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 Best little book on the US as a Secular society Nov 25, 2009
I liked this book, started reading it on Good Friday, when it first came out, of all days. I learned what Secularism was even though I should've known cause where I lean spiritually and politically-I blame it on my contemptuous attitude toward both sides of the culture wars as I'm not a partisan creature. We really needed this book against George W. Bush's America. But beyond this,and probably because of it, because of the dominance of the Religious Right, has on America,I think Jacoby did her best to research each time period real well and let no story go untold, the 20s, post WWII America, post-Reagan, and to connect them together, one chapter is titled "Unholy Trinity:Atheists,Reds,Darwinists," another is,"Lost Connections:Anticlericalism,Abolitionism,and Feminism." She goes into detail of Anthony Comstock,Father Charles Coughlin-the "radio priest", two of the best demagogues this country had, and their witch-hunts, obscure but important figures like Robert G. Ingersoll, Madalyn Murray O'Hair,Thomas Paine,D. M. Bennett and his unlawful imprisonment, just because he was an editor of a freethought publication, exposing the hypocrisy of Christianity, Anthony Comstock, Samuel Colgate, but also the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses, long dead publications, like the "Bible Comically Illustrated", and the "Truth Seeker", and "Cupid's Yokes" call them secular pulps. One thing I like is that she talks about the bias towards Roman-Catholics getting the presidency with Al Smith and John F. Kennedy. Other interesting parts include how Billy Graham and Richard Nixon were very much revered, and that a person like Newt Gingrich, is very much a child of the 60s. You know her bent, which is good because it gives a sense of purpose, and she's even handed. A good book and a great rallying cry.
A Secular Constitution Sep 26, 2009
"Freethinkers" is a kinder, gentler word for nonbelievers who don't conduct their lives with any acknowledgement of supernatural supervision (or interference) over their lives or over this universe. Freethinkers are a loosely knit group. Many of them have been important in the history of our country - but have been acknowledged only reluctantly when credit could not be hidden. Most US history books have been written with a hat tip toward our religious friends.
Susan Jacoby's "Freethinkers" fills a void. As far as I know no one has previously documented how influencial freethinkers have been in creating and changing the political and social structure of the United States. The bibliography is full of bits and pieces about prominent freethinkers, including many biographies. There are books about freethinkers involved in the fights over abolition, women's suffrage, civil rights, the constitution, and many other US social conflicts - but this book is unique in putting it all together.
In one important example the influence of freethinkers has been critical - that being the specific and premeditated omission of God from the constitution. The creators of the Constitution (most of them religious) tried to insure that religious concerns could not, by law, influence US governance. This was a unique concept at the time and has been critical to the success of this nation - thanks to the influence of free thought concepts at the Constitutional convention.
If it weren't for these Enlightenment concepts, Thomas Jefferson's prototype Virginia Constitution, various influential freethinkers such as Paine and Madison, and some underdog religious groups who yearned for parity, this country's destiny could have been very different. Other freethinkers influenced important movements in the 19th and 20th centuries. For a unique look at US history from an underappreciated perspective, "Freethinkers" is a gem.
PS: Jacoby's resurrection of Robert Ingersoll, the "Great Agnostic" of the late 1800's was long overdue.
DB
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Inspirational look at some great Americans Jul 17, 2009
This book works on many levels. First, it is well researched and full of interesting information about some heroic Americans that aren't particularly well known outside of freethought circles. People like Thomas Paine, Robert Green Ingersoll, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The author makes a persuasive for the enormous impact that secular thinkers had on the development of the United States, in spite of the fact that there's always been a strong cultural bias against recognizing the impact of people who trusted their own minds and refused to blindly accept the dominant religious dogma of the day. The author also has some important things to say about the intellectual climate that existed when the country was founded. While many Christian apologists still cling to the idea that the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation, the author puts this notion to rest rather easily. Indeed, the Constitution contains no reference to God and the separation of church and state was clearly one of the most important principles of the country's founding. Paul Gehrman, Author, Kaleidoscope
Learning from the Past May 08, 2009
This is an excellent history of secular thought or "Free Thought" in American and its painfully small influence in our "religiously correct" society. It is hard to believe that we have degenerated to the point where we are discouraged from questioning religion in the public sphere. Even ridiculous religious sentiments are supposed immune from logic in our current state of discourse. Jacoby offers a powerful argument to counter that offering as examples 19th and 20th century "Freethinkers" who openly shared their views while allowing others to hold theirs (though not without challenge). She also offers an incisive argument for the separation of church and state and how this aspect of the constitution has been eroded particularly in the last 8 years. Finally she counters the illogical argument that at least Christian morality is better than no morality. This is a falsehood rooted in the ridiculous assumption that there are only two choices. As many others have pointed out, the humanists have a much better human rights record than the Christians. This is a provacative book that i highly recommend
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Interesting but poorly written Apr 26, 2009
The contents of history regarding secularism in American are mixed together with asides and editorial comments making a hard to follow book. The subject matter made me read the entire book, the facts that were offered made me glad I did, but this is one book you find yourself putting down every few pages because the author's schizoid approach to writing. One sentence will be history, next an editorial comment, and the next a personal interest item that doesn't enhance either the history or the editorial side of the book. Funny after reading this book I want a secular version of secularist history, because her own believes are so intertwined with the facts it lessens the importance of the history that is told.
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