In 2010, he had an entire program on George Whitefield, the 18th century evangelical revivalist. When his conversation with two religious historians turned to slavery, Beck began to wonder how Whitefield could be a source of inspiration for anti-slavery advocates in England and at the same time be an owner of slaves. Perplexed by this paradox, Beck had to admit, “Sometimes history is a little complex.”
John Fea, a professor of American history at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa., is a much better historian than Glenn Beck, but he tells this story about the political commentator because, in this case, Beck is absolutely right. History is certainly complex, particularly when the topic is the question in the title of Fea’s book, “Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?” Fea has written an excellent introductory text for students, pastors, church members and others who are interested in exploring American history and its relationship to Christianity. He does not provide a yes or no answer to the question in his title, but does a masterful job of exploring the ways that America was — and was not — founded as a Christian nation.
Fea’s definition of terminology alone is worth the price of the book. When we ask if America was founded as a Christian nation, we have to define what we mean by Christian — assent to certain doctrines, or the demonstration of particular behaviors? When we talk about Christian people, are we discussing the founding fathers and their beliefs, or ordinary early Americans and their practices? When we speak of the founding of the United States of America, are we referring to the arrival of the Pilgrims in 1620, the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the ratification of the Constitution in 1789, or some later event? As Fea explores the various trends, movements and personalities that make up American history, it becomes clear that our definition of the terms of the debate is going to be a major factor in shaping the outcome. This remains true today, when you consider that a time-traveling evangelist like George Whitefield could fit into many 21st century churches based on his assent to Christian doctrine, but he would have a hard time finding a congregation that supported his behavior as a slave owner.
Fea concludes that there is tension between founding documents such as the U.S. Constitution (which never refers to God or Christ) and the numerous state constitutions which recognize God and Christianity. He observes that the religious culture of pre-Civil War America was certainly shaped by evangelical Protestantism, but the Constitution “would always prevent the United States from making Christianity its established faith.” And the religious commitments of the founding fathers? All over the map, from devout believers to Christians with unorthodox beliefs and questionable behavior. The answer to the question of whether America was founded as a Christian nation depends on how you define Christianity, the American people and the founding of the nation. Sometimes history is a little complex.
Henry G. Brinton is pastor of Fairfax Presbyterian Church, Fairfax, Va., and author of “Balancing Acts: Obligation, Liberation and Contemporary Christian Conflicts.”
