Author Wilfred McClay and “Land of Hope”

Here’s my interview with Wilfred McClay of the University of Oklahoma about his new book Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story.

This new American history text book is an alternative to politically correct and often excessively cynical school curricula, while still transparent about America’s historical flaws.

I talk to McClay especially about how school text books typically treat religion in American history, which often is to downplay it. He recalls that college students frequently are surprised to learn about Christianity’s role in fighting slavery and segregation. There’s improving scholarship in academia on religion in American history, McClay reports, but this scholarship has not yet filtered into text books.

McClay also notes America’s interaction with religion is up and down, with waves of revivalism, followed by religious quiet. There is no straight line to secularism, as some assume. And America’s religious spirit is central to its persevering sense of hope

Enjoy this conversation. McClay’s Land of Hope is NOT just for students!