The Fountain of Public Prosperity

'...this isa very valuable work and should be read by every Catholic historian to balanceany isolationism and reliance on the stereotypes that may remain in ourapproach. It is a veritable lode for mining.' -- Michael Belcher, Journal of theAustralian Catholic Historical Society

'Stuart Piggin and Bob Linder have produced amonumental history of evangelical Christianity in Australia ... After thislandmark book, it will no longer be possible to dismiss or minimise theinfluence of religion on the rise and development of modernAustralia.' -- DrGeoff Treloar,Australian College ofTheology 

'[The authors] have written one of the greatworks of Australian history, not to mention one of the great studies ofevangelicalism globally.' -- DrMeredith Lake, University of Sydney, author of The Bible in Australia

'It resonates significantly with currentdiscussions about the character of our society. It is a masterwork ofAustralian history.' -- DrBrian Dickey, formerly Flinders University

'...a meticulous, magisterial work ofscholarship' -- Roy Williams

The officialreligion brought to Australia with the First Fleet was EvangelicalChristianity, the 'vital religion' then shaping public policy through WilliamWilberforce and his fellow evangelicals. That it has shaped Australian historyever since, making a substantial contribution to the public prosperity of thenation, is an untold story. 

Christianvalues and identity were the main components of Australian values and identity.Evangelical 'moralising' may be understood as a concern to address the 'hard'cultures associated with convicts, the liquor industry, and male misogyny. Themovement provided opportunities for women to work in reform, charitable,evangelistic and missionary organisations, thus laying strong foundations forfeminism. In their concern for 'Christlike citizenship', evangelicals cared forthe nation's children in Sunday schools and its youth in societies for youngpeople such as the YMCA, YWCA, and Christian Endeavour.

The majorcomponent of the humanitarian movement, evangelicals ensured that the convictsettlement of Australia was more humane than is generally recognised. They didmost of the all-too-little that was done to protect the Indigenous populationand to educate settlers, keeping alive in the latter a conscience overmaltreatment of the former. In a profusion of charities, evangelicals in thenineteenth century, as today, provided most of the welfare for the population'sdisadvantaged.

TheFountain of Public Prosperity presents propositions which require aradical revision of received understandings, an appreciation of unmined richesin the Australian experience, and reconnection with an often buried past.Drawing on these untapped resources is the safest route to reimagining a futurefor Australia.