God in America: How Religious Liberty Shaped America

The role of religion in American life—particularly in the political realm—is the subject of this selective but well-done six-part PBS-aired Frontline/American Experience co-production. Confining itself to mainstream belief systems—various Christian denominations and Judaism—God in America covers many of the major public issues intertwined with religious belief over the centuries, beginning with the efforts of Spanish missionaries to convert Native Americans in the Southwest, followed by the sectarian divisions in the English colonies, and the debate over religious freedom after the American Revolution. The 19th-century section focuses first on slavery and the Civil War, and then on the impact of modern thought. And the final two episodes turn to the 20th century, treating the strongly religious bent of both postwar anti-Communism and the Civil Rights movement, while also looking at the affiliation between evangelical Christianity and conservative politicians. The filmmakers have skillfully chosen illustrative historical events, not merely well-known instances such as the Scopes trial and other court cases, but also the divisions among Methodists over abolitionism, the debate between Presbyterians over biblical literalism, and the development of Reform Judaism. Narrated by Campbell Scott, the series interweaves scholarly interviews, archival material, and evocative re-creations featuring actors including Michael Emerson (as John Winthrop), Toby Jones (George Whitefield), Keith David (Frederick Douglass), and Chris Sarandon (Abraham Lincoln). DVD extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes and a printable study guide. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)