Freethinkers Audiobook By Susan Jacoby cover art

Freethinkers

A History of American Secularism

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Freethinkers

By: Susan Jacoby
Narrated by: Rich Miller
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About this listen

At a time when the separation of church and state is under attack as never before, Freethinkers offers a powerful defense of the secularist heritage that gave Americans the first government in the world founded not on the authority of religion but on the bedrock of human reason. In impassioned, elegant prose, celebrated author Susan Jacoby traces more than 200 years of secularist activism, beginning with the fierce debate over the omission of God from the Constitution. Moving from 19th-century abolitionism and suffragism through the 20th century's civil liberties, civil rights, and feminist movements, Freethinkers illuminates the neglected achievements of secularists who, allied with tolerant believers, have led the battle for reform in the past and today.

Rich with such iconic figures as Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Paine, and the once-famous Robert Green Ingersoll, Freethinkers restores to history the passionate humanists who struggled against those who would undermine the combination of secular government and religious liberty that is the glory of the American system.

©2004 Susan Jacoby (P)2017 Pitchstone Publishing
Americas Church & State History & Theory Political Science Politics & Government Religious Studies Revolution & Founding United States Socialism Liberalism Government
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Critic reviews

"Jacoby accomplishes her task with clarity, thoroughness, and an engaging passion." ( Los Angeles Times Book Review)
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Moderately dry, but ultimately an outstanding history lesson and outlook on America and how religions has impacted our culture.

A very non-biased history lesson

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An interesting overview of the free thought movement and key ieaders and instigators. Thomas Paine, Jefferson, Robert Green Ingersoll, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Abraham Lincoln and more. An essential history to better understand how unique and lucky we are to have a secular based government that theoretically serves the interests all creeds, philosophies, religions and disciplines.

Essential history of free thought in America

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USA was founded to be a secular government. Not everyone has agreed with this plan but it has held since our beginnings. That said, this perspective seems to be at an all-time high now.

Major players include Jefferson, Maddison, Paine, Robert Ingersoll, women's rights advocates, abolitionists, etc

Must read for freethinkers of all flavors

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A great book relating the important but sometimes forgotten history of Freethought in the United States.

Important Book

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This audiobook presents a great deal of interesting information and is delivered in a delightful way Hats off!

Great Book! Well enjoyed.

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The tone of the story is excellent, and the narrator has a clear easily understood voice. The story explains the history of the back-and-forth between different religions and freethinkers throughout the past two centuries in the United States. Very interesting, very well told.

Very good history

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what's missing from this book? a writing is OK, but essentially pedestrian. The subject is interesting but it's made less interesting in the telling somehow.

an adequate counternarrative

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