It's a bit of an anachronism to refer to George Whitefield and others as Evangelicals, since the term as we understand it wasn't used then. But their belief system and theology certainly were the same as the modern Evangelical movement. Whitefield believed that if citizens were allowed to hear the teachings of every religion, they would be able to make to right choice. Evangelical theology taught that the Holy Spirit drew men to God, and that the job of the preacher was merely to proclaim, not persuade or cajole. Whitefield encouraged debate, and was able to discuss theology and philosophy with anyone who would debate him. It's this spirit of discussion that led directly to the idea that all people should be allowed to freely practice their faith, with no interference from the government.

The Founding Fathers believed that religion in society produced good citizens. Rather than discourage religious practice, they wanted to encourage it among everyone. This is what led directly to the First Amendment right to freely practice your religion with no governmental interference at all. The Founders also saw the problems with state established religion. This is not the mere recognition of religion by the government that many today would have us believe; this is the imposition by law of a specific religious creed. Most colonies had an official religion, and even those who didn't had an unofficial preferred faith. They saw the tyranny that this resulted in, even among people who were earnest in their faith and normally quite passive and tolerant (the Quakers in Pennsylvania, for example). The intent of the notorious "establishment clause" was to do just that — keep there from ever being an established faith or creed in the United States. Persecuted faiths loved this. From the Baptists in Massachusetts and Virginia to the Catholics in just about every colony (including Maryland, intended to be a Catholic safe haven in the New World), the idea of religious tolerance was championed.

And this message won't be popular on either side of the debate. Secularists won't be comfortable with the fact that religion played a more prominent role in the Revolution than we've been told in history class. And the "religious right" won't appreciate the fact that many of our treasured "Christian patriots" were only members of churches because the law required them to be. Both sides of the debate have been playing fast and loose with the facts; thankfully, Steven Waldman has written Founding Faith to dispel the mythology of them both.