One nation under God
Book Description
Historian Kevin M. Kruse unveils a surprising truth about America's spiritual identity in this meticulously researched exploration of faith and politics. Rather than being rooted in the nation's founding, the concept of "Christian America" emerged during the tumultuous 1930s as an unexpected alliance between corporate interests and religious leaders.
This fascinating historical investigation reveals how major corporations, including General Motors and Hilton Hotels, strategically funded conservative clergy to oppose Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal policies. These religious activists framed government programs as "pagan statism" that threatened Christianity's core principle of individual salvation and spiritual freedom.
The movement's success culminated in Dwight Eisenhower's presidency, where the campaign for "freedom under God" took an ironic turn. Eisenhower transformed this anti-government religious movement into one that deeply intertwined faith with federal authority, creating new national traditions like inaugural prayers and the National Prayer Breakfast. During this era, Congress added "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance and established "In God We Trust" as the official motto.
Kruse traces how this broad spiritual consensus eventually fractured along political lines, with conservative activists ultimately claiming ownership of public religiosity. This compelling narrative illuminates how the intersection of money, faith, and politics created a powerful but contested vision of American spiritual identity that continues to shape contemporary debates about religion's role in public life.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~10 hours)
📄 Length: 352 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Corporations
- ✓ Explore New deal, 1933-1939
- ✓ Explore Konservativismus
- ✓ Explore Politik
- ✓ Explore History
- ✓ Explore Church and state
- ✓ Explore Modern
- ✓ Explore Christianity and politics
