Episode 15
God in the Frontier BONUS EPISODE
I've gotten a lot of feedback and have had a few more thoughts since I finished releasing God in the Frontier and thought I would make a bonus episode to share! I discuss a variety of topics related to the 12 part God in the Frontier series and expand on them. In this episode learn about the Thomas Indian School, the Shakers, Benjamin Fish and his Fourier community, as well as a personal review of the podcast Ghost Church by Jamie Loftus, which happened to cover a lot of similar topics that I did in my chapter on Spiritualism. I also cover a bit more on the Chautauqua Institution, Benjamin Titus Roberts and the birth of Free Methodism, and explore the wider impact of Isaac and Amy Post, the elite Rochesterians who gave the Fox Sisters their start. This exploration brings me on a journey of how mid-19th century Upstate New York politics led the abolitionist and suffragist movements and steered the country to war largely at the hands of a land speculator Gerrit Smith and one of America's earliest media moguls Thurlow Weed, ultimately leading to the birth of the Republican Party. Finally, I give some reflection on Mormonism as it now becomes officially the wealthiest church in America.
