One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America - Book reviews of One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America

'One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America' book reviews

Review for'One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America'

"One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America" by Kevin M. Kruse is a compelling exploration of the origins and evolution of the notion that the United States is a fundamentally Christian nation. Kruse, a historian at Princeton University, delves into the political, economic, and social forces that have shaped this idea, revealing a complex interplay of interests that transcends simple religious devotion.

Kruse begins by tracing the roots of the Christian America narrative back to the 1930s and 1940s, a period marked by the Great Depression and World War II. During this time, he argues, corporate leaders and conservative politicians sought to combat the New Deal policies of Franklin D. Roosevelt, which they perceived as a threat to free-market capitalism. These elites saw an opportunity to align themselves with religious leaders and institutions, promoting a vision of America that emphasized individualism, free enterprise, and Christian values as fundamentally intertwined.

The book meticulously documents how figures like Reverend Billy Graham and organizations such as the National Association of Manufacturers played pivotal roles in this campaign. They championed slogans like "Freedom Under God" and "One Nation Under God," which eventually culminated in the addition of "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 and the adoption of "In God We Trust" as the national motto in 1956. Kruse provides a wealth of primary sources, including speeches, letters, and internal memos, to illustrate how these slogans were strategically deployed to foster a religious-nationalist sentiment that served corporate interests.

One of the strengths of Kruse's work is his ability to connect these historical developments to contemporary politics. He argues that the marriage of corporate interests and Christian nationalism has had lasting implications, shaping the rhetoric and policies of modern conservative movements. This historical perspective sheds light on the enduring influence of religious rhetoric in American political discourse, from the Cold War to the present day.

Kruse's narrative is both engaging and accessible, making complex historical processes understandable to a broad audience. His meticulous research and balanced analysis ensure that the book is not just a critique of corporate and religious collusion but also an insightful examination of how cultural and political identities are constructed and propagated. However, some readers may find the book's focus on elite actors somewhat limiting, as it does not extensively explore the grassroots reception and adaptation of the Christian America idea. Nonetheless, this focus is intentional and serves to highlight the top-down nature of this ideological project.

"One Nation Under God" is an essential read for anyone interested in the intersections of religion, politics, and economics in American history. Kruse's work challenges the simplistic notion that the United States has always been a Christian nation, revealing instead how this identity was carefully crafted and promoted for specific ideological purposes. It is a thought-provoking book that encourages readers to reconsider the narratives that shape their understanding of national identity and the forces that continue to influence American society.

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