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Forged in Faith: How Faith Shaped the Birth of the Nation 1607-1776
This fascinating history, based on meticulous research into the correspondence and documentation of the founding fathers leading up to and encompassing the crafting of the Declaration of Independence, sheds light on how the Judeo-Christian worldview motivated America’s founding fathers, influenced national independence, inspired our foundational documents, and established the American nation. Written with the pacing and drama of an enticing drama, Forged in Faith is crafted for popular appeal with a compelling mix of dramatized story and action-driven narrative, yet with the authenticity and academic verity of historian Rod Gragg.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 7, 2014
A surprising little book
What do I mean by surprising? I already knew how much of a role faith played in the founding of our country, so I was not surprised by that aspect of Forged in Faith: How Faith Shaped the Birth of the Nation 1607-1776 . Rather, I found myself thinking that Gragg was slanting the facts to make a point and leaving out crucial details, only to find, when I turned the page, that he addressed those details and addressed them fairly.
For example, he extols the virtues of the religious liberties enshrined in Massachusetts Colony's legal system in Chapter 5 (p. 57). I found myself thinking - "Yeah, but what about the Quakers?" It is addressed briefly on page 60 and again on page 73 (it turns out, some of the Quakers were quite annoying when promulgating their religious beliefs, including one woman who walked naked through a Puritan church service while haranguing the pastor about the need for simplicity in one's life!)
Gragg makes his point early and often about the role of faith. The first few pages are a bit tedious as Gragg hits this note over and over, including quoting entire prayers by early leaders and entire Psalms that those leaders quoted.
Fortunately, the book picks up more and more steam the closer Gragg gets to the American Revolution and by the time this book ends it is humming right along. Gragg does a great job of expounding on...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2010/...
What do I mean by surprising? I already knew how much of a role faith played in the founding of our country, so I was not surprised by that aspect of Forged in Faith: How Faith Shaped the Birth of the Nation 1607-1776 . Rather, I found myself thinking that Gragg was slanting the facts to make a point and leaving out crucial details, only to find, when I turned the page, that he addressed those details and addressed them fairly.
For example, he extols the virtues of the religious liberties enshrined in Massachusetts Colony's legal system in Chapter 5 (p. 57). I found myself thinking - "Yeah, but what about the Quakers?" It is addressed briefly on page 60 and again on page 73 (it turns out, some of the Quakers were quite annoying when promulgating their religious beliefs, including one woman who walked naked through a Puritan church service while haranguing the pastor about the need for simplicity in one's life!)
Gragg makes his point early and often about the role of faith. The first few pages are a bit tedious as Gragg hits this note over and over, including quoting entire prayers by early leaders and entire Psalms that those leaders quoted.
Fortunately, the book picks up more and more steam the closer Gragg gets to the American Revolution and by the time this book ends it is humming right along. Gragg does a great job of expounding on...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2010/...
May 26, 2022
This is a tough book to rate for me. The thesis is essentially that all the decisions made by American leaders during the Colonial Period up to the start of the Revolution were based on faith and the Judeo-Christian tradition. It just seems super obvious to me - it was the culture of their time. Of course all of their letters and speeches had Christian references. When the author argued that even Jefferson was at the end of the day promoting the same, he lost me a bit. Overall an easy read and interesting, but just didn't quite convince me.
March 31, 2015
Forged in Faith was good, but it fell a bit short of my expectations — or at least what I was looking for. It started out by focusing on the various faith-based influences on the founding of specific settlements and colonies. I could have listened to an entire book based on this.
There were also interesting tidbits on the role of key religious leaders like George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards. I wish there had been more time spent on the influence of these people, but given the relatively short length of the book, I can understand why they got the limited focus they did.
The book really started to fall apart for me when it hit the years leading up to the American Revolution. The focus narrowed to the influence of a handful of founding fathers, and it was viewed through a somewhat glossy lense. I mean, Patrick Henry came across as a moderate and Sam Adams sounded like a martyr to the cause instead of a rabble-rouser with a questionable success rate at anything he tried. (Don't get me wrong. I love Sam Adams, but...)
