BDS Summary
Mark A. Noll's history of Christian theology in America, from the time of Jonathan Edwards, to the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, tells the story of a flexible and creative theological energy that, over time, forged a guiding national ideology that continues to exert its influence.Long Description
Religious life in early America is often equated with the fire-and-brimstone Puritanism best embodied by the theology of Cotton Mather. Yet, by the nineteenth century, American theology had shifted dramatically away from the severe European traditions directly descended from the Protestant Reformation, of which Puritanism was in the United States the most influential. In its place arose a singularly American set of beliefs. In America's God, Mark Noll has written a biography of this new American ethos. In the 125 years preceding the outbreak of the Civil War, theology played an extraordinarily important role in American public and private life. Its evolution had a profound impact on America's self-definition. The changes taking place in American theology during this period were marked by heightened spiritual inwardness, a new confidence in individual reason, and an attentiveness to the economic and market realities of Western life. Vividly set in the social and political events of the age, America's God is replete with the figures who made up the early American intellectual landscape, from theologians such as Jonathan Edwards, Nathaniel W. Taylor, William Ellery Channing, and Charle Hodge and religious inspired writers such as Harriet Beecher Stowe and Catherine Stowe to dominant political leaders of the day like Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln. The contributions of these thinkers combined with the religious revival of the 1740s, colonial warfare with France, the consuming struggle for independence, and the rise of evangelical Protestantism to form a common intellectual coinage based on a rising republicanism and commonsense principles. As this Christian republicanism affirmed itself, it imbued in dedicated Christians a conviction that the Bible supported their beliefs over those of all others. Tragically, this sense of religious purpose set the stage for the Civil War, as the conviction of Christians both North and South that God was on their side served to deepen a schism that would soon rend the young nation asunder. Mark Noll has given us the definitive history of Christian theology in America from the time of Jonathan Edwards to the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. It is a story of a flexible and creative theological energy that over time forged a guiding national ideology the legacies of which remain with us to this day.Review Quote
"Essential reading for anyone interested in American history, politics and religion."-- Themelios "America's God deserves to be hailed as the most comprehensive treatment of early American religious thought. But it is far more than that, since Mr. Noll is tracking here not only the rise and fall of American theology but also the genesis of American civilization...Mr. Noll laments the passing of Christian republicanism and in the end suggests that a dose of Jonathan Edwards ('the last of the Puritans and the first of the evangelicals') may be just what contemporary America needs. You do not have to agree with that assessment to appreciate this fine book, which brings some of the nation's greatest thinkers very much alive."--Wall Street Journal "Noll belongs to a talented group of historians who have transformed our understanding of American evangelicalism Among Noll's many great strengths (all on display in this immense work) is his comparative method, based on wide learning in Protestant sources worldwide."--Times Literary Supplement "Carefully documented and including an excellent bibliography, this insightful volume makes a useful contribution to the study of religion in America"--Library Journal "For academics-historians, theologians, and anyone else interested in the history of political thought, religion, philosophy, or theology-this book is essential reading"-- The Cresset Epiphany/Lent "Mark Noll's America's God delineates the Americanization of an Old World Protestantism with a breadth, learning, and sophistication unmatched by any other historian. Noll uncovers hidden, obscure figures even as he breathes new life into seemingly familiar names. Those who think intellectual history is dead or irrelevant will be jolted by the wondrous vigor of this exceptional, synoptic book. There's nothing else like it."--Jon Butler, author of Awash in a Sea of Faith: Christianizing the American People "Likely to remain definitive for years to come."--Anglican and Episcopal History "America's God is a richly rewarding work. Awesomely researched and beautifully written, Mark Noll's magisterial study embeds American religious thought from the late Colonial era through the Civil War in its cultural and political context. Not only historians of religion, but everyone interested in the ideas and beliefs that shaped America's past--and still remain potent today--will profit from this insightful interpretive study."--Paul S. Boyer, Editor-in-Chief, The Oxford Companion to United States History "Noll's book is the most comprehensive study of religious ideas in America that we have, and a work that makes the most sustained case for the impact of the spiritual on American public life. The book is original and well argued; and the research is impeccable. Some will not agree with Noll's arguments but everyone interested in religious thought will have to consider them."--Bruce Kuklick, author of A History of Philosophy in America: 1720-2000 "This 'social history of theology' in America, from the colonial era through the Civil War, promises to reshape the way we think about American religion, and, indeed, American history...Noll's trademark clarity--both in analysis and in prose--is in evidence here...Equally obvious is Noll's erudite mastery of everything from Puritan ecclesiology to Scottish moral philosophy. This is, finally, the magisterial work that has long been expected from one of our leading historians."--Publishers Weekly "A broadly based and solid account of the surprising evolution of Christian theology in America during the golden age of Protestant evangelicalism. Mark Noll's magnum opus is a notable achievement of Christian and historical scholarship."--Daniel Walker Howe, Rhodes Professor of American History, Oxford UniversityReview Quote
