The Original 13: A Documentary History of Religion in America's First Thirteen States

The book, America's God and Country, is printed on good quality paper, adding to the enjoyment of reading it. This book is on very cheap paper, and I mean similar to cheap toilet tissue stock. Very disappointing.....have yet to read but just had to comment.

Though I have great respect for the majority of William Federer’s writings, I was disappointed in the part of this book that presents quotes from PEW Forum’s US Religious Landscape Survey. For example, on Page 205, Mr. Federer divides Rhode Island’s religious stats between Christians and apparently what he considers non-Christians such as “Mormons” and Jehovah Witnesses, listing them along with Muslims, Buddhists, and others. So far as I can tell, the PEW research from which he quotes, does not do this. (http://www.pewforum.org/2008/02/01/u-s-religious-landscape-survey-religious-affiliation/) I am neither a Mormon nor a Jehovah Witness, but must take issue with the author’s listing Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses as separate from the Christian denominations. Both organizations profess to follow Jesus Christ; the Mormons even include the name Jesus Christ in their church name. So far as judging whether the denominations Mr. Federer lists as “Christian,” are in reality “Christian,” is concerned, is that really our place to do so? If others of us were to make such judgments – based on the degree to which the various denominations incorporate the Holy Scriptures in their particular doctrines/practices – doctrines that are sometimes diametrically opposed to that of other allegedly Christian denominations – as well as the modern-day applications of their faiths to the social issues of the day, I think many people might question whether Mr. Federer has rightly judged which denominations are “Christian” and which are not. Better, methinks, that we stay out of the judging business – leave that to God – and that we make our personal choices as to which church to join based on a thorough study of the New Testament Church that Jesus, Himself, built.

A very interesting compilation of letters, legislation, etc. of the first states. America was originally a protestant nation; 2% Catholic for a long time, then 20% Catholic after the potato famine. Good to just thumb through.

William Federer is one of my favorite authors. His knowledge of our country's history is unsurpassed. It is obvious that his research regarding our nation's founding, and the lives of those proud men, and the sorrows they bore to help establish what we now call America is both touching and sad. I would recommend this fine book and all the others that this very erudite man has written. Bravo, Mr. Federer!

I needed the religious history in the book and it served its purpose to know how the various traditional religions struggled to survive in the states.

I loved this book, Bill Federer is a great author, he really knows his subjects. I learned so much from him about the original colonies constitutions. Its to bad that they started to relax their standards in PA, RI and SC.

Good and interesting history of the very first years of America

This is a very good book and interesting. I recommend it as well as all of his books that I have read and hope to own all of his books one day.