Church-State Relations in the Early American Republic, 1787–1846
James S Kabala
978 1 84893 314 9: 234x156mm: £60.00/$99.00
978 1 84893 315 6
Whether or not the American Republic was a ‘Christian nation’ was a question that engaged participants from all religions, denominations and party affiliations. Kabala examines this debate across six decades and shows that an understanding of this period is not possible without appreciating the key role religion played in the formation of the nation.
Readership
American Studies, Social and Religious History
Contents
Introduction
1 Beyond the First Amendment: Religion and the Federal Government
2 'Every Ruler Should Be an Avowed and Sincere Friend of Christianity': The Protestant Clergy and the Rise of the Non-Sectarian Consensus
3 'The Political Orphans of Your State': Religious Tests in the Early Republic
4 The Limits of Non-Sectarianism: The Unorthodox in the Courts
5 Theocrats, Free-Thinkers and the Problem of Legislative Prayer in the Early Republic
Conclusion