American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation by Jon Meacham

American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation by Jon Meacham is an accessible and inspiring book that traces the history of religion in America. The book covers an extraordinary three centuries of the country’s political, social and religious experience, and provides a fascinating look at how religious faith has shaped our political institutions, leaders and society.

Meacham paints a powerful and thought-provoking portrait of the faith of America’s founders and how it has been passed down over generations. From the Pilgrim Fathers who fled to escape religious persecution in Europe, to the Puritans who interpreted the Bible to inform their political decisions, to the Founding Fathers who struck a compromise between religion and government, to the Evangelical movement that has been such a driving force behind so much of American politics today.

Meacham also shows how religion has played a major role in pivotal moments in American history, from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War and beyond, as well as examining the role of religion in the present day. He places particular emphasis on the religious influences on the post-WWII "Baby Boom" generation, those Americans who were shaped by the tumultuous 1960s, and a succession of conflicts, both political and cultural.

American Gospel is particularly insightful in exploring how religion has not only shaped the American political system, but also our legal and social institutions. Meacham discusses the development of the separation of church and state, as well as the evolution of religious liberty, from the days of the original colonies to the current laws that protect entitlement to religious freedom. He also examines the complex relationship between religious groups and the current political system, which has seen the emergence of a powerful religious right-wing which has come to wield considerable influence over many areas of public life.

At its core, American Gospel is a book about faith, and its ability to draw out the common good and stir consolation in times of difficulty, but it is also about understanding the historical roots of our current political landscape. It is essential reading for anyone looking to gain an understanding of the role of religion in the American political process, and how it continues to exert a powerful influence on our society today.