Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an : Islam and the founders
(Book)
Author
Published
New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.
Edition
First Edition.
Physical Desc
viii, 392 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.
Status
Community College of Aurora - CentreTech - BOOKS
E 332.2 .S65 2013
1 available
E 332.2 .S65 2013
1 available
Description
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Copies
Location | Call Number | Status |
---|---|---|
Community College of Aurora - CentreTech - BOOKS | E 332.2 .S65 2013 | On Shelf |
Subjects
LC Subjects
Constitutional history -- United States.
Freedom of religion -- United States -- History -- 18th century.
Islam and politics -- United States.
Jefferson, Thomas, -- 1743-1826 -- Political and social views.
Jefferson, Thomas, -- 1743-1826 -- Religion.
Muslims -- Civil rights -- United States -- History -- 18th century.
Freedom of religion -- United States -- History -- 18th century.
Islam and politics -- United States.
Jefferson, Thomas, -- 1743-1826 -- Political and social views.
Jefferson, Thomas, -- 1743-1826 -- Religion.
Muslims -- Civil rights -- United States -- History -- 18th century.
More Details
Published
New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.
Format
Book
Edition
First Edition.
Language
English
Notes
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 303-373) and index.
Description
"In this original and illuminating book, Denise A. Spellberg reveals a little-known but crucial dimension of the story of American religious freedom-- a drama in which Islam played a surprising role. In 1765, eleven years before composing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson bought a Qur'an. This marked only the beginning of his lifelong interest in Islam, and he would go on to acquire numerous books on Middle Eastern languages, history, and travel, taking extensive notes on Islam as it relates to English common law. Jefferson sought to understand Islam notwithstanding his personal disdain for the faith, a sentiment prevalent among his Protestant contemporaries in England and America. But unlike most of them, by 1776 Jefferson could imagine Muslims as future citizens of his new country. Based on groundbreaking research, Spellberg compellingly recounts how a handful of the Founders, Jefferson foremost among them, drew upon Enlightenment ideas about the toleration of Muslims (then deemed the ultimate outsiders in Western society) to fashion out of what had been a purely speculative debate a practical foundation for governance in America. In this way, Muslims, who were not even known to exist in the colonies, became the imaginary outer limit for an unprecedented, uniquely American religious pluralism that would also encompass the actual despised minorities of Jews and Catholics. The rancorous public dispute concerning the inclusion of Muslims, for which principle Jefferson's political foes would vilify him to the end of his life, thus became decisive in the Founders' ultimate judgment not to establish a Protestant nation, as they might well have done" -- from publisher's web site.
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Citations
APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)
Spellberg, D. A. (2013). Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an: Islam and the founders (First Edition.). Alfred A. Knopf.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Spellberg, Denise A. 2013. Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an: Islam and the Founders. Alfred A. Knopf.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Spellberg, Denise A. Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an: Islam and the Founders Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.
MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)Spellberg, Denise A. Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an: Islam and the Founders First Edition., Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.
Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.
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