American Heretics

“American Heretics is an account of the Christian far right, of those who believe that the U.S. Constitution was diabolically inspired and that American democracy is a betrayal of America’s destiny.”—Philip Gorski, Yale University

“The struggle to manage and marshal the complexities of religion and politics in America must begin with a sober, fair-minded, and clear-eyed understanding of the perennial issues at stake. In his study of several of the cacophonous voices that have contested the nature of God, democracy, and the American project, Jerome Copulsky has given us just that. This is a compelling work.”—Jon Meacham, author of The Soul of America
 

“Copulsky’s deft historical narrative and lively incisive prose take us on an important journey through the ‘heretical ideas’ that shaped these dissenters and their cause to change the course of American politics.”—Anthea Butler, University of Pennsylvania

“Churches and individual believers have always made their views known within the confines of American democracy. But, as Jerome Copulsky shows, there have been other strands of American religious opinion—far more than I had thought—that eventually turned against liberal democracy itself, in the name of a more theocratic view of political authority. Given that their ‘heretical’ views are again gaining credence on the religious right, this book could not be more timely.”—Mark Lilla, author of The Stillborn God: Religion, Politics, and the Modern West

“Copulsky’s readable, accessible book traces the tradition of American religious rejection of constitutional liberalism from the eighteenth century to the present. Anyone who cares about why we hold fast to the fundamental rights of liberty and equality should read this book to learn about those who believe we should jettison them in favor of God’s rule.”—Noah Feldman, author of To Be a Jew Today
 
“This judicious study is simultaneously a celebration of democratic virtue and a cautionary tale.”—Randall Balmer, author of Solemn Reverence
 
“Jerome Copulsky’s brilliant and lively exploration of the deep intellectual and historical roots of the Christian right is essential—for our moment, and for the future.”—E. J. Dionne Jr., author of Our Divided Political Heart