Andrew Seidel

Andrew L. Seidel is a constitutional attorney and author focusing on the separation of church and state, religious liberty, and freethought advocacy. As the Vice President of Strategic Communications for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, he works to defend First Amendment rights and challenge religious privilege in law and policy. His books include "The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American" (2019) and "American Crusade: How the Supreme Court is Weaponizing Religious Freedom" (2023). These works examine the relationship between religion and government in American history and contemporary society. Prior to his current role, Seidel served as a constitutional attorney and the Director of Strategic Response at the Freedom From Religion Foundation. His writing has appeared in outlets including Slate, The New York Times, USA Today, and The Washington Post. Seidel holds a law degree from Tulane University Law School and a Master's in Environmental Law from Denver University. He frequently speaks at conferences and events about secular government, religious freedom, and constitutional issues.

Readers engage strongly with Seidel's analysis of church-state separation, reflecting polarized views on this topic. His books receive ratings averaging 4.3/5 on Goodreads and 4.5/5 on Amazon. Readers praise: - Research depth and citation quality - Clear explanations of complex legal concepts - Historical documentation challenging common assumptions "Well-researched takedown of Christian nationalist mythology" notes one Amazon reviewer of The Founding Myth. Common criticisms: - Perceived anti-religious tone - Arguments seen as one-sided - Technical legal language in some sections "Too aggressive in tone and dismissive of religious perspectives," writes a Goodreads reviewer. The Founding Myth (2019): - Goodreads: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.6/5 (900+ ratings) American Crusade (2023): - Goodreads: 4.4/5 (300+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.4/5 (200+ ratings) Reviews indicate readers typically approach his work already aligned with or opposed to his secular perspective, with few neutral assessments.

The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American (2019) A historical and legal analysis examining the relationship between Christianity and American government, addressing common claims about the nation's religious foundations.

American Crusade: How the Supreme Court is Weaponizing Religious Freedom (2023) An examination of recent Supreme Court decisions and their impact on the interpretation and application of religious freedom in American law.

Katherine Stewart writes extensively about Christian nationalism and its influence on American politics and education. She investigates religious-right movements and their impact on public institutions through detailed reporting and research.

Susan Jacoby examines secular history, atheism, and American religious movements from a historical perspective. Her work focuses on the development of secular thought and the complex relationship between faith and reason in American society.

Sean Faircloth analyzes church-state separation and religious influence in American lawmaking. He combines legal expertise with policy analysis to explore the impact of religious privilege on legislation and civil rights.

Michelle Goldberg investigates Christian nationalism and its intersection with politics and policy in America. She documents religious movements' influence on democracy and civil liberties through investigative journalism.

Rob Boston writes about religious liberty issues and church-state separation from a legal perspective. He covers Supreme Court decisions and constitutional challenges related to religious freedom through his work at Americans United for Separation of Church and State.