Richard Hughes, author of the new book Christian America and the Kingdom of God, was recently interviewed on San Diego’s NPR affiliate KPBS.

Maureen Cavanaugh: “The U.S. Constitution instructs Congress to make no law establishing a religion for the United States of America. It would seem that should settle the issue of whether the U.S. is a Christian nation.

But, the notion that America is a Christian nation, annointed by God and with a special destiny in the world, has a long history in this country, and more importantly, it remains the cherished belief of many fundamentalist Christians today.

What support is there in the Bible or elsewhere that America is a Christian nation, and why do so many Americans want to believe it?”