Patriotism And Piety

In Patriotism and Piety, Jonathan Den Hartog argues that the question of how religion would function in American society was decided in the decades after the Constitution and First Amendment established a legal framework. Den Hartog shows that among the wide array of politicians and public figures struggling to define religion’s place in the new nation, Federalists stood out—evolving religious attitudes were central to Federalism, and the encounter with Federalism strongly shaped American Christianity. Den Hartog describes the Federalist appropriations of religion as passing through three stages: a "republican" phase of easy cooperation inherited from the experience of the American Revolution; a "combative" phase, forged during the political battles of the 1790s–1800s, when the destiny of the republic was hotly contested; and a "voluntarist" phase that grew in importance after 1800. Faith became more individualistic and issue-oriented as a result of the actions of religious Federalists. Religious impulses fueled party activism and informed governance, but the redirection of religious energies into voluntary societies sapped party momentum, and religious differences led to intraparty splits. These developments altered not only the Federalist Party but also the practice and perception of religion in America, as Federalist insights helped to create voluntary, national organizations in which Americans could practice their faith in interdenominational settings. Patriotism and Pietyfocuses on the experiences and challenges confronted by a number of Federalists, from well-known leaders such as John Adams, John Jay, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and Timothy Dwight to lesser-known but still important figures such as Caleb Strong, Elias Boudinot, and William Jay.

"Armenian Christianity manifests a unique blend of patriotism and piety - given its ethnic character from the outset and the fact of its having survived the unfavorable currents of history. Beginning from the inception of Armenian letters at the turn of the fifth century, the author surveys that blend in ancient Armenian sources spanning a thousand years. He shows how the theme finds its fullest manifestation as a literary motif in the medieval panegyrics dedicated to St. Gregory the Illuminator, founder of the Armenian Church at the dawn of the fourth century. Of these, the panegyric by Hovhannes of Erzenka (a prolific author of the thirteenth century) exhibits all the characteristics of the motif in ancient Armenian literature. Consequently, his work receives ample coverage in this unique study, including a translation of the entire text with commentary. Annotated selections from the other panegyrics on St. Gregory complete the book, the second volume in the AVANT series devoted to the study of the Armenian Christian heritage."--BOOK JACKET.

Piety and Patriotism is a collection of eight essays that explores the interaction of the Reformed Church with the American culture, from 1776 to 1976. The articles are arranged topically to correspond with eight important matrices in the American experience: the Revolutionary War, frontier expansion, immigration, international affairs, social-intellectual thought, social concerns, education, and the role of women.

Examines the religious right through the eyes of the movement's leaders, including Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Jim and Tammy Bakker.