Ebenezer Gay (1718-96) has been called the father of American Unitarianism. Wilson's biography explores how Gay became the spiritual leader of two generations of clergymen who preached a humanistic, rational faith in post-Awakening New England.

The years following the Great Awakening in New England saw a great theological struggle between proponents of Calvinism and the champions of Christian liberty, setting the stage for American Unitarianism. The adherents of Christian liberty, who were branded Arminians by their opponents, were contending for the liberty of the mind and the soul to pursue truth and salvation free from prior restraint. The Arminian movement took shape as a major, quasi-denominational force in New England under the guidance of particular clergymen, most notably Ebenezer Gay, minister of the First Parish in Hingham, Massachusetts, from 1718 to 1787. Despite his ubiquitous presence in the history of Arminianism, however, Gay has been a historical enigma. Robert J. Wilson's purpose in this biography is to trace Gay's long and fascinating intellectual odyssey against the evolving social, political, and economic life of eighteenth-century Hingham as well as the religious history of the coastal region between Boston and Plymouth.

Despite all the hype surrounding the "New Atheism," the United States remains one of the most religious nations on Earth. In fact, 95% of Americans believe in God--a level of agreement rarely seen in American life. The greatest divisions in America are not between atheists and believers, or even between people of different faiths. What divides us, this groundbreaking book shows, is how we conceive of God and the role He plays in our daily lives. America's Four Gods draws on the most wide-ranging, comprehensive, and illuminating survey of American's religious beliefs ever conducted to offer a systematic exploration of how Americans view God. Paul Froese and Christopher Bader argue that many of America's most intractable social and political divisions emerge from religious convictions that are deeply held but rarely openly discussed. Drawing upon original survey data from thousands of Americans and a wealth of in-depth interviews from all parts of the country, Froese and Bader trace America's cultural and political diversity to its ultimate source--differing opinions about God. They show that regardless of our religious tradition (or lack thereof), Americans worship four distinct types of God: The Authoritative God--who is both engaged in the world and judgmental; The Benevolent God--who loves and helps us in spite of our failings; The Critical God--who catalogs our sins but does not punish them (at least not in this life); and The Distant God--who stands apart from the world He created. The authors show that these four conceptions of God form the basis of our worldviews and are among the most powerful predictors of how we feel about the most contentious issues in American life. Accessible, insightful, and filled with the voices of ordinary Americans discussing their most personal religious beliefs, America's Four Gods provides an invaluable portrait of how we view God and therefore how we view virtually everything else.

With our American Philosophy and Religion series, Applewood reissues many primary sources published throughout American history. Through these books, scholars, interpreters, students, and non-academics alike can see the thoughts and beliefs of Americans who came before us.

The author creates a question-and-answer dialogue between himself and God in which he describes a new form of spirituality that will enhance each individual's life.

Did women have an Enlightenment? This path-breaking volume of interdisciplinary essays by forty leading scholars provides a detailed picture of the controversial, innovative role played by women and gender issues in the age of light.

The original text of the Bible is, most definitely, the inspired "Word of God." It's most sacred pages offer to us instructions to accomplish two things: How to 1) conquer our mortal human life and 2) enhance our relationship with God. Unfortunately, due to man's selfishness and greed, the text was changed to cater to the desire of some to gain control over the wealth of this planet; with "woman" being the most sought after treasure. The changed version is being used to manipulate us into helping those, in control of the wealth, keep it. The book, A Race Diminished, as told by an African Tribal Historian named Mama Quena, offers an African Folklore version of the "Creation Story" of which she claimed is the truth about what really happened between God, Adam, Eve, Cain, Able, Lucifer, Homo erectus and Homo sapiens Humans, and the angels. I met Mama Quena while being stranded in a jungle located in Malawi, Central Africa. I am American and from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The story Mama Quena shared with me has changed my life. My faith in God is even stronger. I have come to realize that God is so much more real and relevant in all our lives.