Just working my way through "The Religious Beliefs of America's Founders: Reason, Revelation, Revolu

The Religious Beliefs of America's Founders: Reason, Revelation, Revolution (American Political Thought) Frazer, Gregg L (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2012)

http://www.amazon.com/The-Religious-Beliefs-Americas-Founders/dp/0700618457


The author makes the argument that some of the principal founders (Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, etc.) were neither strictly Christian nor strictly Deist, but were a completely different animal he calls "theistic rationalists."

The author reasons and writes well, quotes them frequently, and provides lots of broader context for the things he's quoting and arguing. He argues that they held many beliefs strict Deists would have agreed with, and some they would have rejected. He also points out some of their beliefs which would be acceptable to Christians, and many which would not.

His primary argument is that Christians and Deists who each want to claim the Founders as their own will have to form a new conception of these men vis-a-vis religious belief.

It's an interesting read, so far.

Anyone else read it? Thoughts?

NOTE: I feel the need to state that I am a firm believer in a very strict Church/State separation. If I find that the author is attempting to make an argument for any form of theocracy, or religious/governmental entanglement, I'll be sure to point it out.