Protestantism in the United States

Flashcards about Protestantism in the United States from WWI to the Postwar Decades.

What was the general attitude of churches in the United States towards World War I after the US declared war?

They joined in the rhetoric of war, with liberals and fundamentalists calling for the need to 'save civilization.'

Which groups in the US maintained a pacifist stance during World War I?

Traditionally pacifist denominations like Mennonites and Quakers.

What was one of the consequences of the lack of critical reflection on World War I in the United States?

The United States never joined the League of Nations.

Which group experienced a revival and increased membership in the 1920s, adding Catholics and Jews to their list of enemies?

The Ku Klux Klan.

What event symbolized the conflict between liberals and fundamentalists in the post-World War I period?

The Scopes trial.

What was the cause that united most Protestants during the 1920s?

The prohibition of alcoholic beverages.

What was President Hoover's initial approach to the Great Depression?

He and his cabinet continued denying the existence of a depression and insisted that the American economy would rebound by itself.

Whose theologies began making an impact during the Great Depression?

Karl Barth and the Niebuhr brothers, Reinhold and H. Richard.

What policies did the Methodist Church and the Federal Council of Churches support in 1932?

Government participation in economic planning and in providing means to safeguard the well-being of the poor.

How did some leaders within mainstream denominations react to the growing conviction for social security and unemployment insurance?

They accused the leadership of having been infiltrated by Communism and allied themselves with Fascism.

What event brought an end to the Great Depression?

World War II.

What event led to the questioning of national loyalty during World War II?

The attack on Pearl Harbor.

What was the prevailing attitude of most church leaders during World War II?

They supported the war effort but took care not to confuse Christianity with national pride.

What characterized the postwar years in terms of churches and society?

Unprecedented prosperity and the rise of suburbia, leading to the growth of churches in suburban areas.

What was viewed as a possible indication of anti-American inclinations during the McCarthy era?

Lack of church membership

What theological understanding was promoted by Norman Vincent Peale?

Faith and 'positive thinking' as leading to mental health and happiness.

What was one of the factors that contributed to the black movement?

Black soldiers returning from the war found that the freedom for which they had fought abroad was lacking at home.

What role did black clergy play in the Civil Rights Movement?

Most of the leadership, until well into the 1960s, was drawn from black clergy, most notably Martin Luther King, Jr.

Who was the main figure behind "black theology"?

James Cone

What was one of the main struggles fought by women in churches during the 1950s?

Women's right to have their call to ministry validated by ordination, and the critique of male theology.

What brought the notion of 'the land of the free and the home of the brave' into question during the Vietnam War?

The United States lost a war for the first time, and the public was purposefully misinformed on military actions.

What were the three common themes in Protestant theologies during the time of social stress?

An orientation towards the future, an interest in sociopolitical realities, and an attempt to bring these two together.

What movement within the churches led to increased international contacts and concerns for global issues?

The ecumenical movement.

What themes characterized the

The loss of traditional values and the breakdown of society.

What document articulated the growing conviction of committed Christians to address social abuses and injustices?

The Chicago Declaration.