The Founding Myth : Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American

The month of June is very nearly half over and so far I've managed to read eight ebooks; four of which were written by atheists :
The Caged Virgin: An Emancipation Proclamation for Women and Islam by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Mortality by Christopher Hitchens
Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman and
The Founding Myth : Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American by Andrew L Seidel

Ayaan Hirsi Ali's atheism is a reaction to Islam and the horrible treatment of women by her former co-religionists. Atheism isn't obvious in Lightman's novel - I learned of it by reading his wikipedia page. Obviously, Christopher Hitchens wasn't going to turn to religion on his death bed, but his dislike of religion seems slightly less militant in this, his final book. Seidel, on the other hand is the most militant atheist of the four.

In The Founding Myth, Andrew Seidel sets out to prove that, contrary to the beliefs of the Christian Nationalists in the U.S., the United States as brought about by the "founding fathers", is not a Christian nation. I think he's done a remarkably  good job proving that point. The U.S. allows for freedom of religion - you're free to practice, or not practice, any religion, not specifically Christianity. His chapters showing how nearly all the Ten Commandments would be deemed unconstitutional if laws were passed following the 10, is very enlightening. The first commandment requires one to worship a particular God - certainly unconstitutional. Americans cannot be required to "keep the Sabbath". Law makers could not pass laws requiring anyone to honor their parents, and lots of luck arresting folks for committing adultery, to say nothing of trying to outlaw coveting . Of course, the U.S. has laws against murder, theft and perjury, but these "commandments" are not strictly of Judeo-Christian origin. Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists also forbid these acts.

Unfortunately, being a militant atheist, Seidel feels the need to attack Judaism and Christianity far beyond what's necessary to show that the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence are not based on Judeo-Christian values. In his hatred of these two religions, he seems to overlook anything positive. His mocking of a Catholic wedding ceremony shows him to be petty and juvenile. Like most atheists, he does not have a deep understanding of religious thinking. The book would have been much better had Seidel kept to politics and stayed away from theology.