The three essays in this volume give a graphic account of Indian Muslim festivals in the nineteeth century; as observed by the participants themselves. The majority of these participants were Hindus who added their own practices to these supposedly Islamic events. The French Indologist de Tassy adds his own pungent comments to those of his sources; thus providing in this volume a fascinating interplay of cultural perspectives. This is the first translation into English of this classic nineteenth-century French work.
#795886 in Books Ragosta John A 2010-05-19Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.30 x 1.00 x 9.30l; 1.14 #File Name: 0195388062272 pagesWellspring of Liberty How Virginia s Religious Dissenters Helped Win the American Revolution and Secured Religious Liberty
Review
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful. Wellspring of Liberty - An Excellent Survery of VA's Journey to Separation of Church and StateBy Dr. Bruce T. GourleyJohn A. Ragosta offers a valuable contribution to the story of America's transition from a collection of largely theocratic colonies to a nation founded upon religious liberty and separation of church and state.Focusing on Virginia in the 1770s and 1780s; Ragosta mines the data and documentary evidence from political leaders; establishment church preachers; and dissenters (Baptists and Presbyterians) pertaining to the fight for religious liberty and separation of church and state in Virginia. Virginia's political leaders in turn (including Thomas Jefferson; James Madison; George Washington and Patrick Henry) utilized the Virginia model; encapsulated in Thomas Jefferson's 1786 Virginia Act For Establishing Religious Freedom; in successfully campaigning for religious liberty and separation of church and state at the federal level; enshrined in 1791 in the First Amendment.Thus; Virginia is pivotal to understanding why America was founded as a secular nation upon the principles of religious liberty and separation of church and state; and Ragosta systematically dispels contemporary evangelical mythologies that posit America's founding as a Christian nation.More to the point; however; Ragosta's work examines the manner in which minority; persecuted; Christian dissenters in Virginia transitioned from a position of powerless within a theocratic colony (the established church was Anglican) in the early 1770s; to successfully dethroning Virginia's theocracy by the late 1780s.In Ragosta's narrative; Virginia's need for rifles in the revolution against Great Britain provided an opening for dissenters to emerge from prisons and disenfranchisement and engage political processes. Despite efforts by the establishment church to harness the newfound political muscle of suddenly-important dissenters; dissenter demands for religious liberty and separation of church and state; upon entering into serious political discourse; persevered. When establishment church leaders in the immediate post-war years tried to squash the momentum of dissenters' agenda; Madison and Jefferson sided with Baptists and many Presbyterians. Collectively; dissenters and political opponents of state religion snatched victory from the clutches of the establishment church and altered the course of American history.Ragosta's thesis; in short; counters the argument that the Great Awakening; focusing on individualism and challenging the prevailing social order; made inevitable the demise of Virginia's establishment church. To the contrary; the Revolutionary War set in motion a chain of events that empowered dissenters and defeated the establishment; Ragosta asserts.In addition to offering a compelling; well-documented narrative of dissenters' path to power; the author sheds light on the contemporary public discourse concerning the role of religion in the founding years of the American nation. This volume is a valuable addition to the shelves of historians; theologians; and the general public.=====================Dr. Bruce T. GourleyExecutive DirectorBaptist History Heritage Society[...]0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Reading the book is a real choreBy HistorianThis is a dissertation turned into a book; with all the positives and negatives associated with such a beast.On the plus side; the info is interesting; and is a good analysis of the situation in VA during (and just before) the Revolution among dissenting churches (Baptists and Presby.; some Methodists). Author shows that these sects took advantage of the war years to extract relig. liberties from state Patriots/Anglicans.The problem is that reading the book is a real chore. Ragosta simply cannot write in an engaging style--his prose is wooden; sentences are too long and poorly crafted; and sadly; just plain dull. His OUP editors should be partially blamed here for such a dry narrative. Moreover; possibly due to his legal history background; he leaves out all the good human interest details and sticks the stories in an appendix! What a missed opportunity to have created an engaging; dramatic story for all readers.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy PhantomExcellent new insights into the role of religious freedom in the founding of our country.
