Revolutionary Spirits - 9781933346304

Revolutionary Spirits brings to life the complex creeds and personalities of America's founding fathers, and confronts many of the later myths about the religious views of some of the most notable figures in history. These founders worshiped Nature's God, not the God of the Bible, and sought spiritual inspiration in Creation rather than in the traditional religious creeds. They intended to found a republic of virtue, with the understanding that civic virtue entailed respect for the diverse religious landscape that characterized America from its very beginning. Together, they fashioned a new, democratic faith based on reasoned investigation rather than special revelation, grounded in free inquiry and the right of each individual to approach the Holy in his or her own manner.

Offering clear and candid portraits of Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Paine, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison as both religious reformers and political rebels. Revolutionary Spirits tells the illuminating story of these unorthodox men of faith and thought, and reclaims their spiritual inheritance for us all.

"Kowalski seeks to shatter what he regards as a myth, commonly exhorted by politicians and religious groups. His spiritual portraits...argue that the founding fathers were neither devout Christians nor secularists. Instead, he depicts them as curious, strong-spirited, scientifically-minded men."---USA Today

"Gary Kowalski captures the quirky personalities and nontraditional religious views of these freethinking liberals."---UTNE Reader

"This elegantly written book...clearly situates the founders in an Enlightenment tradition that privileged reason...Kowalski illustrates his arguments with just the right quotations from the founders themselves, and his economy of prose is to be commended."---Publishers Weekly

"Gary Kowalski's portrait of the faith of the most conspicuous Founders comes as a helpful historical reminder."---Tikkun