Overview

America's founders intended to liberate us not just from one king but from the ghostly tyranny of supernatural religion. Drawing deeply on the study of European philosophy, Matthew Stewart brilliantly tracks the ancient, pagan, and continental ideas from which America's revolutionaries drew their inspiration. In the writings of Spinoza, Lucretius, and other great philosophers, Stewart recovers the true meanings of ""Nature's God,"" ""the pursuit of happiness,"" and the radical political theory with which the American experiment in self-government began.

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9780393351293

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A lively, powerful, and erudite refutation of the myth that the framers of our secular Constitution had any intention of founding an orthodox Christian nation. -- Susan Jacoby, author of Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism Splendid...imaginative but never fanciful, even at its most surprising. -- Alan Ryan, author of The Making of Modern Liberalism Brilliant... breathes fresh life into our understanding of the American Revolution. Beautifully written and lucidly argued, Nature's God...will set the agenda for serious discussion of the American Revolution's significance in world history. -- Peter S. Onuf, author of The Mind of Thomas Jefferson Impressive... refreshing. -- Barton Swaim - Wall Street Journal Eloquently argued. -- Wendy Smith - Los Angeles Times Enthralling and important... [A] pleasure to read, its often surprising conclusions supported by elegant prose. -- Buzzy Jackson - Boston Globe [A] splendidly polemical account of the philosophy of the founding fathers. -- Jonathan Ree - Prospect (UK) Impassioned, noble, and necessary. -- Brook Wilensky-Lanford - New Republic

Brilliant ... breathes fresh life into our understanding of the American Revolution. Beautifully written and lucidly argued, Nature's God recovers the lost voices and original intentions of the thoughtful men who made America. Sure to stir controversy on all fronts. -- Peter S. Onuf, author of The Mind of Thomas Jefferson Splendid...imaginative but never fanciful, even at its most surprising. -- Alan Ryan, author of The Making of Modern Liberalism A lively, powerful, and erudite refutation of the myth that the framers of our secular Constitution had any intention of founding an orthodox Christian nation. -- Susan Jacoby, author of Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism Eloquently argued. -- Wendy Smith Enthralling and important ... [A] pleasure to read. -- Buzzy Jackson Impressive... refreshing. -- Barton Swaim

Impassioned, noble, and necessary. -- Brook Wilensky-Lanford - New Republic [A] splendidly polemical account of the philosophy of the founding fathers. -- Jonathan Ree - Prospect (UK) Enthralling and important... [A] pleasure to read, its often surprising conclusions supported by elegant prose. -- Buzzy Jackson - Boston Globe Eloquently argued. -- Wendy Smith - Los Angeles Times Impressive... refreshing. -- Barton Swaim - Wall Street Journal Brilliant... breathes fresh life into our understanding of the American Revolution. Beautifully written and lucidly argued, Nature's God...will set the agenda for serious discussion of the American Revolution's significance in world history. -- Peter S. Onuf, author of The Mind of Thomas Jefferson Splendid...imaginative but never fanciful, even at its most surprising. -- Alan Ryan, author of The Making of Modern Liberalism A lively, powerful, and erudite refutation of the myth that the framers of our secular Constitution had any intention of founding an orthodox Christian nation. -- Susan Jacoby, author of Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism

Author Information

Matthew Stewart is an independent philosopher and historian who has written extensively about the philosophical origins of the American republic. His work has appeared in?The Atlantic,?The?Washington Post,?The Wall Street Journal, and more. He is currently based in London.

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