Inventing a Christian America: The Myth of the Religious Founding [Paperback]

Perhaps one of the most enduring themes in American history is the idea that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. From school textbooks to political commentary, this pervasive narrative lies at the heart of many Americans’ perception of the historical legacy of their nation.

In Inventing a Christian America, leading religion and political historian Steven K. Green explores the historical record that is purported to support the popular belief in America’s religious founding and status as a Christian nation in order to demonstrate that this belief is little more than a myth. Seeking to shed light not only on the veracity of these ideas but on the reasons they endure, Green ultimately shows that the notion of America’s religious founding is a myth not merely in the colloquial sense, but also in a deeper sense, as a shared story that gives deeper meaning to our collective national identity.

Offering a fresh look at one of the most common and contested claims in American history, Inventing a Christian America is an enlightening read for anyone interested in the story of-and the debate over-America’s founding.