Age of Infidels
Book Description
In the turbulent decades following America's founding, a profound spiritual and political drama unfolded as citizens grappled with fundamental questions about faith, freedom, and national identity. Historian Eric R. Schlereth reveals how ordinary Americans navigated the treacherous waters between religious conviction and political innovation during this pivotal era.
This compelling exploration examines the intense debates that erupted when a young nation attempted to balance diverse spiritual traditions with revolutionary republican ideals. Citizens found themselves confronting uncomfortable questions: Could ancient religious practices coexist with modern democratic principles? How much religious expression should a free society tolerate? Where should the boundaries lie between acceptable faith and dangerous infidelity?
At the heart of these conflicts stood deists and their critics, engaged in heated public disputes over Christianity's role in American culture. These weren't merely academic discussions but passionate struggles that shaped how Americans understood both their spiritual lives and their civic responsibilities. The author demonstrates how these contentious exchanges ultimately transformed both religious practice and political culture, creating new frameworks for managing religious diversity.
Through careful examination of these formative conflicts, readers discover how Americans of the late 18th and early 19th centuries wrestled with timeless questions about truth, tolerance, and community. Their struggles offer valuable insights for anyone seeking to understand how spiritual beliefs intersect with public life and social change.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~8 hours)
📄 Length: 304 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Church and state, united states
- ✓ Explore Histoire
- ✓ Explore Christianity and other religions
- ✓ Explore Politique et gouvernement
- ✓ Explore United states, politics and government, 1783-1865
- ✓ Explore Church and state
- ✓ Explore Église et État
- ✓ Explore Staat