One-sided views of the founding fathers aside, the book kept losing its focus on faith to focus more on events. OK, there was the occasional reference to John Adams' thoughts, but does anyone doubt he was heavily steeped in his religion? The storyline also swung back from time to time to talk about Congress calling for national days of prayer and fasting. That was interesting, but I would have liked to hear more about the church's role and the role played by specific religious influences in the course of events.
There were also times when I thought the author tried too hard. For example, he went to great lengths to discount Deism's influence on the Declaration of Independence, but there is no doubt in my mind that Deism was an influence. I don't think Christians, left to their own devices, would come up with the phrase "the laws of nature and nature's God." That one always sounded to me like a compromise between Christian and Deist influences, with a little more leaning toward the Deists. In my opinion, the influence of Christianity on our founding is strong enough to stand on its own. We don't need to downplay other influences to make the case.
The author also made rather specific claims, such as Thomas Jefferson considered himself a Christian, without backing these up with evidence. Perhaps Jefferson did make that claim, but for it to be credible I really would like to have heard it in Jefferson's own words and understand the context. Again, I really wanted the author to make the case, not simply make statements and expect his audience to take them at face value. Believers will, but it's the skeptics who need to be convinced.
Quick note: I listened to the unabridged version of the book from Audible. It is possible that the print version contained footnotes and references that an audio format obviously could not capture effectively.
Finally, the "founding" stopped at the beginning of the Revolution. How could the author not touch on the concept of "separation of church and state" and what Jefferson really meant when he proposed it as a central tenant? It is probably one of the most misunderstood beliefs of the founding fathers.
Finally, there was no discussion of the Constitution. Granted, the Constitution is more of a structural document whereas the Declaration is more emotional, for lack of a better word. (If you've not read the two, I encourage you to do so and you'll see what I mean.) That said, the Constitution was not constructed out of thin air. Many of its principles were also founded on faith and I would have like to see the case made.
Forged in Faith is still an interesting and well-crafted book, despite all my reservations. For anyone who doesn't have the background, I would highly recommend it, just don't stop here. You'll come away with a basic understanding, just not a very clear picture of the founding let alone of the nuanced yet vital role faith played.
There were also interesting tidbits on the role of key religious leaders like George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards. I wish there had been more time spent on the influence of these people, but given the relatively short length of the book, I can understand why they got the limited focus they did.
The book really started to fall apart for me when it hit the years leading up to the American Revolution. The focus narrowed to the influence of a handful of founding fathers, and it was viewed through a somewhat glossy lense. I mean, Patrick Henry came across as a moderate and Sam Adams sounded like a martyr to the cause instead of a rabble-rouser with a questionable success rate at anything he tried. (Don't get me wrong. I love Sam Adams, but...)
One-sided views of the founding fathers aside, the book kept losing its focus on faith to focus more on events. OK, there was the occasional reference to John Adams' thoughts, but does anyone doubt he was heavily steeped in his religion? The storyline also swung back from time to time to talk about Congress calling for national days of prayer and fasting. That was interesting, but I would have liked to hear more about the church's role and the role played by specific religious influences in the course of events.
There were also times when I thought the author tried too hard. For example, he went to great lengths to discount Deism's influence on the Declaration of Independence, but there is no doubt in my mind that Deism was an influence. I don't think Christians, left to their own devices, would come up with the phrase "the laws of nature and nature's God." That one always sounded to me like a compromise between Christian and Deist influences, with a little more leaning toward the Deists. In my opinion, the influence of Christianity on our founding is strong enough to stand on its own. We don't need to downplay other influences to make the case.
The author also made rather specific claims, such as Thomas Jefferson considered himself a Christian, without backing these up with evidence. Perhaps Jefferson did make that claim, but for it to be credible I really would like to have heard it in Jefferson's own words and understand the context. Again, I really wanted the author to make the case, not simply make statements and expect his audience to take them at face value. Believers will, but it's the skeptics who need to be convinced.
