Excellent read on the founding of America (1492-1787). Marshall and Manuel do an excellent job at analyzing the causes behind the effects that resulted in America's birth as a nation. To this end the authors looked to ascertain the moral principles operating in the lives of the significant players, and how these influenced their thoughts and actions, and thus the effect it had on their individual lives and more generally the communal bodies. In the end it is made clear that the successful religious, intellectual, and social lives of the Puritans and the Pilgrims came to serve as the basic model for the American way of life. And without this model America would not be what it is. The authors are able to strip circumstances to the fewest and most significant variables thus revealing the hand of Israel's God working in the lives of people and specific events, with the result being America's emergence as the greatest and most successful experiment in modeling a society on the principles of God's Kingdom, and thus a free people where all are created equal.
Probably the most interesting thing revealed by the book is the linear relationship between cause and effect. The degree to which people pursue the will of God and the desire to practice the principles of His Kingdom, is the degree to which society works well. The more self-serving and hedonistic people become, the more society begins to reflect the "jungle" rather than the "Kingdom." A corollary is how easily this guiding rule is lost when distracted by all the clamoring of life's various egregious sensual offerings and indulgences (unbridled dissipation of the libido, recreational drug use, the unchecked want of material things, addiction to extreme adrenaline rush, etc.). Unless specifically guarded against, the inexorable outcome is toward corruption and thus toward the "jungle" of life. Simply put, man becomes a bottom feeder. Thus the state of America as a nation is but a reflection of which has the upper hand in the battle for the focus of the mind.
All-in-all, a very illuminating and engaging read on American history.
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Condition not as advertised
This item was listed in good condition but this is definitely not the case. Pages are all askew and bent. I am returning immediately for refund. One star is for poor condition of book, not book content. I will find another copy as I am eager to read it!
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