QUESTION: Is 'David Barton' Worth My Time?

Heritage Series ^ | Jan 4, 2008 | Me

[Yosemitest]

Just a question: Has anyone rfead this author's works, and is he worth my time?

I watched him last night talk about history and freedom of religion being the primary reason for our nation being founded. He stirred my interest.

[Yosemitest]

Has anyone heard of him before? If you don't like him, ...why?

[Keyes2000mt]

Yeah, pretty interesting stuff. Some of his earlier work has been criticized and some quotes were incorrect and he’s owned up to it. He’s fairly informative.

[Ol' Sparky]

Absolutely, he is. He is well versed in the writings of the Founders and the Christian heritage of our nation.

[farmer18th]

Good guy. Texan. Christian. Uses primary sources. What more could you ask?

[MrEdd]

If you are interested in his work, see also the late Mel Bradford’s books on the Founders.

[bboop]

I’d check the reviews on Amazon, too. You can glean a lot of info from them, not always what the author intends. Texas, Christian, original sources, and you liked him. Why not do it?

[grumpa]

Barton’s stuff is excellent. Go to wallbuilders.com and get his tapes.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Can't answer your question due to my ignorance of him, but I can recommend Paul Johnson's A History of the American People. It came highly recommended as a very good British historian's excellent account of the Christian founders' influence on America's beginnings, and that's exactly what I discovered.

[Always A Marine]

I agree that Barton’s wallbuilders.org is an outstanding resource. At a time when shoddy scholarship is rampant and when primary source documentation is practically nonexistent, Barton provides invaluable links to the writings of our founders.

[thefactor]

i thought you meant THIS david barton. he owns a few gyms in new york city. here he is with a couple of friends:

[Guenevere]

We think he's great/well informed.

Used his video series for one of our Bible studies...

..very detailed/researched/articulated.

[loboinok]

1. I am a recognized authority in American history, particularly concerning the Colonial, Revolutionary, and Federal Eras.

2. I personally own a vast collection of thousands of documents of American history predating 1812, including handwritten works of the signers of the Declaration and the Constitution.

3. As a result of my expertise, I work as a consultant to national history textbook publishers and have been appointed by the State Boards of Education in States such as California and Texas to help write the American history and government standards for students in those States. Additionally, I consult with Governors and State Boards of Education in several other States and have testified in numerous State Legislatures on American history.

4. I am the recipient of several national and international awards, including the George Washington Honor Medal, the Daughters of the American Revolution Medal of Honor, Who's Who in America (1997, 1999), Who's Who in the World (1996, 1999), Who's Who in American Education (1996, 1997), International Who's Who of Professionals (1996), Two Thousand Notable American Men Hall of Fame (1995), Who's Who in the South and Southwest (1995, 1999), Who's Who Among Outstanding Americans (1994), Outstanding Young Men in America (1990), and numerous other awards.

5. I have also written and published numbers of books and articles on American history and its related issues. (Original Intent, 1996; Bulletproof George Washington, 1990; Ethics: An Early American Handbook, 1999; Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 1995, and many others).

Wallbuilders.com

He drives the secular humanist nuts.

[azcap]

His books and educational pamphlets are good. His live speeches and audio recordings are outstanding. He has been a key player in keeping the Christian heritage of our country known.

[Mr. Brightside]

I like him a lot.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

A bit date, say what?

[Yosemitest]

Thanks to everyone.. I’ll give it some time and money.

[LiteKeeper]

You can’t find a better scholar on early American history and particularly, early American spiritual history!!!!!

[El Gato]

freedom of religion being the primary reason for our nation being founded

Freedom of religion was more involved in motivating the founding of the various colonies. Even then it was sometimes freedom to practice *their* religion, not other religions. (where "religion" meant Christian demonination).

What really motivated the foundation of the country, as a separate nation, rather than as part of England, was "taxation without representation", and of course the gun grabbing attempts by the Brit authorities, which were the final spark that ignited the revolution.

But you don't need to guess, they wrote the reasons down for the whole world to see.

Declaration of Independence

That's not to say that the colonies and the early nation were not religious. In that document linked above, they even mention God, and the Creator and everything.

[El Gato]

http://www.ieeeboston.org/edu05s/images/radar/bood_barton.jpg>

That is the David Barton I thought of first. I've actually read/used his books, although not for a while. I've seen him in person too, at the National Radar Conference, in Boston, the day after Patriots Day, 1993.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I used to work at the same company... Been in meetings with him. I knew Hal Ward pretty well. Hal is a great guy.