Meacham, Jon. American gospel; God, the Founding Fathers, and the making of a nation.

MEACHAM, Jon. American gospel; God, the Founding Fathers, and the making of a nation. Read by Grover Gardner. 6 cds. 7 hrs. Books on Tape. 2006. 1-4159-3116-x. $36.00. Vinyl; content notes. SA

This wide-ranging survey of pronouncements on the separation of church and state from a variety of presidents, philosophers, and religious leaders is instructive, interesting, and encouraging. Despite the recent fulminations of those such as Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, the true American spirit, although certainly religious, is one open to all varieties of beliefs, including nonbeliefs. Although the early colonists could be viciously intolerant of faiths such as Quakerism and Catholicism, the Founding Fathers in their plan for a free and fair society rejected such sectarianism and ensured that all beliefs would be respected. Quotations from Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Billy Graham, and Reinhold Niebuhr, among others, reinforce this ideal.

The text is somewhat loosely organized as it switches back and forth from one era and personality to another, but its points are well made and particularly salient at the present time. It would be useful to expand and enrich American history studies. The narration is clear and forceful, if occasionally pompous. Pat Dole, Richmond, VA

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.