A Nation Wrestles With God: American Prophets, Philosophers, and Firebrands by Ilan Stavans

A historic collection of the radicals and freethinkers that sparked a country’s journey through divinity—praising, challenging, and redefining the sacred. Spanning more than 400 years of spiritual transformation and imagination, A Nation Wrestles with God collects diverse writers—poets, novelists, theologians, scientists, musicians, politicians, comedians, artists, mavericks, naturalists, futurists, and more—whose daring texts incited dialogue, even change, and continue to influence a growing nation. From the pre-colonial to the present day, these landmark stories, poems, essays, letters, speeches, songs, comic strips, and more awoke new generations to free religious thought. On the occasion of America’s 250th year of independence, and during a time of deep idealogical division, this sweeping anthology is an urgent reminder of the pluralities that strengthen and unite us.