Quick note: I listened to the unabridged version of the book from Audible. It is possible that the print version contained footnotes and references that an audio format obviously could not capture effectively.
Finally, the "founding" stopped at the beginning of the Revolution. How could the author not touch on the concept of "separation of church and state" and what Jefferson really meant when he proposed it as a central tenant? It is probably one of the most misunderstood beliefs of the founding fathers.
Finally, there was no discussion of the Constitution. Granted, the Constitution is more of a structural document whereas the Declaration is more emotional, for lack of a better word. (If you've not read the two, I encourage you to do so and you'll see what I mean.) That said, the Constitution was not constructed out of thin air. Many of its principles were also founded on faith and I would have like to see the case made.
Forged in Faith is still an interesting and well-crafted book, despite all my reservations. For anyone who doesn't have the background, I would highly recommend it, just don't stop here. You'll come away with a basic understanding, just not a very clear picture of the founding let alone of the nuanced yet vital role faith played.
July 6, 2013
If you're at all interested in the faith of our founding fathers and how it shaped the birth of this nation, this is the book to read. A nice background of the state of religion in Europe prior to the first settlements in the New World, the book takes us through the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Well documented, the back 5th of the book is footnotes to back up the author's presentation and timeline of what was happening spiritually throughout these formative years. While not a "story" type of book, it is a very easy to follow and engaging account. Highly recommended!
March 30, 2013
I could not put it down. The author passionately and beautifully demonstrates what British historian Paul Johnson wrote, that America was founded out of Christian convictions. That one fact creates a river a history that explains the tensions, trials, and triumphs of the American experience. The present humanistic culture is an anomaly that will either redefine the nation or be swept aside by the current of another revival.
December 29, 2013
I have a Masters in Political Science and I didn't know much of the information this author reveals about our nation's founding. It's very interesting and very unsettling to see the change in the American culture through the centuries.
February 14, 2014
Well-written and researched account that you never learned in high school. It helps to connect the dots and explains some of the "whys" behind the events that formed our nation. Highly recommend!
September 12, 2014
Rod Gragg writes to show the religious underpinnings of the United States of America. He explains that the majority of settlers, both the Pilgrims and those at Jamestown Colony, came for religious freedom and that their charters and organizations were designed around their religious beliefs. He also discusses the "Great Awakening," the religious revival in the mid-1700s led by such important but seldom remembered names as George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards, that brought the colonists back to their religious roots. Finally, he wraps things up with a look at the religious influences that crafted the Declaration of Independence.
First off, let me say that I DO NOT disagree with Mr. Gragg's premise. I agree and believe that religious beliefs were key in forming the concepts that led to the creation of the United States (and not simply "Enlightenment philosophies"), and that most of the influential voices in establishing the nation held strong religious beliefs even when dissatisfied with the religious institutions of their day. But what bothered me about this book was the heavy and frequent use of terms like "faith-based" and "Judeo-Christian worldview" (a term not even coined until around 1900), and the use of selective quotes and summary information on individuals (Squanto, Washington, and Jefferson, among others) that gives a misleading view. It's the kind of argument that makes me worry as much about the "religious right" as the "secular left."
It's a short book (just under 200 pages prior to the notes and index) that seems to be preaching to an audience that already has its mind made up to believe. But I sincerely doubt skeptics will be convinced or even impressed. And although I agree with Mr. Gragg's premise, I thought the book missed the mark.
First off, let me say that I DO NOT disagree with Mr. Gragg's premise. I agree and believe that religious beliefs were key in forming the concepts that led to the creation of the United States (and not simply "Enlightenment philosophies"), and that most of the influential voices in establishing the nation held strong religious beliefs even when dissatisfied with the religious institutions of their day. But what bothered me about this book was the heavy and frequent use of terms like "faith-based" and "Judeo-Christian worldview" (a term not even coined until around 1900), and the use of selective quotes and summary information on individuals (Squanto, Washington, and Jefferson, among others) that gives a misleading view. It's the kind of argument that makes me worry as much about the "religious right" as the "secular left."
