The Stillborn God: Religion, Politics, and the Modern West, (Paperback)

I've read many books about the Enlightenment and Great Separation however this author is very clear in concept, though a little short on words at times (I'm guessing that was the publisher's doing). They (concepts) are very well threaded into his thesis of political theology being in power before the Great Separation also drawing in how the Protestant Reformation worked, in concert with the intellectual efforts i.e. secular writings of Hobbes and especial Kant, to achieve what is called "absolute knowing" which is necessary to dismantle the archaic policies coming from theology. So roughly instead of God giving authority to the king, the people give the authority to the prime minster or president, not top-down but bottom-up that's the new reality. The author presents in a very neutral voice (I'm more then half way through and I don't know if he agrees with religious people or not). Also as far as how easy it is to read, he explains concepts well with minimal jargon; I've enjoyed it as a great page turner.