Annotated Bibliography. Religiosity

Adams, John. Letter to Massachusetts Militia. October 11, 1798. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/99-02-02-3102 (accessed 2019 January, 27).

This letter from John Adams to the Officers of the First Brigade of the Third Division of the Militia of Massachusetts written October 11, 1798, encourages the troops to maintain their commitment to religion and morality. Further warning the troops of the consequences should the people violate their moral and religious obligations, for the sake of the nation and the Constitution, Adams reminds them in the letter that liberty entails responsibility.

Understanding the nature of a fallen mankind, Adams knew the absence of religion would result in immorality and irresponsibility.

Barton, David. Four Centuries of American Education. Aledo: WallBuilders Press, 2004.

— Is America a Christian Nation? February 14, 2017. https://wallbuilders.com/america-christian-nation/ (accessed January 22, 2019).

David Barton is the Founder and President of the national pro-family organization WallBuilders. Barton is a best-selling author, and an evangelical historian, and has received numerous national and international awards. He is the owner of a massive library of tens of thousands of original writings and documents from the Founding Era.

Barton serves as a consultant to state and federal legislators, has helped produce history textbooks for schools across the nation, and participated in several Supreme Court cases.

The first reference is a book that reveals early American education and the role of religion as part of academic instruction. Covering four centuries of education, this book has valuable insight into the early pioneers of institutional education. Detailing the content of early textbooks and the role of Christian content contained within them, Barton discusses the academic success of American education that included religious and moral principles as part of student instruction, the decline of academic greatness, and the correlation of secularism in the educational realm.

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The absence of essential elements that formed the basis of character and achievement; religion, morality, and knowledge, have eroded the American education system in the last century.

The second reference is an article answering the question of the nation’s Christianity. First defining the term, then exploring the evidence, this article chronicles the irrefutable facts that Christianity is the religion that shaped America and made her what it is today. Statements by former presidents, legislatures, Jewish leaders, and courts are used to reinforce the notion that America’s Christian heritage is the foundation for its success. Refuting revisionist inaccuracies, Barton uses legitimate sources to demonstrate religiosity’s influence.

Bruun, Erik, and Jay Crosby, Our Nation’s Archive – The History of the United States in Documents. New York, NY: Tess Press, 2009.

This book selection consists of a large array othe f documents from America’s history. Strewn with historical texts, landmark legal documents, writings from philosophers, articles of legislation, speeches, and eye-witness accounts of history, this comprehensive anthology of documents is a valuable resource dating from the years 1492 through 2009. With 800+ pages of documents from important contributors in history, many documents from less important figures are also included in this collection. Edited by Bruun and Crosby, Bruun is a journalist, editor, and freelance writer. Crosby is a researcher who has worked with Bruun on other published projects.

Cengage Learning. U. S. History Custom Edition. Vol. 1st Edition. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2016.

Textbook by Cengage Learning for Liberty University Online course HIUS221; Survey of American History 1. A thorough thorough count of American History beginning with the Dawn of Exploration in 1492 through America in Global Context to present day is included in this textbook. Early settlers seeing religious freedom and the impact of the Great Awakenings are the primary resources used in this text. In addition, religious revivalism, manifest destiny, abolition, the great migration, and the civil rights movement, all originating from a religious conviction are explored. Morality, virtue, traditional values, fundamentalism, and the changing dynamics of political and cultural demographics in conjunction with religious influence are found in this textbook.

de Tocqueville, Alexis. Democracy in America. Translated by Henry Reeve. Vol. I. II vols. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1899.

Alexis de Tocqueville was a French sociologist and political theorist sent by the French government in 1831 to study the prison system in America. When he returned to France in 1832, he carried a wealth of observations from his travels and exposure to American life. Impressed by what he observed, he wrote the work Democracy in America in two parts. The first was published in 1835 and part two in 1840. Considered one of the most influential books of the 19thCentury, de Tocqueville wrote extensively about American political life and culture, the nature of equality, stability of the economy, and the popularity and commitment to religion as he witnessed. The author recognized equality as a Christian influence was inseparable from the Republic.

D’Souza, Dinesh. ‘Created Equal: How Christianity Shaped The West.’ Imprimis, November 2008.

This article was adapted from a speech delivered on September 16, 2008, at the Hillsdale College National Leadership Seminar in Colorado Springs. The author, born in India, came to America as an exchange student and graduated with high honors from Dartmouth College. A policy analyst in the Reagan Administration, and former president of King’s College, D’Souza has won numerous awards and is a best-selling author, conservative political commentator, filmmaker, speaker, and scholar.

This article elaborates on how Christianity shaped the West. With a focus on the Biblical worldview of human equality and the contribution of the Great Awakenings, D’Souza points to the vital role of Christianity in the development of freedom and individual worth in the West.The author contends that without Christianity and organized religion, the principles of human dignity would perish, and radical redefinitions would emerge regarding family, thus eugenics and infanticide would become acceptable considerations.

Ferdon, Gai. Constitutional Government and Free Enterprise. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt, 2014.

This textbook from Liberty University Online GOVT200; Constitutional Government and Free Enterprise course, gives a short, but relevant history of the Reformation and the beginning of a new hermeneutical methodology that redirected political theology. In addition, Biblical Christianity’s application to various institutions is explored. The text provides a history of the principles adopted by the Founders and the derivative of Biblical Christianity as the formation of government it. The author is a professor of government at Liberty University’s Helms School of Government and possesses extensive scholarly attributes.

Gingrich, Newt, and Vince Haley. A Nation Like No Other. Washington D.C.: Regenery Publishing, Inc., 2011.

