The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American by Andrew Seidel
“The Founding Myth” exposes the myth that America was founded on Christian principles and it is an effective assault on the Christian nationalist identity. Constitutional and civic rights attorney at the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), Andrew Seidel, takes the reader on a hard-hitting tour de force as he meticulously dismantles the concept of a Christian nation. This important 354-page book includes twenty-six chapters broken out by the following four parts: I. The Founders, Independence, and the Colonies, II. United States v. The Bible, III. The Ten Commandments v. The Constitution, and IV. American Verbiage.
Positives:
1. A well-researched, well-organized written book.
2. The fascinating topic of debunking the Christian nation myth. “The purpose of this book is simple, if lofty: to utterly destroy the myths that underlie this un-American political ideology.”
3. Reference quality material, a very useful debate tool.
4. Does a wonderful job of keeping the material accessible and defining key terms and concepts. ““Judeo-” is a sop, a fig leaf, tossed about to avoid controversy and complaint. It is simply a morsel of inclusion offered to soften the edge of an exclusionary, Christian movement.”
5. The recurring theme of how religion is divisive. “History had proven to the framers of the US Constitution that religion is divisive. They separated religion from government to avoid the mistakes of past regimes.”
6. Exposes Project Blitz. “Project Blitz encapsulates the problem Christian nationalism poses. First, it seeks to alter our history, values, and national identity. Then it codifies Christian privilege in the law, favoring Christians above others. Finally, it legally disfavors the nonreligious, non-Christians, and minorities such as the LGBTQ community, by, for instance, permitting discrimination against them in places of public accommodation or in employment.”
7. Discusses the founders’ intention. “Two facts illustrate the founders’ intentions to build this wall. First, our Constitution is deliberately godless. There are no references to gods, goddesses, or divine intervention. The omission was not an oversight. Supernatural power was rejected in favor of the natural power contained in the first three words: “We the People.””
8. Discusses the source of morality. “Religion gets its morality from us, not the other way around.”
9. Provocative statements throughout. “In other words, what most religions label absolute morality is simply their personal morality given divine sanction.”
10. A debunk fest. “The Golden Rule is not a Judeo-Christian principle. It is a universal human principle.”
11. Compelling arguments. “The founding documents of the United States revere and protect freedom above all else. The bible worships and demands the opposite: obedience, submission, and servility.” “Blind obedience to and fear of an omnipotent being is tyranny, not freedom. At its core, Judeo-Christianity’s insistence on obedience and fear conflicts with America’s essential value.”
12. Christianity in conflict with our founding principles. “The entire Christian religion is based on a singular claim that violates the principle of personal responsibility so critical to our systems: that Jesus died for your sins.”
13. Discusses the foundation of our godless Constitution. “Our Constitution is the product of human thought and perseverance, not faith.” “Reason and experiment dispel error; faith propagates it.”
14. Dissects the Ten Commandments and how they conflict with the Constitution. Take the third commandment. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. “Blasphemy laws and religious restrictions on speech are un-American. This commandment stands opposed to all that makes our country great.”
15. Biblical passages that are incompatible with the Constitution or common sense. “Jesus himself lays down the most vile and controlling sexual law by making it impossible to obey the adultery commandment: “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.””
16. Discusses how capitalism is prohibited by the tenth commandment. “The particular thought the tenth commandment prohibits—covetousness—is itself a problem for the Christian nationalist. Even Americans with no historical or legal training should recognize that coveting is the basis of American capitalism and our consumer society. Both would fail without the desire to get what we don’t have. Coveting created America.”
17. The distinction between a moral code and a religious one. “The alleged moral and ethical superiority of the Ten Commandments is important to the Christian Nation myth and, like the myth, is inaccurate. The Ten Commandments are not a moral code; they are a religious code. That distinction, often lost, is crucial. A moral code is a set of principles that help us analyze and reach moral solutions in the innumerable dilemmas life presents. A religious code is a set of rules based on divine authority—its only “morality” is to obey, to follow.”
