Books by Gary Scott (Professor of History Smith

Gary Scott Smith poses two major questions: How have Americans viewed heaven? And how have they believed people get there? He argues that Americans in all periods have agreed about some aspects of heavenly life, but that the predominant conception of heaven has varied from era to era because of the close connection of depictions of paradise with social, economic, political, and cultural trends during different periods.

Offers in-depth examinations of the lives and presidencies of eleven chief executives for whom religion was a particularly important issue because of their own beliefs. The author paints portraits of the religious lives of the leaders and shows how their beliefs shaped their actions, and in turn the course of our history.