of our nation. In particular, although I have been a proponent of home education for years, I feel like I have a renewed understanding of the diametrically opposing philosophies that govern state education versus home education. One of the fundamental purposes of compulsory state education – enacted first in Germany in 1819 and followed soon after by America in 1852 – was to remove children from their families and build a state-centered society. Not only has this been wildly successful, but because we have lost our sense of history, many people today no longer recognize the underlying worldviews that drive the educational choices that are laid before them. Even many in the modern homeschool movement have either forgotten or never fully understood the cultural war in which we are engaged. The homeschool movement, at its heart, is a conscientious objection to a counter-biblical worldview in which the state usurps the roles of family and God.
After laying forth the bleak state of our current affairs, Mr. Swanson spends the latter half of the book sharing his hope and vision with the reader. With his customary frankness, he identifies key problems and then proposes biblical solutions. I appreciated this point, “Those with the strongest commitment to their religion in terms of its application to daily life are usually the ones who are most influential in society, whether it be Muslims or Marxists. If Christians will reclaim this culture for Christ, they must develop a strong sense of God’s requirements on them in all areas of their lives.” While advocating the advancement of the Gospel, Mr. Swanson adds, “A Gospel stripped of a God-centered worldview will not penetrate very far into culture and life.” We can see the veracity of this statement all around us. It’s time for us to do something about it that will really make a difference!
July 5, 2013
This was a great introduction to What's Wrong With Western Civilisation and What We Can Do About It.
As an introduction to the issues, and in some ways an apologia for the burgeoning Christian worldview/family reformation movement, it's the only history of the movement so far, and incredibly encouraging to those who might have been wondering what happened to the ideas espoused by men like Francis Schaeffer.
Mr Swanson comments on the Christian roots of our past, the secular downturn, the slow shattering of civilisation, and the need for reformation in church, family, and state. He takes a more concrete approach to the issues than most, calling for a return of fathers, church discipline, and an overhaul of educational strategy.
His chapter on the need for unity and love in the church was outstanding.
This book is scholarly, by turns winsome and remonstrating, warning and encouraging. I need to re-read it, since I heard it in audiobook form and might not have kept up with all the arguments, but I would love to get hard copies of this book into as many hands as possible. It's just great.
As an introduction to the issues, and in some ways an apologia for the burgeoning Christian worldview/family reformation movement, it's the only history of the movement so far, and incredibly encouraging to those who might have been wondering what happened to the ideas espoused by men like Francis Schaeffer.
Mr Swanson comments on the Christian roots of our past, the secular downturn, the slow shattering of civilisation, and the need for reformation in church, family, and state. He takes a more concrete approach to the issues than most, calling for a return of fathers, church discipline, and an overhaul of educational strategy.
His chapter on the need for unity and love in the church was outstanding.
This book is scholarly, by turns winsome and remonstrating, warning and encouraging. I need to re-read it, since I heard it in audiobook form and might not have kept up with all the arguments, but I would love to get hard copies of this book into as many hands as possible. It's just great.
March 15, 2013
Fantastic! I read the edition from 1990's, but I'm sure it's only been tweaked in recent editions. Kevin has a vision based on Puritan idea's to plant a 'second mayflower' in America. Those that want hope for building a future, but don't know how to do that on an individual basis should consider this vision.
February 17, 2016
July 4 was an appropriate day to finish this book. Kevin Swanson calls for the establishment of a new republic, if these United States keep moving on the path toward destruction. This would be a radical, massive undertaking, possible only by the grace of God, as was the first. What are the alternatives? I understand the call.
November 8, 2013
Dangerous in the best way. I love how he talks about what's wrong with the country without getting shrill or bitter or cheesy. He doesn't sit back and whine about government or corporations, either, but shows how change starts with us as individuals, and as families, and as churches.
Read
June 28, 2009Kevin, a friend of mine I am proud to say, identifies the problems in the church in America today and offers some broad based solutions. It's quite readable and pertinent to our time.
February 3, 2014
Awesome, convicting, deep.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews