Itemize Books Supposing Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism
| Original Title: | Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism |
| ISBN: | 0805077766 (ISBN13: 9780805077766) |
| Edition Language: | English |
Susan Jacoby
Paperback | Pages: 370 pages Rating: 4.05 | 4390 Users | 192 Reviews
Specify Regarding Books Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism
| Title | : | Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism |
| Author | : | Susan Jacoby |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Special Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 370 pages |
| Published | : | January 1st 2005 by Holt McDougal (first published April 5th 2004) |
| Categories | : | History. Nonfiction. Religion. Philosophy. Atheism. Politics. North American Hi.... American History |
Interpretation Concering Books Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism
"Jacoby accomplishes her task with clarity, thoroughness, and an engaging passion."-Los Angeles Times Book Review
At a time when the separation of church and state is under attack as never before, Freethinkers offers a powerful defense of the secularist heritage that gave Americans the first government in the world founded not on the authority of religion but on the bedrock of human reason. In impassioned, elegant prose, celebrated author Susan Jacoby traces more than two hundred years of secularist activism, beginning with the fierce debate over the omission of God from the Constitution. Moving from nineteenth-century abolitionism and suffragism through the twentieth century's civil liberties, civil rights, and feminist movements, Freethinkers illuminates the neglected achievements of secularists who, allied with tolerant believers, have led the battle for reform in the past and today.
Rich with such iconic figures as Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Paine, and the once-famous Robert Green Ingersoll, Freethinkers restores to history the passionate humanists who struggled against those who would undermine the combination of secular government and religious liberty that is the glory of the American system.
Rating Regarding Books Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism
Ratings: 4.05 From 4390 Users | 192 ReviewsEvaluation Regarding Books Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism
This book was a shock to me in many ways. I was unaware of the very early opposition to the godless constitution of the United States. Quite unrealistically, I had thought the cultural wars debating the role of religion in government and the role of government in religion originated in the 20th century.The book also introduced me to the works of Col. Robert Ingersoll, who seems to be an amazing speaker on the topics of religion, government, and liberty. I am quite appreciative that I have foundTruly eye-opening. You can not only see how secularists and nonbelievers have been written out of our history, but how it is happening before our eyes today. Even more alarming, is the process by which religious interests of today claim the successes and sacrifices of yesterday's secularists for themselves. Read this and see history differently.
I learned so much and could not stop turning the pages. So much good done by reality based independent thinkers.
Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism by Susan Jacoby "Freethinkers" is a fascinating historical account of the role of freethinkers in United States. This book provides an important narrative of the impact of freethinkers in the creation of the first secular government in the world. This 448-page book is composed of the following twelve chapters: 1. Revolutionary Secularism, 2. The Age of Reason and Unreason, 3. Lost Connections: Anticlericalism, Abolitionism, and Feminism, 4. The
Excellent introductory history. I feel cheated that I never learned about the contributions of Elizabeth Cady Stanton or Lucretia Mott in more than a glossed-over fashion in my American history studies, nor of Robert Green Ingersoll at all. These people, along with a host of better-known names such as Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine, as well as other lesser-knowns, had the courage of their convictions despite the social pressures of living in an overtly religious society. One point Jacoby's
A brilliant, insightful work of history that covers an immense amount of ground in a surprisingly small space. Anyone who thinks that the United States is a "Christian country" or that religious leaders were the primary movers in fights for social justice--from the feminist movement to the abolitionist movement to the Civil Rights movement of the '60s and '70s--should read this book. The truth is that the United States has a rich tradition of freethinkers who were completely secular, often
Jacoby states the case for the necessity of secularism in our society. Through the lives of American secularists, she shows the unending struggle to keep the separation of church and state. Some of the lives highlighted are Thomas Paine, William Lloyd Garrison, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Abraham Lincoln, Robert G. Ingersoll, Emma Goldman, and Clarence Darrow. Ingersoll is one of the more remarkable figures of American history, all the more so as he is almost completely forgotten today. Perhaps the
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