Christian America? - by Daryl C Cornett (Paperback)

About the Book

A point-counterpoint discussion about Christianity's proper social and political relation to the United States-whether the nation is distinctly Christian, distinctly secular, essentially Christian, or partly Christian.

Book Synopsis

Throughout her history America has possessed a rich religious component largely comprised of different traditions of the Christian faith. This tide of personal religious devotion connected to government observances and policies has ebbed and flowed through time, but it has always been a part of American identity--one that is full of social and political debate. As such, Christian America? presents a hearty point-counterpoint discussion about the nature of the relationship Christianity has had to American politics and culture throughout the country's existence, aiming to determine which of these four differing opinions is most appropriate.

David Barton (WallBuilders) supports the idea that America is distinctly Christian based on centuries of authoritative government declarations.

Jonathan D. Sassi (College of Staten Island) believes America is distinctly secular based on the nation's religiously eclectic and secular beginning (particularly the emphasis on "the complete separation of church and state").

William D. Henard (The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) sees America as essentially Christian, making his case for the nation's crucial faith component while exploring varied interpretations of comments like one made in 2009 by President Barack Obama: "Although... we have a very large Christian population, we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation..."

Daryl C. Cornett, the book's editor, argues that America is partly Christian, a nation that was shaped by a blend of religious and non-religious tendencies. He writes, "After the Civil War steady decline in religious adherence was the impetus for evangelicals to mythologize American history and pine for a return to a golden age of Christian faith and virtue at its founding that never existed."

From the Back Cover

Christian America? presents a hearty point-counterpoint discussion about the nature of the relationship Christian faith has had to American politics and culture throughout the country's existence, aiming to determine which of these four differing opinions is most appropriate:

David Barton (WallBuilders) supports the idea that America is distinctly Christian based on centuries of authoritative government declarations.

Jonathan D. Sassi (College of Staten Island) believes America is distinctly secular based on the nation's religiously eclectic and secular beginning (particularly the emphasis on "the complete separation of church and state").

William D. Henard (The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) sees America as essentially Christian, making his case for the nation's crucial faith component while exploring varied interpretations of comments like one made by President Barack Obama: "Although . . . we have a very large Christian population, we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation."

Daryl C. Cornett (senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Hazard, Kentucky, and the book's editor) argues America is partly Christian, a nation shaped by a blend of religious and non-religious tendencies. He writes, "After the Civil War steady decline in religious adherence was the impetus for evangelicals to mythologize American history and pine for a return to a golden age of Christian faith and virtue at its founding that never existed."

"Daryl Cornett is to be commended for bringing together this thoughtful and engaging symposium (that) offers a significant step forward in this longstanding debate. The differences in perspectives regarding the place of the Christian faith in American history will be obvious; the commonalities, however, create a window for readers to take a fresh look at the place of faith for our twenty-first-century world. Christian America? is a vitally important and informative contribution to the field of American Christianity."
--David S. Dockery, President, Union University

"The present volume is especially welcome because it addresses the historical question of just how much influence various forms of Christianity had in the formation of the nation. A particularly attractive feature is that each author responds to each of the others, thus bringing to light the most important points on which the debate hinges." --George Garsden, University of Notre Dame

"The 'Christian America' debate usually yields more heat than light, as its participants have different goals, employ different methods, and define their key terms in different ways. In this volume, however, the debaters engage each other--directly, with honesty and charity."
--Douglas a. Sweeney, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

About the Author

Daryl C. Cornett is senior pastor of First Baptist Church in his hometown of Hazard, Kentucky. He holds the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.