American gospel God, the founding fathers, and the making of a nation

"The great fact about America--the American gospel--is that belief in God is central to the country's experience, but faith is a matter of choice, not coercion. Religion is central to American life (from the Mayflower, to Jamestown, to the Declaration of Independence, to today), and consequently we must handle it very carefully."--from American Gospel Excerpted from American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation by Jon Meacham All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.