Jacoby, Susan

Susan Jacoby (1945- ) is an American author and historian who has made significant contributions to the study of secularism and freethought in American history. Her work on Robert Ingersoll in "The Great Agnostic: Robert Ingersoll and American Freethought" (2013) illuminates the forgotten legacy of America's most prominent nineteenth-century agnostic orator and his influence on the separation of church and state. Jacoby's broader scholarship examines the tensions between religious and secular worldviews in American culture, particularly focusing on the historical roots of contemporary debates about God, faith, and reason. Her work challenges the narrative of America as an inherently religious nation by documenting the substantial tradition of religious skepticism and secular thought that has shaped American intellectual life. Through meticulous historical research, Jacoby demonstrates how freethinkers and agnostics have contributed to American democratic ideals and the ongoing dialogue about the role of religion in public life.