CHRISTIAN HISTORY Issue 102 People of Faith How America’s many churches shaped “one nation under God.” IFC_POFad_CHM102_CHM102 4/27/12 10:28 AM Page 1 Survey the history of Christianity in America from before the Pilgrims to the present in this stunning DVD series. You’ll gain valuable perspective on the people and ideas that shaped America and see how it came to be the first nation in history based upon the ideal of religious liberty. In this six-episode series you’ll meet the spiritual visionaries, leaders, and entrepreneurs who shaped Christianity across the centuries and dramatically influenced the culture we live in today, including Jonathan Edwards, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Billy Graham among many others. Learn about the key events, movements, and controversies that continue to shape us today such as the Great Awakening, the abolitionist movement, 19th-century Catholic immigration, the Prohibition era, modernism and $ 99 fundamentalism, and the social gospel, civil rights, and pro-life 29. #501437D movements, and more. Well researched, balanced, fast paced, and insightful, People of Faith features expert commentary from an array of scholars such as Martin Marty, Mark Noll, Thomas Kidd, Kathryn Long, and many others. Produced and created by the Institute for the Study of American Evangelicals at Wheaton College, this amazing resource will help you discover the importance of Christian history as we consider the future of the church in America. The two-DVD set includes • six half-hour segments, • study and discussion questions, • script transcripts, • additional interviews with scholars, and • optional English subtitles. www.peopleoffaithseries.com THREE WAYS TO ORDER: • Call 1-800-523-0226 Please mention source code CHM102PF when ordering. • Go to www.visionvideo.com Please reference code CHM102PF in catalog source field. • Mail to (include $3.99 s/h) Vision Video, Dept. CHM102PF, PO Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490 This series was made possible through the generous support of the Lilly Endowment, Inc. Editor’s note AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY IS, at the very least, defined themselves as people who came here seeking odd. How odd is not always apparent to those of us religious freedom and who are still, despite everything, who live inside it, for whom the story of denomina­ a religious people. tional competition, freedom from an established While this story is true, it is true in more com­ church linked with governmental power, and a plicated ways than we imagine. Christian History has market place of religious choices is the norm. devoted many issues to exploring those complicated and Yet for some two centuries now, outside observers diverse stories—from Spanish missions in California, have been remarking on its oddity, ever since St. John to con versions on the western frontier, to businessmen de Crevecoeur wrote in 1782: “When any considerable kneeling to pray in unexpected revivals, to the faith of number of a particular sect happen to dwell con­ American presidents. (Some links to those specific sto­ tiguous to each other, they immediately erect a temple, ries can be found in the “Recommended resources” on and there worship the Divinity agreeably to their own pages 21 and 41). peculiar ideas. Nobody disturbs them. If any new sect In this issue of Christian History, we step back and USEUM M springs up in Europe, it may happen that many of its take a look at two main themes running through all professors will come and settle in America. As they these narratives. American Christianity is, and has been HALING W bring their zeal with them, they are at liberty to make from its inception, diverse. It has thrived in unexpected proselytes if they can, and to build a meeting and to ways and places. It has also been an active faith which follow the dictates of their consciences; for neither the has felt itself entitled to change society and has tried very EW BEDFORD government nor any other power interferes. If they are hard to roll up its sleeves and do just that. But precisely N peaceable subjects, and are industrious, what is it to because of our diversity, we have had dif ferent visions of their neighbors how and in what manner they think what it means to thrive and how best to reform society. fit to address their prayers to the Supreme Being?” Those visions have often clashed, in ways described G. K. Chesterton once said that the United States specifically by this issue’s writers. And the religious and is “the only nation in the world that is founded on a political situation in 2012 presents no evidence that we creed.” In many ways, that creed is a religious one. The have come to any consensus about these matters. EETING: COURTESY OF THE M United States itself is seen as something to have reli­ While this