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Religion

History of Religion

History Educator Scholarship

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Full-Text Articles in History

Using The Past To "Save" Our Nation: The Debate Over Christian America, John Fea Jan 2013

Using The Past To "Save" Our Nation: The Debate Over Christian America, John Fea

History Educator Scholarship

The article examines the widespread cultural debate in the U.S. regarding whether or not the country was founded as a Christian nation. The author charts the development of right-wing Christian nationalism in the U.S., which sees the country as essentially Christian in origin, noting their belief in American exceptionalism, anti-historical revisionist stance, and belief in the Christian identity of many Founding Fathers. She goes on to argue that many founders actually supported the separation of church and state despite their Christian beliefs, and notes that applying 20th and 21st century religious ideals to the founding moment is anachronistic and erroneous. …


The Way Of Improvement Leads Home: Philips Vickers Fithian’S Rural Enlightenment, John Fea Sep 2003

The Way Of Improvement Leads Home: Philips Vickers Fithian’S Rural Enlightenment, John Fea

History Educator Scholarship

Offers a look at the life of Philip Vickers Fithian, a diarist from southern New Jersey, in an effort to assess the influence of the Enlightenment in the British American colonies. Profile of Fithian; His perception on personal morality and behavior; Political and social issues tackled in his journal; Efforts to reconcile the pursuit of Enlightenment self-improvement with passion and love for home.