Damned Nation

Kathryn Gin Lum explores the enduring influence of hell and eternal damnation on early American society, examining how fears of divine wrath shaped individual behaviors, social hierarchies, and national identity from the Revolution to Reconstruction. She investigates why these fears persisted after Enlightenment critiques, their impact on different communities, and how notions of salvation and damnation influenced areas from literature to slavery. The book provides a comprehensive look at the theological and social implications of America's persistent millennial anxieties.