American Church Experience : A Concise History

by Askew, Thomas A., and Richard V. Pierard

• ISBN13: 9780801027222
• ISBN10: 0801027225
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-05-01
• Publisher: Baker Academic

Summary

How did the American church begin, and how did it evolve to meet changing needs? This readable survey traces the story of Christianity in America beginning with the first settlers, who came to the New World seeking religious freedom. The book then proceeds to the founding of the United States, the Revolution, the Civil War, and finally the tumultuous decades of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Along the way, the authors show that Christians have played a pivotal role in every significant social movement in America, from the abolition of slavery to the push for civil rights. They also discuss current topics such as pluralism, church-state separation, and the role of minorities in American churches.

Author Biography

Richard V. Pierard is professor of history emeritus of Indiana State University and scholar in residence at Gordon College.

Table of Contents

Preface	9	(6)
Part 1 The Old World Heritage
1 Christianity as a World Faith	15	(10)
2 The English Reformation	25	(8)
Part 2 Colonial Foundations (1607-1783)
3 Church Planting on the Atlantic Seaboard	33	(12)
4 Rekindling the Spiritual Vision	45	(10)
5 The Church in the Midst of Revolution	55	(12)
Part 3 The Nationalization and Expansion of the Churches (1784-1860)
6 New Churches for a New Society	67	(10)
7 The Second Awakening	77	(8)
8 Envisioning a Christian Social Order	85	(12)
9 Diversity in Religious Life	97
Part 4 Disruption, Devotion, and Debate (1861-1916)
10 Following the Faith in a Divided Nation	109	(10)
11 Evangelical Initiatives	119	(10)
12 The Old Religion Reacts to New Ideas	129	(12)
13 Churches in the Gilded Age	141	(10)
14 International Engagement and Mission	151	(12)
Part 5 The Churches in a Pluralistic Society (1917-Present)
15 War, Prosperity, and Depression	163	(12)
16 World War II and Religious Change	175	(14)
17 Unity and Service at Home and Abroad	189	(10)
18 Tradition under Fire	199	(10)
19 Urban Migration and Civil Rights	209	(8)
20 From the Bicentennial to the New Millennium	217	(20)
Epilogue	237	(4)
Bibliography	241	(32)
Index	273