America–A Suggested Reading List
Our list is not intended to be exhaustive, but a suggestive or recommended reading concerning America and the influence of Christianity upon the nation's origin and development. Given the fact that our tax-exempt status does not permit Christian Heritage Fellowship to commercially endorse the sale of products that do not originate within our organization, direct links are not provided from our selected reading materials.
Donald S. Lutz and Charles S. Hyneman, American Political Writing During the Founding Era, 1760-1805. Lutz and Hyneman reviewed nearly 15,000 documents and closely read 2,200 books, pamphlets, newspaper articles, and monographs with explicit political content that were printed between 1760 and 1805. From this massive study, they demonstrate the overwhelming influence that the Bible and Christianity exercised upon the founding of America.
Dave Stotts, Drive Thru History: Columbus, the Pilgrims, and Early Boston. Drive Thru History continues with the story of Christopher Columbus. Host Dave Stotts travels to Columbus’ birthplace in Italy and the place in Spain where he set sail for America. Next, Dave follows the story and the trail of the Plymouth Pilgrims—from their home in Scrooby, England, across the ocean to Plymouth, Massachusetts. In the third episode, Dave explores the amazing and poignant beginnings of the Revolutionary War. We learn about important Founding Fathers and visit famous sites in Boston, Lexington, and Concord. As with all Drive Thru History episodes, the American History Series tours actual geographical landmarks and includes adventure, Dave’s special humor, and the integration of our Christian history. Entertainment and education rolled into one, with more than 80 minutes of content! A discussion guide is downloadable for free on christianbookguides.com.
Rush Limbaugh, Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims: Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans. Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims: Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans. Okay, okay, my name’s really Rusty—but my friends call me Rush. Rush Revere. Because I’ve always been the #1 fan of the coolest colonial dude ever, Paul Revere. Talk about a rock star—this guy wanted to protect young America so badly, he rode through those bumpy, cobblestone-y streets shouting “the British are coming!” On a horse. Top of his lungs. Wind blowing, rain streaming. . . .
Kirk Cameron (Actor), Duane Barnhart (Director), Monumental: In Search of America's National Treasure. Monumental is the story of America's beginnings. Presented, produced, and starring Kirk Cameron, the 90-minute true story follows this father of six across Europe and the US as he seeks to discover America's true "national treasure" - the people, places, and principles that made America the freest, most prosperous, and generous nation the world has ever known.
David Barton, Separation of Church & State: What the Founders Meant. This new book is very timely for one of the most frequently debated issues in America: the separation of church and state. Where did this phrase originate? Was it always meant to prohibit expressions of religious faith in public settings as many claim today? Learn the answers to these questions and discover the Founding Fathers own words and intents in this book! With all these resources, you will be able to clearly understand the original intent of the Founding Fathers and be able to share those beliefs with others!
Dr. Peter A. Lillback and Jerry Newcombe, George Washington's Sacred Fire. What sets "George Washington's Sacred Fire" apart from all previous works on this man for the ages, is the exhaustive fifteen years of Dr. Peter Lillback's research, revealing a unique icon driven by the highest of ideals. Only do George Washington's own writings, journals, letters, manuscripts, and those of his closest family and confidants reveal the truth of this awe-inspiring role model for all generations. Dr. Lillback paints a picture of a man, who, faced with unprecedented challenges and circumstances, ultimately drew upon his persistent qualities of character - honesty, justice, equity, perseverence, piety, forgiveness, humility, and servant leadership, to become one of the most revered figures in world history. George Washington set the cornerstone for what would become one of the most prosperous, free nations in the history of civilization. Through this book, Dr. Lillback, assisted by Jerry Newcombe, will reveal to the reader a newly inspirational image of General and President George Washington.
David J. Brewer, The United States: A Christian Nation. In his book, The United States a Christian Nation, Supreme Court Justice, David Brewer, articulates the historical legal foundation of America as a Christian nation. Written in 1905, this work is a corrective to the present-day judicial activism of the American court and further amplifies Justice Brewer's 1892 Supreme Court opinion (Holy Trinity v. United States) declaring America to be a "Christian nation.
David Barton, Founder's Bible. America stands at the crossroads of human history, once revered and respected throughout the world for its exceptionalism, a gleaming "city set on a hill" as a beacon of enduring freedom, now reviled, its influence reduced, teetering on the brink of disaster. . . . If ever there was a desperate need for us to look back and rediscover the vision, the passion, and the wisdom of those who laid the glorious foundations, it is now! Founders' Bible Features: Over 40 major articles, some 330 pages, covering such themes as "Our Most Sacred Treasure: The Bible," "Is America a Christian Nation?" "Original Intent and the Separation of Church and State," and "Escape from Tyranny."
Dr. D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?. This brilliant book asks What's right with our world? And how did it get that way? The answers may surprise you, intrigue you and inspire you. Hopefully they will change you as they have changed the world. In a day when may professing Christians appear blissfully unaware of their cultural mandate, the authors remind us that the Church is to bear the glory of God in every sphere of life.
Agenda: Grinding America Down. When Idaho Legislator Curtis Bowers wrote a "letter to the editor" about the drastic changes in America's culture, it became the feature story on the evening news, people protested at the Capitol, and for weeks the local newspapers were filled with responses. He realized then... he'd hit on something. Ask almost anyone and you'll hear, "Communism is dead! The Berlin Wall came down." Thought the word communism isn't used anymore, this film will show the ideas behind it are alive and well. Join Bowers for a fascinating look at the people and groups that have successfully targeted America's morality and freedom in their effort to grind America down. It's a well documented AGENDA.