18. Great quotes. ““It is much easier to alarm people than to inform them.” — William R. Davie, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, in a letter to James Iredell, during the run-up to North Carolina’s ratifying convention, 1788”
19. The evil of slavery. “Slavery is sanctified and permitted in the bible. Jesus even discusses the proper force with which to beat one’s slaves in Luke 12:45–49, a passage the Southern states often used to justify slavery.”
20. Discusses the divisive motto. “The presidential tradition of troubling deaf heaven with bootless cries by closing presidential remarks with the phrase “God bless America” dates to Nixon and is rooted in one of the worst scandals to mar the presidency. Nixon used religion to distract Americans from Watergate.”
21. Links to footnotes.
Negatives:
1. No visual supplementary material.
2. No formal bibliography.
3. Having to wait so long for such an excellent book.
In summary, this is an important and reference quality book. We needed this book and Andrew Seidel provides a truly patriotic resource to fight back Christian nationalists that will stop at nothing to turn our country into a theocracy. A wonderful resource, I can’t tout this book enough. Get it, a high recommendation!
Further recommendations: “Why the Religious Right Is Wrong about Separation of Church and State” by Robert Boston, “Nonbeliever Nation” by David Niose, “Atheists Can’t Be Republicans” by Cj Werleman, “The Dark Side of Christian History” by Helen Ellerbe, “Atheism for Dummies” by Dale McGowan, “Birth Control, Insurance Coverage, & the Religious Right” by A.F. Alexander, “50 popular beliefs that people think are true” by Guy P. Harrison, “Godless” by Dan Barker, “Freethinkers” by Susan Jacoby, “Republican Gomorrah” by Max Blumenthal, “American Fascists” by Chris Hedges, “Doubt” by Jennifer Michael Hecht, “Society Without God” by Phil Zuckerman, and “Why are you Atheists so Angry?” by Greta Christina.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Follow the author
Get new release updates & improved recommendations
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Frequently bought together
This item: The Founding Myth
EUR14.83
In Stock
+
EUR7.79
In Stock
+
EUR13.06
In Stock
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Explore more from across the store
Page 1 of 1 Start over
- The Family: A Study of Power, Politics, and Evangelical Influence in WashingtonPaperbackEUR 7.62 shipping
- The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in RacismPaperbackEUR 7.62 shippingGet it as soon as Friday, Apr 24Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Product Videos
About the author
Customers say
Customers find this book to be an important and enjoyable read that is deeply researched and well-written. They appreciate its factual representation of history, particularly how it sheds light on how history has been distorted to fit the Christian nationalist narrative. Customers consider it a must-read on dispelling Christian nationalism and compulsory reading for all Americans, praising its well-reasoned approach and clarity.
AI Generated from the text of customer reviews
Select to learn more
176 customers mention content, 170 positive, 6 negative
...It is also a great book that gives a huge warning to us all as to why we need to be diligent to continue to keep religion out of our schools and...Read more
Excellent book! Very well researched and footnoted.Read more
Great read. I desperately hope people will start listening to people like Seidel. This book is more necessary now than ever.Read more
...He also pokes at why we should have a wall of separation. It is an excellent read for anyone who does not want a more flowery depiction of US law.Read more
122 customers mention informative, 120 positive, 2 negative
Well researched and documented. Andrew Seidel lays out his arguments clearly and forcefully, step by step....Read more
Every American should read this book. It is informative and interesting....Read more
Beautifully written, well referenced and researched....Read more
...American Verbiage. Positives: 1. A well-researched, well-organized written book. 2....Read more
56 customers mention writing quality, 56 positive, 0 negative
...It is well written and I was impressed with the notes on his research. As John Adam said, " Facts are stubborn things."...Read more
...of a extremely important topic Like all of Andrew's work this is very well written....Read more
The book is superbly researched and written and should be read by every American who cherishes the freedoms bestowed upon us by the Founders and the...Read more
...What shocked me upon reading this extremely well written and researched book was the depth to which some of that myth had entwined itself into my DNA...Read more
49 customers mention accurate history, 48 positive, 1 negative
Eye opening, factual, and well written! A must read book for everyone.Read more
Accurate History of our Country's Founding.Read more
A wonderful look at the founding ideologies, history, and evolution of the principles of our great experiment....Read more