issue alone will not bring us to con­ gious faith in. Over the years, many Americans have sensus, it is the editors’ hope that it will help us to 1839 CAMP Issue 102 1 Christian History magazine is back in print bringing you something old and something new! You’ll find engaging articles, lively images, and special features, as in the original publication begun 30 years ago. Each issue explores a single topic in depth, bringing you right into the heart of the matter. Whether it’s a memorable biography, a unique event, or a sweeping historical movement, you can count on our editorial team to draw on the best scholarship available to bring you the stories and history you’ve come to enjoy. Now for “something new.” Each of our publi- understand how we got where we are today and cations is also available as a free online flipbook to think about productive ways to move forward. with special “live” features at www.christianhistory What did the founding fathers really think about magazine.org. Here you will discover links to video the separation of church and state, and how has clips, audio interviews, and related articles from that separation been seen differently throughout the back issues. years? What did early settlers think about religious We are currently working on an issue devoted freedom—what were they being freed from, and to early African Christianity. Though we don’t often what were they being freed for? How did the vision of America as a “Christian nation” translate in prac- think of such church fathers as Tertullian, Origen, tice into its being a Protestant nation, and how did and Augustine as African, they were, and the African Protestants react when they realized that immigra- “landscape” they worked in was formative for all tion and religious diversity threatened that vision? of world Christianity. We are also considering a What social issues have Christians fought for over keepsake Christmas issue this fall to explore the the years, and why do we so often find ourselves historical story behind many facets of our familiar, fighting on opposite sides? What is God’s vision for the future of Christianity in America? Will it con- beloved Christian holiday. tinue to grow, thrive, and try to change the world, or Christian History magazine is a reader- is the future not so clear? supported publication. Your regular donations are HEATON COLLEGE W This issue is published as a companion to the crucial to keeping the magazine alive and well, for Institute for the Study of American Evangelicals’ years to come. Donations may be made through: People of Faith DVD set (available from Vision www.christianhistorymagazine.org VANGELICALS, Video), which also considers these issues and takes E the viewer deeper into the ways in which religious or by mail to: history has been central to American history. We Christian History Institute AMERICAN recommend the DVDs and the ISAE website at PO Box 540 http://isae.wheaton.edu as additional resources Worcester, PA 19490 TUDY OF for continued exploration of these questions. S Meanwhile, listen in on the conversation here, and see what it has to tell us about how Christianity has TUTE FOR THE changed America—and how America has changed Help us get the word out about the new I Christianity. Christian History magazine! Jennifer Woodruff Tait www.facebook.com/ChristianHistoryMagazine Project Editor, Issue 102 TWEET to the world about our free sign-up! T: COURTESY OF THE INST www.christianhistorymagazine.org/index.php/subscribe C PA M SHARE our website with your friends . www.christianhistorymagazine.org MAYFLOWER CO 2 Christian History People of faith 16 Diversity Social Impact 4 OVERVIEW: From Pueblos 24 OVERVIEW: A nation on a hill? to Pentecostals The history of church-state relations in America has America has always had a diverse religious landscape. been both complicated and contentious. Angela Tarángo Gary Scott Smith 32 CASE STUDY: Taking back America 4 How fundamentalism engaged the culture of the late twentieth and twenty-first centuries Chris R. Armstrong NC. I FORUM: Crusades and reformers 36 DUCATION, E What is the task of the church? CIENCE S 41 RECOMMENDED RESOURCES ENTER FOR C ATIONAL N 12 CASE STUDY: Catholics in America The test of “freedom of religion” Catherine A. Brekus HOTO COURTESY OF THE P 16 FORUM: American religion 2.0 What will survive? What will die? 32 What will be transformed? PRESS NELLENBERGER; OMAIN S D 21 RECOMMENDED RESOURCES ZUMA ARL E /PUBLIC Founder Advisory Editor Layout ©2012 Christian History Institute. Cover: “Way of the Cross” procession KURTZ / K Dr. A. K. Curtis Dr. James D. Smith III Tara M. Smith in Manhattan commemorates Good Friday (Stephen Chernin / Reuters). Christian History is published by Christian History Institute, P.O. Box 540, WIKIPEDIA Managing Editor Topic Advisor Print Coordinator Worcester, PA, 19490.