Author: Gingrich, Newt
Genre: Politics / Government
Tags: Democracy / Government / Politics
Series:
Matt Shrader‘s Review:
This book is an attempt by the author to demonstrate that the history of the United States of America is indeed a nation founded “under God,” and must continue to hold that conviction. Throughout the book Gingrich shows that the history of the United States is one firmly rooted in the belief in the existence of a Creator and the unalienable rights of every citizen as a natural and necessary correlation. Gingrich argues that the majority of Americans still hold to this core belief (perhaps insincerely), but the media-academic-legal elite are trying to drive God out of the public square. The form of the book is a “walking tour” through some of the key sites in Washington D.C. The tour is set up chronologically through archives, monuments, buildings, and cemeteries showing the public exhibition of our nation “under God.”
The reader is indebted to the author for his efforts in compiling this book. The facts presented are compelling and even more information would be welcomed. It is noted that as you move through the book, and through America’s history, the references to God become fewer and less direct. As someone who has not been to Washington D.C., I was not distracted from the content of the book by the “walking tour” design. The history and clear quotes of men such as Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin D. Roosevelt show the beliefs these men publically showed. While this book demonstrates the clear history of a nation formed and developed from a viewpoint “under God,” it is not necessarily clear on how Christian that view has been. This short book can be read in a couple of hours, but the content and the quotes do not fail to provide fuel for thought and discussion.