Gospel of Liberty

The history of how the United States achieved its guarantee of religious liberty under the First Amendment is illustrated through the story of a religious movement dubbed "The Great Awakening" and its impact on colonial Virginia. In that colony, the Anglican clergy were part of the government-taxing and requiring church attendance of, but serving the elite. In the Great Awakening, itinerant preachers brought a dissenting message to the people. Most notable was Samuel Davies, who was the first to maintain that slaves also had the right to salvation; his "gospel of liberty" laid the groundwork necessary for Jefferson and Madison to issue the statute of religious freedom which laid the groundwork for the First Amendment. The rather labored but authentic re-enactment here contains all the facts, but the stilted acting and pedantic tone may dull the appeal for audiences of any age. The guide is good, however, containing charts, historical summaries, discussion questions and activities, glossary, and a bibliography. Taken as a whole, this is an optional purchase. Aud: H, P. (J. Reed)