The Religious History of America: The Heart of the American Story from… (urspr publ 2002; utgåvan 2004)

Very good book that gives a general overview of America's religious history. Beginning from the first European explorers and settlers upon the New World and ending with the great mass of plurality of religious faith and spirituality that makes America distinct from the rest of the world. Shows both the good and bad religion has played on the American landscape. Has a lot of great historical pictures and illustrations as well. This book comes highly recommended for both the casual reader and/or the academic student. ( )

This revision of 'The Religious History of America' by Gaustad and Schmidt is a wonderful and balanced overview of the religious history of the U.S.A., as the title claims. The first review here is very through so I will be brief. These two professors of religion discuss the cultural, political, and economic influences that helped shaped religion in America throughout its history.

The book starts with the state of Native American religions before the first colonist set foot on the land. And then properly shows that the first colonies were Catholic and established by Spain and Portugal. The oldest city in the U.S.A. is the Spanish Settlement of Saint Augustine in Florida. It also covers the early expeditions of the French in both the north and south regions of North America. It was only later that the Anglican and English settlements that we learn about in our history textbooks started to form in what we would later call the thirteen colonies.

The book then covers topics that include the Puritans in New England, separation of church and state, slavery, the growth of the church in the twentieth century, and the effect that war has on religion. You will read of how the growth of such a great diversity of religion came to be in the U.S.A. This is a very interesting read. This book also has an extensive bibliography for further reading and a good index. This is the book I would choose if I had to teach an introductory course in religious history in America. ( )

The span of time the book covers and the huge diversity of religions did limit the depth to which the author could cover any one topic. He lends much weight to social and political pressures and seemingly very little weight to the core religious philosophy. While the former certainly plays a role, the latter dominates what it means to be a religion, that assertion of some universal truth that affects, or ought to affect, our lives in a deep and meaningful way. This book is great for random trivia and has a few insightful gems, but overall it's barely adequate for a good understanding of any of the religious movements involved. ( )