Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: the great seal -- Before the beginning -- A tolerant, Protestant nation -- The second American revolution -- "We have become a nation": drafting the Constitution -- Adding the First Amendment -- Freedom of religion in the new nation -- Original wisdom.

"Endowed by Our Creator shows that the framers understood that the American government should not acknowledge religion in a way that favors any particular creed or denomination. Nevertheless, the framers believed that religion could instill virtue and help to unify a diverse nation. They created a spiritual public vocabulary, one that could communicate to all--including agnostics and atheists--that they were valued members of the political community. Through their writings and their decisions, the framers affirmed that respect for religious differences is a fundamental American value. Now it is for us, Meyerson concludes, to determine whether religion will be used to alienate and divide or to inspire and unify our religiously diverse nation."-- Provided by publisher.

Print version record.

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