Catherine Millard, The Rewriting of America's History. Catherine Millard undertakes to describe how the history of America has been reinterpreted and rewritten by secularist and humanist historians who have systematically excluded much that relates to faith in God from their accounts.
William J Federer, The Original 13 - A Documentary History of Religion in America's first Thirteen States. "The whole power over the subject of religion is left exclusively to the State governments, to be acted upon according to their justice and the State Constitutions," wrote Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story in his Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, 1833. Who was Joseph Story? He was the founder of Harvard Law School and appointed to the Supreme Court by President James Madison - the same James Madison who introduced the First Amendment in the first session of Congress.
Jerry Newcombe, The Book That Made America. The Book that Made America: How the Bible Formed Our Nation comprehensively documents, with joy, Americas deep roots in the Bible of the Christian faith. From our first civil compacts and the New England Primer textbook, to the declaration of every state constitution and the declaration of the United States Supreme Courts Trinity decision of 1892, America cries out that its traditions have resulted from an abiding faith in the God of the Holy Bible.
Mark Sutherland, ed., Judicial Tyranny: The New Kings of America?. We live in the greatest nation on Planet Earth, but it is becoming more and more apparent that in order to keep it great, people must do something to stop the federal courts that are daily setting themselves above the law and dictating how we should live and what we should think. This book is designed to bring you up to speed on the ongoing struggle against an over-reaching judicial branch, without overwhelming you with legal double-speak.
Roy Moore, So Help Me God: The Ten Commandments, Judicial Tyranny, and the Battle for Religious Freedom. In his first overseas trip as president, Barack Obama assured other nations that America is not a “Christian nation.” Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore begs to differ. Moore, who rose to national prominence when he disobeyed the order of a federal judge to remove a monument to the Ten Commandments from his courthouse, makes the compelling case that the state must acknowledge the moral principles on which America was founded and that it is not illegal to do so.
David Barton, Four Centuries of American Education. For four centuries, religion, morality, and knowledge formed the core elements of American education, but in recent decades, a secularized approach to education has gained prominence. This title discusses the effects of both religious and secular philosophies and presents stories of early American heroes in the field of education.
B. J. Lossing, Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. Most people know the importance of the Declaration of Independence, but few know much about its signers. This reprint of an 1848 original provides a brief biography on each of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration. Learn the virtues of these venerated Americans who helped create the most stable and enviable nation in the world.
Charles B. Galloway, Christianity and the American Commonwealth. Originally published in 1898, Christianity and the American Commonwealth is a collection of 5 brilliant lectures given at the Chapel of Emory College in Oxford GA. The arguments made in his book, although written over 100 years ago, are persuasively modern and need to be heeded by today’s church. More than 100 historical images from all over the world have been added to bring the text to life. Lectures are : Religion and Civil Government; The Christian Coming and Character of the Early Colonists; The Christians Institutions and Laws of the Colonists; Christianity and the Nation; Christian Education in the American Commonwealth.
David Barton, Impeachment: Restraining and Overactive Judiciary. The American judicial branch is out of control, dominating both the executive and legislative branches. This book reveals how the Founders restrained overactive courts, utilizing the only Constitutional tool available – impeachment. With concise clarity, the historical perspective on impeachment is described, and aptly compared with the current misconceptions on impeachable offenses with the Constitution’s original intentions.
Gary Demar, America's Christian History: The Untold Story. Christianity is written on every page of America’s amazing history. Gary DeMar presents well-documented facts which will change your perspective about what it means to be a Christian in America; the truth about America’s Christian past as it relates to supreme court justices, and presidents; the Christian character of colonial charters, state constitutions, and the US Constitution; the Christian foundation of colleges, the Christian character of Washington, D.C.; the origin of Thanksgiving and so much more. Three appendixes have been added that further emphasize Christianity s positive influence on America. Additional information includes Deism and the Founding of America and Jesus Christ and the Founding of America. This is an indispensable book which is needed in a time when even “under God” is coming under fire.
William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation. Few people realize that America was founded because a devout band of non-conformist Christians lived and breathed the covenant promises of Jesus Christ. Though the Pilgrims left England because of religious persecution, they actually left Holland to protect their children from ungodly influences. These parents risked everything to protect their young. Bradford boldly proclaimed that these families were willing to sacrifice their lives, if necessary, "even though they [the Pilgrims] be but stepping stones" for future generations of Christians they would never meet. Of Plymouth Plantation is one of the five most inspirational books I have ever read. It is the true story of 50 "average" people who changed the world because they shared a multi-generational vision. For almost two decades, it has been a cherished family tradition to read this book aloud each Thanksgiving. My father, the family patriarch, gathers his many children and grandchildren around the table and reads for several hours the story of Bradford and the heroic Pilgrims. After all, how can we truly appreciate the significance of Thanksgiving if we do not know the real story? My personal library consists of thousands of volumes, but this is one of my most treasured. Your child should not be considered fully educated before reading Of Plymouth Plantation.
Benjamin Franklin Morris, Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States. Benjamin Franklin Morris' monumental work on the Christian roots of America.
David Barton, Original Intent. David Barton examines the real intent of the founding of America. Contrary to liberal ideas concerning the origin of America, Barton clearly explains the Christian origin and intent of America's Founding Fathers.
David Barton, Jefferson Lies. Thomas Jefferson's expression "separation of Church and state," used by liberals to marginalize the influence of Christianity in America, was used in a letter by Jefferson to Baptist church leaders in Conneticut. David Barton clarifies Jefferson's intent and demonstrates the important role America's Founding Fathers believed Christianity should have upon the nation.