A revelatory look at the separation of church and state in America—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Great InfluenzaFor four hundred years; Americans have fought over the proper relationships between church and state and between a free individual and the state. This is the story of the first battle in that war of ideas; a battle that led to the writing of the First Amendment and that continues to define the issue of the separation of church and state today. It began with religious persecution and ended in revolution; and along the way it defined the nature of America and of individual liberty. Acclaimed historian John M. Barry explores the development of these fundamental ideas through the story of Roger Williams; who was the first to link religious freedom to individual liberty; and who created in America the first government and society on earth informed by those beliefs. This book is essential to understanding the continuing debate over the role of religion and political power in modern life.
#182669 in Books WaterBrook Press 2012-08-28 2012-08-28Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.30 x .50 x 4.10l; .25 #File Name: 0143121960176 pages
Review
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful. GREAT edition of these important documentsBy Kevin M. AntonioI think the other reviewer missed the point of this book: the annotations are there to help the present day reader understand the importance of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.I've had Bantam's $1 version for years; and whilst I've had no problem with the D of I; I've always found the language of the Constitution daunting in some sections. Richard Beeman's annotation is clearly written and; thus; eye opening. I have a even greater appreciation for the Constitution.And... it definitely has a cool cover.6 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Good size; hip cover; but the annotations interupt the flow of the readingBy RJ StokelyPlease understand that I am giving the Penguin Civics Classics edition of the Declaration of Independence and The United States Constitution Three Stars; not the actual documents. First let's get the positives out of the way. I love the size of the book; the feel and weight (it can fit in your back pocket). The cover design is very hip as well; with the broken up snake dating back to the eighteenth century. My own personal beef is with the annotations. I like to read documents like the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution without being constantly interrupted by a fact or tidbit by Richard Beeman. It would have flowed a lot better if Beeman's annotations were written as small print foot notes; rather they read as part of their respective documents.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. resolves questions with the originals wordsBy Calimy father was thrilled with these. and used them in discussion with friends.
