Rediscovering God in America: Reflections on the Role of Faith in Our Nation's History | 
 enlarge | Author: Newt Gingrich
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Category: Book
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Rating:  82 reviews
Sales Rank: 17420
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Media: Hardcover
Pages: 160
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5 x 0.8
Dewey Decimal Number: 200.9753
Publication Date: October 10, 2006
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Product Description
Newt Gingrich takes us on a simple walk through Washington, D.C. that began a profound journey of personal discovery and renewal. At the National Archives, the immortal words from the Declaration of Independence that we "are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights," jumped off the page and into his heart with the simple truth that from day one in our country's history, the Author of freedom was not the state nor even the Founding Fathers. Our basic human rights and freedoms were-and are-"Creator-endowed." Gingrich sounds a clarion call for us to recognize that the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness that we hold so dear are inseparable from a sincere and humble acknowledgement that these gifts are only the Creator's to give. As a bonus, the book includes a "walking tour" of Washington, D.C.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 77 more reviews...
 Very useful to read and think about. Better to share and talk about. October 27, 2006
Craig Matteson (Ann Arbor, MI)
153 out of 168 found this review helpful
While many people will rail against Newt Gingrich and this book without ever bothering to read it, I recommend that every American read this short, easy-to-read, and very informative book. It is not advocating a theocracy in any way. What Speaker Gingrich is warning against is that banning any possible mention of God from public life and education will distort the understanding of history.
He says of this book, "Its purpose is neither theological, nor an effort to proselytize on behalf of any religious worldview. All Americans - both those who believe in God and those who do not share this belief - are equal in rights and duties under our Constitution and equal in deserving the respect of their fellow citizens." (page 130)
Gingrich goes on, "Instead, the purpose of this book is to rediscover the historic source of American liberty and to rediscover the founding generation's understanding of what is required to sustain liberty in a free society. And to do this is to truly discover anew the centrality of God in American history and in the ongoing story of American liberty." (page 131)
The author simply takes us on a walking tour of some major monuments around the National Mall in Washington D. C. and around Arlington National Cemetery. He gives us a little background on the man being memorialized including his statements about God, faith, and religion. The article also gives us some information about the monument, how it came to be and what we see when we visit there. We learn that even those that are often cited as not being religious did attend church services, and in the case of Jefferson, IN THE CAPITOL! The back of the book has a map of the area, a small chapter on how to take the walking tour of these monuments, and some photographs of these places.
Speaker Gingrich opens the book with a good article about the work by a minority to sterilize the public square of all references to God as if the discussion of religion, God, and faith were not a part of the very fabric of our nation. While it would be easy to believe that their efforts are ridiculous and could never result in the re-writing of history and the sandblasting of our monuments, some have already expressed a desire to do so. And the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has already ruled that "UNDER GOD" cannot be said in the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools (although, I believe, that ruling is currently enjoined while under appeal).
This is a very good book to read and think about. More important, it is a good book to share, give as a gift, and to talk about. Since the vast majority of us want to be able to talk about what matters to us and how we make our decisions about important matters, which may very well include our faith, we cannot let a small minority of self-appointed censors restrict us. Certainly, we must remain tolerant of all faiths and even the lack of faith (which is often a faith of sorts), but we must also assert our right to speak and pray and teach as we see fit. To pretend that our founders did not talk about God or pray or read the Bible is to pervert and distort history. And this constitutes a miseducation of our young people. We need to stand up to this and make sure it is corrected.
FAITH OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS August 10, 2006
TOM CHASTAIN (TAMPA FLORIDA)
103 out of 124 found this review helpful
"REDISCOVERING GOD IN AMERICA" IS A REFRESHING LOOK AT THE LIFES OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS AND HOW MUCH OF A ROLE FAITH PLAYED IN THERE LIFES AND SHAPED THE DESTINY OF THIS NATION.I REALLY APPRIEATE SPEAKER GINGRICH WRITING THIS BOOK AND SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT OUR FOUNDERS CAUSE SOME CRITICS OUT THERE WOULD SUGGEST THAT OUR FORMER PATROTS WERE NOT MEN OF FAITH BUT THIS WELL RESEARCHED AND DOCUMENTED BOOK HAS FACTS THAT PROVE OTHER WISE THAT OUR FOUNDERS WERE INDEED MEN OF GREAT CHRISTIAN FAITH WHO STOOD FOR PRINCIPLES THAT MATTER THE MOST. THE WRITER OF THE BOOK HOLDS A PHD IN HISTORY AND TEACHS IN GA.
