Religious Freedom: Jefferson's Legacy, America's Creed (Jeffersonian America)
"John Ragosta offers a robust defense of the Jeffersonian legacy of religious liberty, using his careful exploration of its history to help us understand contemporary debates about the proper roles of church and state in American life."(Joyce Appleby, UCLA, author ofThe Relentless Revolution: A History of Capitalism)"For historians and legal scholars, Ragosta provides an important contribution to an ongoing discussion. He traces clearly how the Virginia experience, and Jefferson’s ideas, affected Madison and others when they framed the First Amendment of the Constitution. Excellent and meticulously done."(Johann Neem, Western Washington University)Ragosta keeps a very tight focus.... An engrossing first chapter ably attempts to explicate [Jefferson's] spiritual philosophy.... The final chapter, considering Jefferson's legacy, and the way it's been pushed and pulled to meet the requirements of those who wish to appear to be in line with their country's founding father, will capture readers' attention again and provides a thought-provoking conclusion(Publishers Weekly)In a volume replete with striking sentences, paragraphs, and indeed, pages, Ragosta gives us nuggets of info many of us might not know.... At a time when there is a loud chorus singing the praises of an opposing view--a song dedicated to bringing religion into schools, the workplace, and politics--the author's research proves refreshing and reassuring.... The book I have reviewed is splendid. It is highly recommended.(Daily Progress)Ragosta uses clever prose and an easy-to-follow writing style. He clearly states chapter theses at the outset, allowing readers to easily recognize and understand each chapter's purpose and the value of the evidence present. As a result, Ragosta successfully shows that religious freedom was indeed one of Jefferson's greatest legacies.(Choice)