A Christian America: Protestant Hopes and Historical Realities

Completed revised and updated, this important study now includes a chapter on the resurgence of militant Protestantiam. Concentrating on the traditional hope of Protestant Americans that the nation would eventually become fully Christian and the efforts they exerted to realize this hope, Handy examines the role of recent events in renewing interest in the idea of the U.S. as a Christian civilization.

I used this as an outside reading assignment for an American history survey course....This book was a valuable contribution to our discussion on the topic.
An exceptionally valuable study.
I could not have chosen a better book. Handy's work provided an excellent paradigm for understanding the context for contemporary American theological issues such as fundamentalism, ecumenism, black theology, liberation theology, feminist theology, theological education, and civil religion.
An enduring contribution to American Church History.
A thoughtful, provocative interpretation.
One of the finest books available to generate discussion on contemporary religious issues in our society.
Impressive and well received when it first appeared..., A Christian America will now enjoy an even wider success.

Robert T. Handy is former Professor of Church History at Union Theological Seminary. He is one of the foremost historians of mainstream religion in America and the author of A History of the churches in the U.S. and Canada (1979).

An important feature of this revised edition is the discussion of the revival of hope for a Christian America since the publication of the first edition in 1971. Handy notes that the surprising resurgence of conservative evangelicalism during the past decade has led some to believe that their ideal of a Protestant America may soon be realized, yet he concludes that the increasing pluralization of religion in America has not been significantly reversed.