Red-hot and righteous

By Diane H. Winston

Book Description

When a bold British evangelical movement called The Salvation Army arrived in New York City in 1880, locals dismissed their unconventional methods as vulgar spectacle. The organization's brass bands, female preachers, and passionate worship services seemed more like street theater than serious religion. Yet this seemingly chaotic missionary group would transform into America's most successful charitable organization, embodying the nation's deepest values of service and faith.

Diane Winston reveals how The Salvation Army achieved this remarkable evolution by embracing the very forces that traditional religious institutions resisted. Rather than retreating from modern urban life, these determined evangelicals immersed themselves in the commercial and entertainment culture of the emerging metropolis. They adopted the language of popular shows, borrowed techniques from successful marketers, and created worship experiences that rivaled the excitement of city attractions.

This fascinating exploration demonstrates how spiritual movements can thrive by engaging authentically with their cultural moment rather than standing apart from it. Winston shows that far from being peripheral to city life, these religious innovators positioned themselves at the heart of crucial conversations about poverty relief, women's evolving roles, and the rise of consumer society.

For readers interested in how faith communities adapt and flourish amid social change, this study offers compelling insights into the dynamic relationship between spiritual conviction and cultural transformation in America's urban landscape.