It's a short book (just under 200 pages prior to the notes and index) that seems to be preaching to an audience that already has its mind made up to believe. But I sincerely doubt skeptics will be convinced or even impressed. And although I agree with Mr. Gragg's premise, I thought the book missed the mark.
August 28, 2010
This is a good overview of the religious influence leading up to the American Founding. I was hoping for a little more analysis, but it is adequate for the subject matter. A nice reminder of our religious roots.
December 27, 2019
Forged in Faith by Rod Gragg tells the faith-based history of the United States. In this book, Gragg seeks to combat the idea that America was based on humanistic philosophies. Using America’s history (from its beginning to the Declaration of Independence), Gragg instead shows how the nation was founded upon the principles of a Judeo-Christian worldview. Containing interesting history and captivating historical characters, Gragg does a fantastic job of defending his claim in this easy-to-read historical narrative. My only qualm is that Gragg clearly sees America’s Revolution as Biblically justified. This leads him to ignore the Loyalist position entirely (which was based on the Scripture) and turn his entire focus and praise upon the beliefs of the Patriots. However, this is the only problem that I held with the book. Other than this, it was a fascinating and thought-provoking read that I recommend to anyone interested in American history.
December 10, 2021
In this book, Rod Gragg seeks to give an account of the early colonial American faith and its effects on the Nations history. Many historians like to brush over the many lines or statements made by the founding leaders of the country and their massive importance at the time and today but Gragg does a supremely good job at pointing out and discussing the importance of these lines and statements. In so doing, he remind the reader of truthful and sobering facts of our nations early history and the importance of religion throughout. This should be read and discussed by anyone seeking to further their knowledge of America or the history of America's faith. Highly recommend
January 2, 2021
One of the best non-fictional books that I have ever read. Being a history lover, I knew somewhat that faith played a part in shaping America, but I never knew the depth that the Christian faith had in making the United States. The faith of America’s founding fathers, and, indeed, Colonial America, brings tears to my eyes because it has been all but forgotten. There are so many similarities to Colonial America’s struggle against Britain and the crisis of Truth that America is facing today. May we never forget Who is in control and Who we should humble ourselves before.
August 8, 2020
Dr. Gragg did a superb job in revealing the how Christian faith influenced and motivated America's earliest European arrivals, and telling the story of the impact of the "Great Awakening" in the years just before Revolution, to the impact on the first patriots. This is a terrific read. Let history help you understand the power and place of God!
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October 8, 2021Gragg provides ample evidence that the Christian faith played a central role in the formation of America. With plenty of citations connected in an engaging style, Gragg engages his audience with the truth. This book was a good reminder of where we came from, and what we need to remember. I would recommend, especially with the current cultural climate.
June 26, 2021
Excellent book! History...
September 12, 2021
Excellent read on the religious foundation unpinning America's founding.
October 17, 2022
Excellent! Loved this book. A good read on how it all came together.
March 20, 2023
Excellent read with well documented literature from the founders' own pens on their faith.
May 16, 2017
Surprise! I found this audio book in the Public Library. There is still hope for America, folks, and this proves it. Rod Gragg reviews the history that was well known for the first 250 years after our founding and one with which we should all be familiar, but because of the dropping of the ball by the "progressive" generation, the world wars, the takeover of the public schools by progressives, and the consequent revision of history by deconstructionists and cultural Marxists, it has been lost to all but a few.
The facts of history are made clear in this book by references to the documents themselves (primary sources) and by the witness to these events by those who were only a few years removed. Gragg starts and ends with the Last Puritan, Sam Adams. And he begins and ends with Public prayers and Bible readings and Public Days of Prayer and fasting and Public Humiliation that were a large part of 17th and 18th century America. The period covered in this book is from 1607 when Reverend Robert Hunt led the first prayer to 1797 when Sam Adams, as governor of Massachusetts issued a Day of Prayer and fasting for the people to humble themselves before Almighty God to secure His blessings of liberty.
