Holy Smoke

How Christianity Smothered the American Dream

By: Rick Snedeker

Narrated by: Jonathan Yen

The Dismantling of Church and State in America

Since the first English Christian fundamentalists arrived in the 1600s on the shores of what would become the United States, Christianity has become increasingly embedded in the nation's social and cultural fabric. This is completely contrary to the Founding Fathers' original vision of America; it was designed by them to be a secular democratic republic built on evidence-based Enlightenment values, emphatically not religious faith.

Indeed, the Founders purposefully intended that a high, strong "wall of separation" keep church and state apart in the new nation, while allowing individual religious freedom untrammeled by government—and vice versa. But Christians with theocratic dreams keep trying to breach the wall. Through their efforts, God is now in evidence everywhere in the country—on our money, in our schools, even in high-level-government officials' speeches.

Freedom of—and from—religion is the American promise to all its people whatever their belief—or disbelief. This is how the Founding Fathers wanted it to be, not the undemocratic theocracy zealous evangelicals are trying to force on American society.

©2020 Rick Snedeker (P)2022 Tantor

The voice and tone are notably anti-Christian

I was raised fundamental Baptist and consider myself progressive,liberal,universalist, whatever. I have no problem listening to things bashing all aspects of religion as they should be, because if something can’t stand up to a resounding beating or doubt and criticism, then it has no business existing. And you know, maybe there is no point to my review. It’s really just an observation. I just get tired of hearing an obviously slanted voice or words or opinion. But then, that is the author’s view, and should be voiced as such. I just like to hear something from a very level, factual viewpoint, so that I can draw my own conclusions from the plain-ness of the information out before me…….not feel as if I’m being led from the get-go to what the author already believes. But it’s his book and he has every reason to write it just so. I’m quite pleased to bash Christianity up and down for what it does deserve. I just don’t think a special tone is needed because the damage done by Christianity is plain.