Depending on who you're talking to, the story of America's founding may be told very differently. Some liberals might describe a nation animated by secular Enlightenment values, where freedom from religion is just as important as freedom of religion. And some conservatives might point to the country's so-called Judeo-Christian heritage, with the Bible as its foundational text.
Both of these stories are wrong, according to Phil Gorski, a professor of sociology and religious studies at Yale. In his new book, American Covenant, Gorski argues that these opposing stories are the basis of the culture wars: They've made it difficult for people to believe they can still share civic values even if they don't share other beliefs.
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