The founders that most of us are familiar with were not the real fathers. The real fathers and mothers were the brave souls that trusted God and built a civilization out of the wilderness. It was these real fathers and mothers that taught their children the Word of God and took them to church regularly to hear the Bible preached. It was this biblically informed culture that the men who signed their names to the Declaration of Independence were appealing to in order to get the consent of the people in 1776. The true founders were the preachers in the churches in America and the Reformers that went before them. All this was inspired by and given life by a Great Awakening that occurred in the 1740’s and whose afterglow was still in the hearts and minds of the people when the first shots were fired in 1775.
After you read this book, you will have a much clearer understanding of what it means to be an American and why it is of vital importance that the present culture war be won in favor of godliness and Christian virtue without which as the founders testified, there can be no liberty, no prosperity, and no public happiness. This is a book for every American and for everyone who wants to know the secret to what made America good and consequently great.
The facts of history are made clear in this book by references to the documents themselves (primary sources) and by the witness to these events by those who were only a few years removed. Gragg starts and ends with the Last Puritan, Sam Adams. And he begins and ends with Public prayers and Bible readings and Public Days of Prayer and fasting and Public Humiliation that were a large part of 17th and 18th century America. The period covered in this book is from 1607 when Reverend Robert Hunt led the first prayer to 1797 when Sam Adams, as governor of Massachusetts issued a Day of Prayer and fasting for the people to humble themselves before Almighty God to secure His blessings of liberty.
The founders that most of us are familiar with were not the real fathers. The real fathers and mothers were the brave souls that trusted God and built a civilization out of the wilderness. It was these real fathers and mothers that taught their children the Word of God and took them to church regularly to hear the Bible preached. It was this biblically informed culture that the men who signed their names to the Declaration of Independence were appealing to in order to get the consent of the people in 1776. The true founders were the preachers in the churches in America and the Reformers that went before them. All this was inspired by and given life by a Great Awakening that occurred in the 1740’s and whose afterglow was still in the hearts and minds of the people when the first shots were fired in 1775.
After you read this book, you will have a much clearer understanding of what it means to be an American and why it is of vital importance that the present culture war be won in favor of godliness and Christian virtue without which as the founders testified, there can be no liberty, no prosperity, and no public happiness. This is a book for every American and for everyone who wants to know the secret to what made America good and consequently great.
December 2, 2017
I heard about Rod Gragg on a radio show and was impressed with his dedication to the human element in historical events and the authenticity of his works. This book should be a must-read for anyone interested in the founding of the United States. It clearly points out that although the founders had different ideas about life and government, there was some common values that united them. Sadly, the reliance on those common values has deteriorated over the years.
January 23, 2016
This was an excellent (and brief) history book about the faith foundations of America. From the earliest settlers in Jamestown and Plymouth, to the Puritans in New England, the transformations of the Great Awakening, and the beginnings of the War for Independence, the Bible and Christianity have played foundational roles in our nation's founding. I knew a lot of this story, but I had not realized how deeply intertwined the Bible was with the founding charters, compacts, and covenants of each colony. These people were deeply religious. Their faith, and their Christianity, guided just about everything they did.
I am leaving one star off, though, for a very common problem with historians who have an ideological point of view: the sin of omission. Mr. Gragg is clearly a religious and political conservative, which is fine with me since most historians I've read are lefties, and suffer from the exact same error. The author of this particular work very quickly glossed over some the less pleasant aspects of our early history with regard to religion: Mary Dyer being hung on Boston Common for being a Quaker, for one example. Anne Hutchinson being banished from Massachusetts for heresy. The Salem Witch Trials (seriously, how do you leave that out?) Fortunately I know enough history to fill in these blanks on my own, but it is a flaw that I find a bit irritating. Of course, Howard Zinn's deeply flawed A People's History of the United States managed more than 1,000 pages of American history without mentioning religion once, so it's all relative.