This book on American Exceptionalism details the qualities that contribute to American prosperity, generosity, and power. Former Speaker of the House, political analyst, Senior Scientist at Gallup and best-selling author, Gingrich has published 36 books, and has hosted and produced historical and public policy documentaries. Recognized internationally as an expert on world history, military issues, and international affairs, Gingrich has served on multiple boards, institutions, and commissions. He is a sought-after speaker and lecturer and has been honored with many awards.

This book covers many topics including the religious influence on the Framers and Founders, the impact of religion in colonial America through the present day, the political and cultural structure as impelled by religion, and the Christian principles that prevailed over early America and still influence culture, politics, and government today.

Library of Congress. Religion and the Founding of the American Republic. n.d. https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel01.html (accessed January 25, 2019).

The largest library in the world and the main research arm of the United States Congress, the Library of Congress is also home to the United States Copyright Office. The chosen reference is a series of articles on Religion and the Founding of the American Republic. This series includes religion in the 17th and 18th Centuries, during the American Revolution, Congress of the Confederation, the state and federal governments, and the new Republic. The impact on America by religiosity is extensively explored in this series of articles. Complete with many exhibits from each era, the series includes manuscripMcClellan’sts, original drawings, paintings, sculptures, books, photographs, engravings, and historical accounts from various contributors.

Martin, Glenn R. Prevailing Worldviews of Western Society Since 1500. Marion: Triangle Publishing, 2006.

Martin, former 30-year Chairman of the Division of Social Sciences at Indiana Wesleyan University, teaching minister, and evangelical Christian, his writings offer insightful and respectful historical accounts. Focusing on the third chapter; Institutional Structure and Procedure, this section documents, through a Christian worldview, the significance of Biblical Christianity in McClellan early America, throughout the English colonies, and the inspiration of Christianity on American civilization and government.

McCellan, James. Liberty, Order, and Justice. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, Inc., 2000.

A former Senior Resident Scholar at Liberty Fund, Inc., the author held a Ph.D. in political science and a J.D. Dr. McCellan had an impressive dossier of professional accomplishments and multiple scholarly publications. The author’s comprehensive writings on Constitutional prince Framer’siples of American government offer a plethora of knowledge on historical topics, including the role of religion as a major contributing factor in the establishment of the new nation and new government.

Medved, Michael. The Founders Intended A Christian, Not Secular, Society. October 3, 2007. https://townhall.com/columnists/michaelmedved/2007/10/03/the-founders-intended-a-christian,-not-secular,-society-n1377270 (accessed January 23, 2019).

This article articulately debunks five secular notions that dispute America’s Christian founding. Beginning with the intentions of the Founders, the author utilizes the Founder’s own words to refute claims of secular intention for the culture. Although there is no mention of Christianity in the Constitution, the author contends the Framers clear intention is that the charter of liberiswas is governed by a society of fervent faith. As a syndicated radio talk-show host and best-selling author, Medved’s conservative columns on politics appear frequently in such places as USA Today, Townhall.com, and The Wall Street Journal.

Metaxas, Eric. If You Can Keep It. New York: Penguin Random House, 2016.

The best-selling author, nationally syndicated radio talk-show host, and award-winning speaker, Metaxas is a Senior Fellow and Lecturer at Large for King’s College. His work, chosen for reference, details the original intentions of the Founders for America and her exceptional nature. Part of the book explains the role of religion and faith in establishing a free society and the pillar of religion that supports virtue and morality, which is necessary for the citizens and its leaders to possess for the continued success of the Republic.

Murray, Charles. American Exceptionalism. Washington, D.C.: American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, 2013.

FA. Hayek Emeritus Chair in Cultural Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, the author is a political scientist with a Ph.D. from MIT. An authoritarian and scholar on history, this book explains the concept of American Exceptionalism as a historical fact recognized by Americans and foreigners alike, at the time of its founding. Written, in part, to further the discussion of the compatibility of faith and the system of free enterprise, this book addresses religiosity as an exceptional trait of American civic culture.

Prager, Dennis. America founded to be free, not secular. January 3, 2007. https://www.dennisprager.com/america-founded-to-be-free-not-secular/ (accessed 22 2019, January).

This column is written from the view that America from its inception has been a religious nation, thatas was its intended design. Dismissing the notion where secularism asserts many of the Founders as deists and irreligious, Prager contends Biblical Christianity overwhelmingly enshrined liberty for its citizens. The author is a conservative, nationally syndicated radio talk-show host, syndicated writer, and speaker. His articles have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Townhall.com, National Review, Jewish World Review, and other notable publications.

WallBuilders. Church in the U.S. Capitol. December 6, 2017. https://wallbuilders.com/church-u-s-capitol/ (accessed January 21, 2019).

The WallBuilders organization is dedicated to the preservation of true American history emphasizing the moral, religious and, constitutional foundations. Their goal is to apply a direct and positive influence on America, government, education, and the family using three distinct platforms. These platforms include; promoting the education of America’s Godly foundation through the development of public education materials, steering government officials who develop public policies to reflect Biblical values, in part by consulting, testifying, and providing research materials, and inspiring Christians to engage in the civic arena through prayer and direct involvement. Founded by David Barton, WallBuilders is involved in a diverse array of activities.

The chosen article provides a historical account of the church within the U. S. Capitol and the role it played in society. Beginning in 1800 and lasting well beyond the Civil War and Reconstruction, the worship services held within the Capitol were approved by both the House and the Senate. Boasting significant milestones, such as the first woman and the first Catholic Bishop to preach in the House, services were attended by as many as 2,000 worshippers on the Sabbath.