Bruce, my friend, I managed to obtain a copy of Stookey's article I must say it's one of the best pieces of history-related material I've read in some time. The last four paragraphs of the conclusion warrant a hearty "AMEN!".
Many thoughts on the article, but I don't have time to share them and don't know if anyone cares. Too bad we can't meet at the local coffee shop and talk it over. (Hmmm..where's the half-way point between Montana and Memphis?)
I did find the part intriguing about the tie-in between some of the Mormon-produced material on the subject, the Christian nation folks and Glenn Beck. I know Barton has been a recent regular on Beck's TV show (I haven't seen any of the shows, however), but it makes sense why Beck, as a Mormon, would find Barton & Co. so attractive. As Mr. Spock would say, "Fascinating!" (but I can't do the eyebrow thing
)
Also, it's interesting that most of the main proponents of this view of history are from the Reformed (Calvinist) vein of thought, which makes sense given their theology. That aspect made it all the more interesting to read Stookey's inclusion of the quote where Jefferson attacks Calvinism quite nastily. I also noted the point that these folks usually overemphasis the influence of Puritanism and ignore those outside of New England and usually leave out any mention of Baptists of the time, and particularly don't associate Roger Williams and a few others as being Baptists (I'll have to double-check my boxed-up copy of
The Light and the Glory to be sure about that, but as far as my memory serves, Stookey was accurate in his take on the book).
I've already rambled more than I intended when I started this response. That's all for now.
I'm Ed Thompson, and I approve this message.