Attendant cruelties
Book Description
America's spiritual and economic foundations have shaped a nation of profound contradictions, where the same values that unite can also deeply divide. In this thoughtful examination, Patrice L. R. Higonnet explores how religion and capitalism have served as twin pillars of American identity for nearly four centuries, creating both pathways to inclusion and barriers to belonging.
The author reveals how these core values have functioned as forces of welcome for countless immigrants and communities seeking their place in American society. Yet the same principles have also been wielded to exclude and marginalize, creating boundaries based on race, class, and gender that have constrained the democratic promise of the Republic.
This tension between inclusion and exclusion has generated some of America's most defining moments, from the devastating Civil War to ongoing cultural divisions. Higonnet demonstrates how America stands unique among nations in having Left and Right political movements that share such remarkably common historical roots, even as they interpret the nation's spiritual and economic legacy in vastly different ways.
For readers seeking to understand the spiritual dimensions of American political life, this work offers valuable insights into how religious values intersect with economic systems to shape national identity. The book illuminates the complex relationship between faith, capitalism, and democratic ideals in the ongoing American experiment.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~10 hours)
📄 Length: 378 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Nationalism, religious aspects
- ✓ Explore History
- ✓ Explore Political messianism
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Christianity
- ✓ Explore United states, history
- ✓ Explore United states, civilization
- ✓ Explore Nationalism
