This volume contains papers presented at the fourth Elon University Media and Religion Conference held at Elon University, April 13, 2013

Author Meacham tells the human story of how the Founding Fathers viewed faith, and how they ultimately created a nation in which belief in God is a matter of choice. At a time when our country seems divided by extremism, this book draws on the past to offer a new perspective. Meacham re-creates the history of a nation grappling with religion and politics--from John Winthrop's "city on a hill" sermon to Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence;...

The culture wars have distorted the dramatic story of how Americans came to worship freely. Author Waldman, cofounder of Beliefnet.com, argues that the United States was not founded as a "Christian nation," nor were the Founding Fathers uniformly secular or Deist. Rather, the Founders forged a new approach to religious liberty, a revolutionary formula that promoted faith--by leaving it alone. His narrative begins with early settlers' stunningly unsuccessful...

Archaeologist and award-winning Professor Jodi Magness helps viewers relive and encounter life in the ancient Holy Land through the lens of archaeology. These 36 lectures are a chance to get up close and personal with ruins, artifacts, murals, documents, and other long-buried objects that will take viewers deep beneath the pages of the Bible.

"Winner of THE WOLFSON HISTORY PRIZE and THE DUFF COOPER PRIZE An extraordinary and beautifully illustrated exploration of the medieval world through twelve manuscripts, from one of the world's leading experts MEETINGS WITH REMARKABLE MANUSCRIPTS is a remarkable examination of twelve illuminated manuscripts from the medieval period. Noted authority Christopher de Hamel invites the reader into intimate conversations with these texts to explore...