Evangelicals, The
Book Description
Frances FitzGerald traces the remarkable evolution of evangelical Christianity in America, revealing how a grassroots movement that began as a challenge to established Protestant institutions became the nation's most influential religious force. This comprehensive exploration follows evangelicalism's journey from its early populist roots through its pre-Civil War dominance, examining how the slavery question fractured the movement between North and South.
The narrative continues through the post-war period, when northern evangelicals themselves divided, creating tensions between fundamentalist and modernist camps that would shape American Christianity for generations. FitzGerald illuminates how conservative evangelicalism experienced a powerful resurgence after World War II, propelled by Billy Graham's nationwide revival campaigns that brought the movement back to national prominence.
The author demonstrates how conflicts between religious conservatives and their opponents sparked broader cultural battles that transformed American politics, contributing to the emergence of a Republican stronghold in the South. Yet the story doesn't end there. FitzGerald reveals how contemporary evangelicals are challenging traditional Christian right positions by embracing messages of social justice and community welfare.
Through careful analysis of these internal divisions and evolving priorities, the book suggests that America's deeply religious character may be shifting toward patterns more common in secular European societies. This thorough examination offers readers insight into the complex forces that continue to shape both American spirituality and national discourse.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Long (> 400 pages) (~21 hours)
📄 Length: 740 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore United States
- ✓ Explore Christianity and politics
- ✓ Explore Fundamentalism
- ✓ Explore Church history
- ✓ Explore Christianity
- ✓ Explore Evangelicalism
- ✓ Explore New York Times reviewed
- ✓ Explore History & Theory