A tour de force November 26, 2006
Seth J. Frantzman (Jerusalem, Israel)
40 out of 51 found this review helpful
Returning to his origins as a historian, the author presents an important argument for the role of god in American life, not only in the life of the home but in public life. What this books shows very convincingly is that god was very much on the minds of the founders. Even the most secular revolutionary founders such as Jefferson wrote about the 'creator' and many of the founders and signers of the declaration were deeply religious. When they spoke of Freedom of Religion they spoke in terms fo freedom from the church of England and by extension the English government extending its control over America. The people who wrote the constitution were descendants of non-conformists who fled religious persecution in England. Later those fighting against too much religion in schools would be protestants opposing catholic schools using public money. But there was not an intention to strip the cross out of public life or to pretend like Christmass isnt an integral part of AMerican life where 90% of the people celebrate it.
The book shows us that throughout the monuments in Washington, right down to the archives there is a deep attachment to god in the United States, not an attachment to a certain god, but a beleif that god grants equality and freedom and rights and that is why dictatorship and tyranny are wrong, becuase of the natural rights granted by god. It was beleif in god that led abolitionists to fight against slavery, secularism didnt end slavery or inspire John Brown or Fredrick Douglas or Lincoln. It was always god and in particular christianity that laid behind many of the great campaigns for freedom, democracy and human rights, of which the U.S was a pioneer. Those like George Crook who fought against the oppression of the Native Americans, were influenced by the 'creator'.
So here we have a very important work that shows why the Ten Commandments and 'under god' and 'in god we trust' are all integral to America. It also shows why America has always been so tolerant of other faiths. But it dares to show that athiesm is not tolerant of all faiths and atheism would strip america of religious diversity in order to impose its will.
Seth J. Frantzman
Timely and refreshing reminder of nation's theistic base November 5, 2006
B. D. Weimer (Minnesota, United States)
42 out of 56 found this review helpful
The secular left would like to silence all public religious expression ... unless it supports their left-wing causes. Thus, Democratic candidates routinely campaign from liberal pulpits, while conservative churches are attacked for allowing Republican candidates to appear.
The secular left seeks a radical purging of politics from the pulpit, and of God from politics. However, that is not how our nation was founded.
On the religious side, political sermons were common during the American Revolution. They were crucial for its success, providing much of the moral clarity required to sustain the long war for independence. See e.g. Ellis Sandoz, Political Sermons of the American Founding Era.
On the political side, Newt Gingrich's book takes the reader back to monuments and documents that cannot be ignored. It is almost startling to read the strongly theistic public statements by our nation's "secular" founders. The book does an excellent job of highlighting those religious statements, and explaining their original significance.
Our Founders did not simply refer to God as an accomodation to a religious culture. Instead, as the Speaker demonstrates, the Founders were ardent theists, who sought to bring God and faith directly into government. The most obvious example is the Declaration of Independence -- the entire legal basis for our new government. The Declaration makes no intellectual sense without Jefferson's argument about human rights coming from the Creator. A secularized Declaration is an incoherent document. Mr. Gingrich demonstrates this with interesting quotes from other Founders, who tracked and expanded upon Jefferson's argument.
A highly recommended book in a day when the liberal elites are encouraging people of faith to withdraw from politics.
Outstanding July 21, 2007
Duane J. Harings (Powder Springs GA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I read with interest how our founding fathers consistently built buildings with the reminders that there is a Supreme being, God, who has blessed us with this country, our constitution, and our democracy. There are so many nihilists around us that would destroy all of this. Evil does lurk in this world. A well writtent book, succinct but accurate with historical facts.
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