Excellent exploration of this subject

Stewart has written an excellent exploration of the philosophical groundwork that informed the religious and political thinking of the men who wrote the Declaration and the Constitution. He takes the unusual approach of weaving his story around the lives and deeds of Ethan Allen and Thomas Young (a fomenter of the Boston Tea Party and a mobile gadfly during the years leading up to the war).

The work is challenging but rewarding, as Stewart explicates the elements of texts by Lucretius, Bruno, Descartes, Spinoza, Hobbes, and Locke. He then shows how these ideas permeated the thinking, writing and activities of Allen and Young in particular, but also many other leading figures of the Revolution. This is a refutation of the idea that the founding fathers intended the country to be a Christian land, a refutation that is grounded in fact, not assertion.

9 people found this helpful

Interesting

Some of the chapters were long and disjointed, but otherwise this was an excellent study on a subject that mainstream Christian Americans either ignore or are ignorant of. Very interesting.

3 people found this helpful

A must read for any student of philosophy or enthusiast of history.

One of the best books Ive ever read about America’s founders, the philosophy that influenced them and the first “great awakening”! A must read/listen

2 people found this helpful

Obvious patched audio

Overall this was an amazing, if dense, book, and the production was well read. However, it was apparent at numerous points in the audio that re-recording had occurred and was hastily patched in, the result being at times harshly differing volumes and tones/qualities of voice. But for this defect, the product would have been perfect.

1 person found this helpful

An important book and highly entertaining!

A text like this is sorely needed for inclusion in any historical education into the founding of modern democracy,, and broadly speaking,, the modern age in which we live.
While on first reading there is a lot here to take in, subsequent readings can only instill in the reader a wish for yet more.
The topic fairly begs for a follow-on work to trace the trials tribulations and progress of the revolutionary philosophy across the subsequent two centuries.

1 person found this helpful

Phenomenal!

Everything you ever wanted to know about the philosophies of the founding fathers but were never told. An amazing work!

1 person found this helpful

Revolutionary view of God

I liked the review of the historical views of God and the explanation of how and why they they got put in the founding documents of the United States.
It gives me a strong conviction that they knew what they were doing.

1 person found this helpful

This Book Goes Deep

This is an excellent book. That said, I would recommend that the reader have some familiarity with philosophers of the enlightenment such as Spinoza and Locke before jumping in. If you find political philosophy interesting, I believe you will enjoy this book.

Very Interesting Thoughts

I enjoyed this book tremendously. I feel like I think similarly to what is being provided here. Definitely shows how history is a story that continues to be written. Only issue I had was that I had a hard time keeping up, as my thoughts would wonder as the book would continue on. Key take away: let people be themselves. We do not have the right to expect everyone to fit one mold.

A fresh and unsanitized look at the Founders.

A must-read for anyone interested in the ideological and theological foundations of America's Founding Fathers.