'Students need to read documents, but reading documents in a vacuum breeds confusion. Students need to read the authoritative interpretations of established scholars, but reading only such interpretations sucks the humanity, the unpredictability, and much of the fun out of doing history. So the obvious solution for introducing students to the warp as well as the woof of history is to present a carefully chosen combination of documents and interpretation....For this book, which examines 'critical issues in American religious history,' the job is done very well.' - From the Forward by Mark A. Noll
