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Nine Great American Myths
by Pat Apel
Paperback
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part 1: An American Vision
1. An American Image
What Makes an American? / The Identity of Americanism / Conclusion
2. An American Dream
"Dreams Are What Guide Us" / The Power of Worldview / The
"Truth" of Worldview / An American Worldview: The American Dream / Conclusion
3. The Myth of Our Christian Origins: In the Beginning
The Foundation of the American Dream / The Puritans in the Old World / The
"Script" for the Dream / John Winthrop -- The American Nehemiah / The Puritan
Myth
4. The Myth of Restoration and the New Beginning: Morning in American Again
The Force of Fantasy / The Perfect Creation / Dream of Perfection / Individual
Themes / The Strength of the Myth / Conclusion
5. The Myth of Sacrifice and Dissent: "I Regret That I Have But One Life..."
Dissent in America / The Dissidents / Roger Williams: Church and State / Solomon
Paine / The Growth of the Republic / The Walls of Separation / Conclusion
6. The Myth of Political Equality: "All Men Are Created Equal..."
The Republicans / The Myth of Political Equality / The Republican Myth and the
Church / Jefferson the Theologian / Individualism Versus Commitment in the Myth of
Political Equality
7. The Myth of the Self-Made Man: Rags to Riches
Benjamin Franklin--Self-Made Man / Franklin and Christianity / The Economic Brand
of Individualism / The Strength of the Myth of the Self-Made Man
8. The Myth of Individualism I: The Search for the Soul
The Transcendentalists / Walt Whitman / Nathaniel Hawthorne / Herman Melville / The
Strength of the Myth of Individualism / The Crisis Ahead
9. The Myth of Individualism II: The Individual in Crisis
The Crisis of the Individual / Individualism--The Metamorphosis of the American
Myth / Catalyst for the Crisis / A Crisis of Passage / The Crisis of the Team Player / The
Great Irony
10. The Myth of Relativism: The Culture in Crisis
Antithesis--Relativism as Myth / Relativism--The Metamorphosis of Culture / The
Enemy of Relativism / Relativism in Business / Relativism in the Academic Community /
Relativism in Law / Relativism in Science / Relativism in Athletics / I Don't Mind and You
Don't Matter / Conclusion
11. The Myth of the Christian Nation: The Congregation in Crisis
The American Religion / Has the American Religion Spoiled Our Faith? / The American
Dream in the Christian Church / The Dangers of the American Religion / Conclusion
Part 2: A Christian Vision
12. Americans and the Christian Faith
The Characteristics of the Faith / The Options / Americans and the Incentives of
the Christian Faith / Conclusion
13. Americans and the Word
What Does the Bible Do For Us? / Piercing Our Cultural Myths / Conclusion
14. Americans and the Sacraments
The First Step / The Sacraments / The Mark of Holiness / In the Exile / The
Different Drummer / Christian Fellowship / The Missing Link / Conclusion
15. Americans and Prayer
Prayer as a Means of Grace / Assumptions About Prayer / The Requisites of Prayer /
The Power of Prayer / Prayer and the American Dream / The Arts / The Sciences / Education
/ Government / Conclusion
16. Postscript
Rediscover the Faith / Rely on God's Word / Obey the Call to Holiness and Community
/ Pursue God Through Prayer
Notes
Subject Index
About the Author
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