This book investigates the evolution of public Christianity in New England during the fifty years following the American Revolution to determine how religious leaders navigated the transition from colonial republicanism to liberal individualism. Jonathan D. Sassi, a scholar of American religious history, utilizes extensive primary source material from Congregational clergy to challenge the prevailing historical narrative. He argues that rather than a sudden shift toward secular individualism, there remained a persistent, robust commitment to the concept of a righteous, corporate community among post-revolutionary religious leaders.

Historians and scholars of American religious history recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of early national identity and the role of the clergy in public life. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the author's meticulous attention to the nuances of theological rhetoric during the early republic.