This book is hard for me to categorize. The author, Brandon OBrien, warns us in the preface that that might be the case, but I had no idea that it would be thus to such a degree. Its not exactly a biography, though I came to know Isaac Backus much better. Its not exactly a historical treatise, but I found places where my historical understandings were off. Its not exactly a political statement, but I wondered if there might be one just below the surface. I found myself asking what this author was up to quite early in the book, though I never was sure I could answer that question. To be sure, I found the book deeply interesting and hard to put down.

If the author desired to only overturn the applecart of our neatly packaged conclusions, this book was a smashing success. If he had some conclusion he wanted to take us to, then not so much. The titles alone of his previous books, Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes and Paul Behaving Badly, had me wondering if he was something of a provocateur. When he admitted that he was a Baptist who had become a Presbyterian and now was writing on a Baptist hero, I wondered if he was something of a rabble-rousing raconteur too. As a Baptist myself, when some of his first comments seemed to overplay the lack of education of the early Baptists, I was sure that it was so. But alas, he was quite fair to the Baptists overall and even seemed to have a real admiration of their dedication and of Backus himself.

He did prove to me that I have been something of a reductionist in how I view the Christian heritage of my country. It was much more of a battle than I carried in my convenient memories, but I retain my amazement at where it landed. On a few occasions, he took that premise a little too far. Im not convinced that the Jefferson described in the introduction was as anti-religion as he was portrayed, nor do I see the full weight of the parallel of conservative Christians today to their forebears with a difference between being marginalized and feeling marginalized. Still, there might be enough truth in it to call for some introspection.

This book held my attention until the last page. Im still not sure whose side the author is on, or if he even knows. He did, however, ask good questions. My conclusions are ultimately the same, but I would have to admit that my views are a little more nuanced after reading this book.

We are at the point of this review where Im supposed to give a recommendation. Perhaps if youve read this far you already have all the recommendation that I could give you. Clearly, this book influenced me. Maybe you will want to find out if it will have that effect on you.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255.

Religious liberty seems to be a perennially hot topic in our American culture. It's not always clear what those debating cultural issues that impact religious liberty actually have in mind when they use that phrase. By telling the story of the Baptist Isaac Backus, O'Brien helps us think more carefully about where our ideas and assumptions come from. He also shows convincingly that what we take for granted today was not a foregone conclusion in the nation's early days.

Throughout the book O'Brien asks thoughtful questions meant to help the reader reflect carefully about the implications of religious liberty in our days. He's never simplistic or even prescriptive - a gift! - but, but bringing us back in time he helps us see our own tumultuous days more clearly.

O'Brien provides great historical context for the contentious issue of religious liberty in the U.S. Through the life of an influential pastor in the 18th century, we better understand the world in which religious liberty developed, before the revolution through the Bill of Rights. Part of that world is the competing views of the Pilgrims of Plymouth against those of the Puritans, which O'Brien very helpfully overviews in chapter 7.

O'Brien connects the 18th century world to the current conversation on religious liberty and conscience, and our national conversation would greatly improve if more people read this book.

Freedom of religion seems like it has always been foundational to America. As Brandon O'Brien tells in Demanding Liberty, however, this was long in doubt and has regularly needed defense even since it was enshrined in the Bill of Rights.

In decades before and after the revolution, opinions ranged from those favoring a state-sponsored church to some like Jefferson who thought the government should not even give tax relief to any church. Yet during this period a little-known, uneducated Baptist pastor, Isaac Backus, articulated "the principles of separation of Church and State which were to predominate in American life until very recently" (p. 4).

As a young man, Backus took to heart the faith preached in the revivals of Whitefield. One unintended result was to be marginalized, as Baptists and Quakers typically were by the Congregationalists who controlled religious life in New England. Members of these "irregular churches" could be required to pay taxes to fund Congregationalist churches. Many unlicensed preachers of the day were also fined and imprisoned.

For half a century Backus's efforts on behalf of freedom slowly became more intense and wide ranging. He was a founding board member of what became Brown University whose purpose was to educate and credential Baptist pastors. He meticulously gathered testimony and evidence regarding religious dissenters in New England who were oppressed by local government officials. He wrote tracts and pamphlets as well as a multivolume history of Baptists in America detailing their experiences.

As a result of his leadership, he was selected by the Baptists to present their case to the first Continental Congress. Backus made an innovative argument to Samuel Adams, John Adams, and others that the roles of civil and ecclesiastical government should be separated. The problem was that Backus was so used to contending with churchmen that his theological arguments to these lawyers and politicians made little headway.

While O'Brien provides a book which reads like any fine narrative history, he also interjects interesting connections with present-day America. How did Backus's options differ from today when he decided to leave his church? In an age of extreme polarization, does our view of religious liberty encompass those we disagree with? When public appeals to religious ideas have little influence, how can we present our concerns in ways that make sense to a secular audience?

O'Brien also notes the ongoing legacy of early American evangelical faith. Not only has the notion of being born again retained currency, but so has "a sense of embattlement in the American Christian psyche." And he wonders if "what some evangelicals interpret as discrimination, or even persecution, is actually loss of influence" (pp. 53, 90).

Ultimately, the author is right in his basic contention. Backus's life can correct our views of America and the ongoing challenges to worship as we choose.

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own.