But don't get me started about Howard Zinn.
This was a well written, informative, and even hopeful book about a time and a people who are no longer with us, but whose influence continues to this day. I like this time period, and read quite a bit about it. I'll read more of Mr. Gragg's books. It is refreshing to read history from 'the other side,' as they say. There are few conservative historians out there, so I'm always happy to find a good one to balance out all the Progressive stuff I've read.
I am leaving one star off, though, for a very common problem with historians who have an ideological point of view: the sin of omission. Mr. Gragg is clearly a religious and political conservative, which is fine with me since most historians I've read are lefties, and suffer from the exact same error. The author of this particular work very quickly glossed over some the less pleasant aspects of our early history with regard to religion: Mary Dyer being hung on Boston Common for being a Quaker, for one example. Anne Hutchinson being banished from Massachusetts for heresy. The Salem Witch Trials (seriously, how do you leave that out?) Fortunately I know enough history to fill in these blanks on my own, but it is a flaw that I find a bit irritating. Of course, Howard Zinn's deeply flawed A People's History of the United States managed more than 1,000 pages of American history without mentioning religion once, so it's all relative.
But don't get me started about Howard Zinn.
This was a well written, informative, and even hopeful book about a time and a people who are no longer with us, but whose influence continues to this day. I like this time period, and read quite a bit about it. I'll read more of Mr. Gragg's books. It is refreshing to read history from 'the other side,' as they say. There are few conservative historians out there, so I'm always happy to find a good one to balance out all the Progressive stuff I've read.
July 16, 2016
It took me over a year to get through this one, starting and stopping several times, but once I finally commited I really enjoyed the history lesson, and I'm glad I persevered.
From William Bradford to George Fox, from Roger Williams to William Penn the book explores the genesis of the colonies, their original leadership and first governing principles. It travels through the Great Awakening visiting the stories of Samuel Davies, Jonathan Edwards, and George Whitfield and the way they dramatically affected the course of American history. The last stop follows the leading voices of the American Revolution, focusing on Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams (and touching on John Adams and Jefferson.)
It's all tied tigether in a coherant American story that was unarguably forged in the faith of her founders.
I'm glad someone took the time to write this book and meticulously source it. I would say it read more like a term paper than a flowing historical novel, but the info was worth it for me.
From William Bradford to George Fox, from Roger Williams to William Penn the book explores the genesis of the colonies, their original leadership and first governing principles. It travels through the Great Awakening visiting the stories of Samuel Davies, Jonathan Edwards, and George Whitfield and the way they dramatically affected the course of American history. The last stop follows the leading voices of the American Revolution, focusing on Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams (and touching on John Adams and Jefferson.)
It's all tied tigether in a coherant American story that was unarguably forged in the faith of her founders.
I'm glad someone took the time to write this book and meticulously source it. I would say it read more like a term paper than a flowing historical novel, but the info was worth it for me.
October 20, 2016
I used this book as research for my Revolutionary Faith series. Gragg chronicles the faith journey of the New World from 1607-1776 giving great emphasis on the result of the faith of ministers and founding fathers. Excellent.
April 2, 2012
Great book and easy to read. Our country went thru a lot in the early days to form as a nation. A must read....
April 19, 2012
Very informative but slow...like reading a history book.
June 3, 2013
Highly biased, still informative with some interesting facts, figures and insight.
November 27, 2014
coming soon.
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January 26, 2015Wonderful book showing the founding of our nation! Read twice!
April 6, 2017
I could not put this book down. I highly recommend all believers and non believers read this important book. I thought I had a pretty good overall understanding of how faith impacted and shaped the birth of our country. With great precision, this author uncovers truth that I believe needs to be shared with our generation and generations to come. Faith did in fact forge and shape our nation. May God help us never lose sight of that.
January 15, 2018
Kind of a review of American history from the beginning to the Revolution. Nothing really new.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews