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Reading the Bible with the Founding Fathers
No book was more accessible or familiar to the American founders than the Bible, and no book was more frequently alluded to or quoted from in the political discourse of the age. How and for what purposes did the founding generation use the Bible? How did the Bible influence their political culture?
Shedding new light on some of the most familiar rhetoric of the founding era, Daniel Dreisbach analyzes the founders' diverse use of scripture, ranging from the literary to the theological. He shows that they looked to the Bible for insights on human nature, civic virtue, political authority, and the rights and duties of citizens, as well as for political and legal models to emulate. They quoted scripture to authorize civil resistance, to invoke divine blessings for righteous nations, and to provide the language of liberty that would be appropriated by patriotic Americans.
Reading the Bible with the Founding Fathers broaches the perennial question of whether the American founding was, to some extent, informed by religious--specifically Christian--ideas. In the sense that the founding generation were members of a biblically literate society that placed the Bible at the center of culture and discourse, the answer to that question is clearly "yes." Ignoring the Bible's influence on the founders, Dreisbach warns, produces a distorted image of the American political experiment, and of the concept of self-government on which America is built.
Shedding new light on some of the most familiar rhetoric of the founding era, Daniel Dreisbach analyzes the founders' diverse use of scripture, ranging from the literary to the theological. He shows that they looked to the Bible for insights on human nature, civic virtue, political authority, and the rights and duties of citizens, as well as for political and legal models to emulate. They quoted scripture to authorize civil resistance, to invoke divine blessings for righteous nations, and to provide the language of liberty that would be appropriated by patriotic Americans.
Reading the Bible with the Founding Fathers broaches the perennial question of whether the American founding was, to some extent, informed by religious--specifically Christian--ideas. In the sense that the founding generation were members of a biblically literate society that placed the Bible at the center of culture and discourse, the answer to that question is clearly "yes." Ignoring the Bible's influence on the founders, Dreisbach warns, produces a distorted image of the American political experiment, and of the concept of self-government on which America is built.
344 pages, Hardcover
Published December 1, 2016
43 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 28, 2017
I have been so amazed by this book that I have had to look and reassure myself that it is a Oxford University Publication. One might think that a conservative Christian publisher had produced the book. This is a vital contribution to studies of our founders, the early years of the country, and the influence of the Bible on our culture.
September 27, 2023
This is not a casual read, but it is worthwhile.
Gradually, we have become a secular nation. And we may assume that it's always been secular. Most people seem to strongly believe Franklin and Jefferson were adamant in removing religion from the infant country's thinking, but the references are clearly not supportive of this bad notion. Franklin, by the way, was the one who led the charge for prayer in the first Continental Congress.
Despite modern America's desire to remove God from our thinking, it was an essential part of our beginning.
There are few surprises in this book—the title is accurate and, again, this is not casual reading. But, as a follower of Jesus, it is nice to know how it began in the days before these thirteen colonies became the United States of America.
Gradually, we have become a secular nation. And we may assume that it's always been secular. Most people seem to strongly believe Franklin and Jefferson were adamant in removing religion from the infant country's thinking, but the references are clearly not supportive of this bad notion. Franklin, by the way, was the one who led the charge for prayer in the first Continental Congress.
Despite modern America's desire to remove God from our thinking, it was an essential part of our beginning.
There are few surprises in this book—the title is accurate and, again, this is not casual reading. But, as a follower of Jesus, it is nice to know how it began in the days before these thirteen colonies became the United States of America.
March 11, 2023
Throughout my years of being a Christian, I have heard from multiple sources that the Bible was widely influential in the founding of this country. Until this book, I had never taken the time to dive into this topic and research it myself. Overall, this book was a helpful “first book” for me to read on the topic. Reading the Bible with the Founding Fathers is more than an introductory book, but it is a simple enough read and not too academic. A few takeaways below:
1) regardless of whether you believe in the Christian faith, this book (and others) really unpack and provide evidence of how much the Bible permeated the culture and thinking of colonial America. Although not all of the founding fathers were Bible believing Christians, the majority of them held a high regard of the Bible and, at a minimum, thought it’s moral standards and teaching should be followed. Dreisbach did a great job of covering a wide variety of people. From people like Washington & Adams who were open about their faith to Jefferson who was more of a skeptic/opponent (yet still respected Scripture).
2) it is interesting to how Dreisbach lays out the connection between Protestant thinking and self-governance. Essentially, there is a chain between Protestant Theology -> individuals reading the Bible (which differs than Catholic theology at that time) -> Bible reading leading to increased literacy -> increased literacy leading to increased education -> increased education leading to the recognizing the concept self-governance and carrying it out.
3) Dreisbach does a good job using original texts from speeches/letters/etc. along with many references to specific Bible passages to make his arguments and build the case.
4) Overall, the book is a little boring at times, but features great information and paints a helpful picture of the Bible’s role in the country’s founding.
1) regardless of whether you believe in the Christian faith, this book (and others) really unpack and provide evidence of how much the Bible permeated the culture and thinking of colonial America. Although not all of the founding fathers were Bible believing Christians, the majority of them held a high regard of the Bible and, at a minimum, thought it’s moral standards and teaching should be followed. Dreisbach did a great job of covering a wide variety of people. From people like Washington & Adams who were open about their faith to Jefferson who was more of a skeptic/opponent (yet still respected Scripture).
2) it is interesting to how Dreisbach lays out the connection between Protestant thinking and self-governance. Essentially, there is a chain between Protestant Theology -> individuals reading the Bible (which differs than Catholic theology at that time) -> Bible reading leading to increased literacy -> increased literacy leading to increased education -> increased education leading to the recognizing the concept self-governance and carrying it out.
3) Dreisbach does a good job using original texts from speeches/letters/etc. along with many references to specific Bible passages to make his arguments and build the case.
4) Overall, the book is a little boring at times, but features great information and paints a helpful picture of the Bible’s role in the country’s founding.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2017
Thorough overview of Founding Fathers and bible with some useful historical background, but slightly stitched together and very repetitive
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews