I am reading Andrew Wilson’s EXCELLENT book Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West and there is a great section where he talks about the Declaration of Independence and Thomas Jefferson’s first draft and final form of the opening line.
I've been reading the same book, and you're right, it's excellent. I was also struck by the change Franklin made to the original draft of the Declaration. This fits well with Tom Holland's work and some of the episodes in Justin Brierley's The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God, another excellent series.
So glad you are reading it. It is truly an extraordinary book. I read it first on kindle, and then bought a hardback copy just to keep. So much to think about. And Wilson did a masterful job of research to pull it all together.
Thank you!! These words are powerful: Secularization is not necessarily the process of de-Christianization, it can be, but often it is trading in Christian currency without bothering to look at whose face is imprinted on the coins: Christ’s!
I've been reading the same book, and you're right, it's excellent. I was also struck by the change Franklin made to the original draft of the Declaration. This fits well with Tom Holland's work and some of the episodes in Justin Brierley's The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God, another excellent series.
Richard, I agree, Wilson's book is very Tom Hollandesque.
So glad you are reading it. It is truly an extraordinary book. I read it first on kindle, and then bought a hardback copy just to keep. So much to think about. And Wilson did a masterful job of research to pull it all together.
Agree 100%
Thank you!! These words are powerful: Secularization is not necessarily the process of de-Christianization, it can be, but often it is trading in Christian currency without bothering to look at whose face is imprinted on the coins: Christ’s!
I think in America, at that time, it was certainly true! And it avoids theocracy and Christian nationalism!
I enjoyed the Post Christianity? Podcast he did with Glen Scrivener