Inspiring, little known history. An attack on America that we must oppose and defeat.Read more
48 customers mention christian nationalism, 34 positive, 14 negative
A must read on dispelling christian nationalismRead more
This book explains why separation of church and state are critical to our nation, and how efforts to create a theocracy are dangerous and un-American.Read more
Christian Nationalism is Un-American!Read more
Hits the nail on the head from cover to cover. Calls out the evangelicals and their insistence the U.S. is a Christian nation refuting much of their...Read more
38 customers mention readability, 34 positive, 4 negative
...Logical, balanced, easy to read, and intelligently discussed, this material should be a must-read for all Civics courses....Read more
...A very readable book and informative book.Read more
...A good read for anyone who has a healthy interest in political movements.Read more
Required reading if you have friends on the religious right who insist that our country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles....Read more
22 customers mention thought-provoking, 22 positive, 0 negative
...Extremely well sourced and well reasoned, you will have very little reason to disagree with the author when you've finished reading.Read more
Masterfully written and well argued!...Read more
I found this book quite thorough and thoughtful as it explored the true story about religion at our founding and laid out the many reasons in favor...Read more
...Logical, balanced, easy to read, and intelligently discussed, this material should be a must-read for all Civics courses....Read more
20 customers mention clarity, 18 positive, 2 negative
A clear and concise takedown of the misperceptions and deliberate falsehoods that permeate the discussion about the role of religion in the founding...Read more
Concise and well-argued, this book clears the haze of Christian Nationalist smoke and mirrors and shows the undeniably secular founding of the...Read more
...Although I understood the basic issues, this book clearly and plainly explains the founding fathers’ position on religion and how it differs...Read more
This book just makes sense. The author makes a wonderful argument against Christian nationalism, or as I call it, Christian supremacy....Read more
Christianity is anti-American
This is a definitive win for all American patriots that deeply care about our freedoms and rights. Mr. Seidel irrefutably proves through extensive, detailed, and exhaustive research how Christianity and Judaism are anti-American. The book proves how since the foundation of America, power hungry Christianity (and lately Judaism) has been trying to creep itself into American politics in order to appropriate to themselves all privileges, dictate all aspects of our lives and minds, and rob us from all our freedoms. And they don’t care how they get power as long as they get it (they never have and never will). Christinaity and all religions are superstitions. As such, the only way they can achieve power is through myths, lies, fear, torture, death, exclusion, propaganda, misogyny, ignorance, oppression, immorality, amorality, anti-science, anti-democracy, surveillance and persecution. The exact opposite of American values. And Andrew proves it in his book. How? By using facts, reason and evidence to compare our Enlightenment, godless inspired Constitution to the bronze age, middle eastern patched compendium of inhumane lies that all the Bible is. Unless you are a Make bronze-Age Great Again (MAGA) fanatic and as such willfully ignore all the evidence, this is a blow full of light and reason to the dark myth of America being a Christian nation. The only thing that I would’ve liked to see a little bit more of is the use of humor and ridicule of Christianity and Judaism. Not that they are not ridiculous and a waste of time already but it is always good to have a laugh at the expense of evil beliefs. Thank you Andrew. America and our freedoms shine brighter thanks to this attack on the forces of evil, ignorance and darkness that religions are. Thanks for your book and your daily work at FFRF
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
Top reviews from other countries
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in Germany on May 29, 2021
Unfortunately will not be read be enough Americans
Format: KindleVerified Purchase - Daniel JayReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 6, 2019
The creeping contamination of the US Constitution by religion now revealed.
Format: KindleVerified Purchase - Jonathan ValentinReviewed in Canada on March 10, 2021
It's factual, honest, and a must read for anyone that cares about truth.
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase - KenReviewed in Australia on November 5, 2022
Great book. Very important.
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase - BubbygeeReviewed in the United Kingdom on February 14, 2021
A scholarly work.
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
