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Title: From Sea to Shining Sea by Peter Marshall, David Manuel ISBN: 0-8007-5308-9 Publisher: Revell Pub. Date: 01 September, 1989 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.4 (5 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Leaves more questions than it answers
Comment: This is an example of Christian "scholarship" at close to its worst. In fact, there are so many problems with this book that it is hard to know where to start. The authors presume to know God's will for America -- a pretty big assumption in itself -- and try to use evidence to support it. The problem is, they disregard anything that can't fit into their nice New England Calvinist box. For example, there is little or no discussion of the slavery question and the Constitutional Convention, even from a Christian perspective. In addition, the ramifications of Manifest Destiny to the Native Americans and the future of America are ignored.
Even worse, the authors try to squeeze in their own political views by trying to draw a straight line from the Federalists of Washington's era to the Republicans of today and Jefferson's Democrat-Republicans to the modern Democratic Party. This especially came out when they described the Federalists as "pious." Unfortunately, from a historical standpoint no such straight line exists.
On top of that, the book has way too many factual errors and the writing is uneven at best. They spend only three pages on ratification of the Constitution and five on the pork-eating habits of settlers on the frontier.
Unfortunately, this book has been and will be used in many Christian schools and with many Christian homeschool parents. However, I would say skip it. Read Mark Noll instead.
Rating: 3
Summary: Parents, look first. . .
Comment: "The Light and the Glory" is a beautifully written, well-researched book -- which I cannot recommend, especially as a primary homeschooling text, without serious caveats.
The positives: The authors, Peter Marshall and David Manuel have done enormous research. They have demonstrated that what is taught in the typical history book doesn't necessarily tell the entire story. They have acknowledged the role of faith, and religion have played in our nation's early history. They have the gift of making characters "come alive" in a way that would interest a student -- even one who didn't care much for history.
HOWEVER: The authors have a fixed thesis firmly in mind and head toward that thesis without swerving -- and that thesis is one with which even most persons of faith would struggle. The thesis? A staunch Calvinist view of the role of America in the mind of God. As a believer -- who is adamantly NOT a Calvinist -- I cannot accept the particular (and peculiar) methods of exegesis which somehow create America as the new "Promised Land". Neither can most other Christians.
I'm also a bit concerned that the authors attempt (on the one hand) to analyze the state of the soul of Andrew Jackson (no "benefit of the doubt there!") while labeling John Quincy Adams -- a member of the Unitarians -- as "the last Puritan".
I fear that in their struggle to demonstrate their thesis, certain elements are glossed over; certain facts are whitewashed, etc. While it could certainly be argued that Calvinism played a major role in the establishment of the Colonies and in early America, it can also be argued that such did not have the salutory benefits which the authors suggest are there.
My advice to homeschooling parents, especially those who are not Calvinists, is to use this book with care, as a secondary source -- or not at all. The presentation given is far too biased to be reliable.
A very cautious three stars.
Rating: 3
Summary: A wonderful book; a flawed premise
Comment: Like my review of Marshall and Manuel's earlier book "The Light and the Glory", I admire the clarity of the authors' thesis, and the forthright way with which they attempt to demonstrate that thesis.
Unfortunately, to accept their thesis, one must adhere to a very particular view of philosophy, theology and history -- a view held largely by Calvinist Christians. Thus, other Protestants, as well as Catholics (to say nothing of members of other religions) will find some of the authors' presuppositions very difficult to accept.
The greatest use for this book would be to be used in conjunction with another text written from a different perspective.
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