final_religion

The Puritan Influence

  • Puritans (Calvinist)

    • Adherence to TULIP theology

      • Total depravity

      • Unconditional election

      • Limited atonement

      • Irresistible grace

      • Perseverance of the saints

    • View sinfulness as a social problem requiring control through moral discipline.

Protestant Work Ethic

  • Core characteristics associated with Protestantism/evangelicalism in America.

  • Emphasis on hard work and frugality as a result of one's faith.

Arminian and Methodism

  • Methodists

    • More Arminian in perspective focusing on spiritual perfection and the importance of human choice in forming one's Christian life.

      • Spiritual Perfection: The belief in Methodism that individuals can achieve complete closeness to God through continuous spiritual growth.

      • Importance of Human Choice: Emphasis on personal decisions in Arminianism that shape one's faith journey.

      • Methods for Forming Christian Life: Practices like prayer, scripture study, and community worship essential for spiritual maturity.

The Great Awakenings

  • First Great Awakening

    • Occurred before 1776.

    • Challenges the established authorities of the time.

      • Emotional Revival: The First Great Awakening was marked by intense emotional experiences among participants, including public confessions and displays of fervor.

      • Influential Preachers: Charismatic figures such as George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards played pivotal roles in spreading revivalist messages.

      • Interdenominational Movement: The awakening transcended denominational lines, fostering cooperation among different Christian sects.

      • Increased Religious Participation: It led to a surge in church attendance and the establishment of new congregations and denominations.

      • Societal Impact: The movement influenced American culture, promoting ideas of individualism and personal faith.

  • Second Great Awakening (1800 - onward)

    • Varied in different locations across America.

    • Supports the development of new church structures.

    • Influenced by charismatic and powerful preachers, leading to a Great Revival in the West. Second Great Awakening (1800 - onward)

    • Emphasized the importance of personal faith and emotional experiences in worship.

    • Led to the rise of new religious movements and denominations, including the Baptists and Methodists.

    • Fostered social reform movements, such as abolitionism and women's rights.

    • Encouraged greater lay participation in religious activities and leadership roles.

Diverging Roles in Evangelicalism

  • Two poles began to develop:

    • Mainline (Old Lights) and Deists

      • Engaged in Social Gospel movements.

    • Evangelicalism (New Lights)

      • Greater focus on spiritual revival and personal conversion.

19th Century Developments

  • Methodist Growth

    • Emergence of many spin-offs (e.g., Holiness, Mormons) post-Civil War.

    • A notable decline in optimism about salvation and heaven.

    • Rethinking hell and conversion; introduction of the "age of accountability."

Changing Dynamics in Denominational Structures

  • On the Left (Social Gospel):

    • Growth of large denominational structures, less concern about conversion.

  • On the Right:

    • Influence of Premillennialism and Rapture Theology.

    • Rise of conservative evangelicalism emphasizing personal conversion.

The Social Context

  • New thinking emerged about life in the world, including:

    • Roles of women, health, and science influence.

    • Development of para-church structures, especially non-denominational youth organizations.

The Making of Modern Evangelicalism

  • Turn of 20th Century

    • Premillennialism becomes a major driving force.

    • Dispensationalism and the Scofield Bible gained popularity.

  • Scopes Trial (1925)

    • Served as a catalyst driving conservative evangelicals into a subculture.

Fundamentalism vs. Other Movements

  • Fundamentalism

    • Rooted in Calvinist beliefs emphasizing biblical inerrancy, the divinity of Jesus, virgin birth, bodily resurrection, and substitutionary atonement.

    • Conservative views on womanhood and Victorian marriage became focal points.

  • Holiness/Pentecostalism

    • Distinct from fundamentalism, more aligned with Methodist principles emphasizing spiritual perfection.

Social Movements and Leadership

  • Mid-20th Century

    • Leaders like Billy Graham paved the way for new evangelical movements. -

    • He was known for his large-scale crusades and emphasis on personal conversion, appealing to a wide audience across denominations.

    • His use of mass media, especially television, helped to spread evangelical messages and reach younger generations.

    • Graham's approach bridged traditional evangelicalism with contemporary issues, addressing social justice and global concerns, which helped to broaden the appeal of evangelicalism.

    • After 1960s, emergence of a new wave of evangelicals with fresh perspectives.

Contemporary Trends

  • Shifting focus: Moving from a subculture identity (like Bob Jones-type conservatism) to an emphasis on broader societal participation and success.

    • Recognition that engaging with the larger culture can positively influence perceptions of evangelicalism.

    • Efforts to address social issues beyond traditional evangelical concerns, such as poverty and education.

    • Increased collaboration with secular organizations for community betterment.

  • Increasing political engagement: More active participation in political processes into the 21st century.

    • Evangelicals mobilizing around social issues like abortion, marriage, and religious liberty.

    • Formation of political action committees and lobbying efforts to influence legislation.

    • Greater visibility and influence in national politics, particularly through support for candidates reflecting evangelical values.

    • Use of social media and grassroots movements to mobilize and inform members on political issues and voting.