"Magisterial"The Weekly StandardReview Quote
"A broadly based and solid account of the surprising evolution ofChristian theology in America during the golden age of Protestantevangelicalism. Mark Noll's magnum opus is a notable achievement of Christianand historical scholarship."--Daniel Walker Howe, Rhodes Professor of AmericanHistory, Oxford UniversityReview Quote
"America's God deserves to be hailed as the most comprehensive treatmentof early American religious thought. But it is far more than that, since Mr.Noll is tracking here not only the rise and fall of American theology but alsothe genesis of American civilization...Mr. Noll laments the passing of Christianrepublicanism and in the end suggests that a dose of Jonathan Edwards ('the lastof the Puritans and the first of the evangelicals') may be just whatcontemporary America needs. You do not have to agree with that assessment toappreciate this fine book, which brings some of the nation's greatest thinkersvery much alive."--Wall Street JournalReview Quote
America's God is an impressive book ... This is 'top down' religious history on a grand scale and this re-interpretation of a crucial period on the nation's past will be the reference point for future historians.Review Quote
"America's God is a richly rewarding work. Awesomely researched andbeautifully written, Mark Noll's magisterial study embeds American religiousthought from the late Colonial era through the Civil War in its cultural andpolitical context. Not only historians of religion, but everyone interested inthe ideas and beliefs that shaped America's past--and still remain potenttoday--will profit from this insightful interpretive study."--Paul S. Boyer,Editor-in-Chief, The Oxford Companion to United States HistoryReview Quote
This is a sweeping, magisterial work that cannot be ignored. As a history of American theological thought, America's God is not likely to be bettered for some time to come, and it will commend itself to historians and theologians alike.Review Quote
"This 'social history of theology' in America, from the colonial erathrough the Civil War, promises to reshape the way we think about Americanreligion, and, indeed, American history...Noll's trademark clarity--both inanalysis and in prose--is in evidence here...Equally obvious is Noll's eruditemastery of everything from Puritan ecclesiology to Scottish moral philosophy.This is, finally, the magisterial work that has long been expected from one ofour leading historians."--Publishers WeeklyReview Quote
"Those who might consider America's God an old-fashioned work about abygone era and might therefore pass Noll by will do so at their peril...Argueover interfaith services after 9/11, prayers by football teams at publicschools, in 'creationism' versus 'evolutionism,' Focus on the Family; 'thevirtues,' the American moral condition, 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance,the political power of the Religious Right--engage in any or all of thesedebates, and you will be contending in the shadow of the achievements of Noll'scast of characters."-- Books and CultureTitle Summary
"Mark A. Noll is McManis Professor of Christian Thought at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois."--BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights ReservedReview Quote
"Mark Noll's America's God delineates the Americanization of an Old WorldProtestantism with a breadth, learning, and sophistication unmatched by anyother historian. Noll uncovers hidden, obscure figures even as he breathes newlife into seemingly familiar names. Those who think intellectual history is deador irrelevant will be jolted by the wondrous vigor of this exceptional, synopticbook. There's nothing else like it."--Jon Butler, author of Awash in a Sea ofFaith: Christianizing the American PeopleReview Quote
"Noll belongs to a talented group of historians who have transformed ourunderstanding of American evangelicalism... Among Noll's many great strengths(all on display in this immense work) is his comparative method, based on widelearning in Protestant sources worldwide."--Times Literary SupplementReview Quote
"Noll has an astounding command of the vast literature...this is almostcertainly the most significant work of American historical scholarship thisyear."--Atlantic MonthlyReview Quote
"Noll's book is the most comprehensive study of religious ideas in Americathat we have, and a work that makes the most sustained case for the impact ofthe spiritual on American public life. The book is original and well argued; andthe research is impeccable. Some will not agree with Noll's arguments buteveryone interested in religious thought will have to consider them."--BruceKuklick, author of A History of Philosophy in America: 1720-2000Review Quote
No one can understand America without understanding the role of the churches. In future no one will be able to understand the history of Christianity in America without reading this monumental study.Review Quote
...this is an absolutely terrific book. It is sweeping, insightful, provocative, and solidly based on omnivorous reading. Academics often speak glibly of a 'contribution to scholarship'. This is a 'contribution' of staggering proportion.Review Quote
America's God is essential reading for anyone interested in American history, politics and religion. Contained within its wealth of learning are important clues and insights into the outlook and culture of contemporary America.Review Quote
... an authoritative, compelling case for the historical mingling of secular discourses about freedom, choice, and human agency with religious language about sin, salvation, and virtue ... the precision and depth of the argumentation frequently inspire mental applause.Review Quote
... a wide-ranging and dazzling study of the beliefs that shaped America from the colonial era to the 1861-65 Civil War. The book makes a fine case for the impact of religious ideas on public life, and is equally good in showing how those ideas were shaped by revolution, republican politics, slavery and civil war. A work of great distinction.Review Quote
"Carefully documented and including an excellent bibliography, thisinsightful volume makes a useful contribution to the study of religion inAmerica"--Library JournalReview Quote
Magisterial history of theology in its political and philosophical setting ... Noll's learned, profound and insightful study shows better than any other work how the public morality of the USA was forged.