Changes

The term commonly also suggests a desire to evangelize, i.e. spread the message of the Gospel and make converts to [[Christianity]]. In recent decades the term has narrowed to designate a white conservative Protestant, usually a fundamentalist or Pentecostal Christian.  

The term commonly also suggests a desire to evangelize, i.e. spread the message of the Gospel and make converts to [[Christianity]]. In recent decades the term has narrowed to designate a white conservative Protestant, usually a fundamentalist or Pentecostal Christian.  

This article focuses on the United States and Canada since 1740, when the [[First Great Awakening]] launched the Evangelical movement.<ref> Thomas S. Kidd, ''The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America'' (2007) [http://www.amazon.com/Great-Awakening-Evangelical-Christianity-Colonial/dp/0300118872/ref=ed_oe_h excerpt and text search]; William G. McLaughlin, ''Isaac Backus and the American Pietistic Tradition'' (1967)</ref>

This article focuses on the United States and Canada since 1740, when the [[First Great Awakening]] launched the Evangelical movement.<ref>Thomas S. Kidd, ''The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America'' (2007) [http://www.amazon.com/Great-Awakening-Evangelical-Christianity-Colonial/dp/0300118872/ref=ed_oe_h excerpt and text search]; William G. McLaughlin, ''Isaac Backus and the American Pietistic Tradition'' (1967)</ref>

There is no exact definition of who is an Evangelical. Pollsters often ask, "Are you a born-again Christian?" to define the group. Sociologists look at membership in specific denominations and often include adherents of [[Holiness Movement]], [[Pentecostal]] and [[Nazarene]] churches. Some scholars focus on the Bible beliefs, together with a personal commitment to Christ.<ref> See Krapohl and Lippy (1999) </ref>

There is no exact definition of who is an Evangelical. Pollsters often ask, "Are you a born-again Christian?" to define the group. Sociologists look at membership in specific denominations and often include adherents of [[Holiness Movement]], [[Pentecostal]] and [[Nazarene]] churches. Some scholars focus on the Bible beliefs, together with a personal commitment to Christ.<ref>See Krapohl and Lippy (1999)</ref>

The largest Lutheran body in the USA is the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]]. It should be noted though that this church and The [[Episcopal Church]], which is in communion with it, have had their Evangelical credentials questioned as a result of their recent acceptance of homosexuality. Some Evangelical Protestant critics, believing homosexual acts to be contrary to Scripture, place these churches on the edge of fringe Christianity along with Jehovah's Witnesses, The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints (Mormons), and Seventh Day Adventists.  

The largest Lutheran body in the USA is the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]]. It should be noted though that this church and The [[Episcopal Church]], which is in communion with it, have had their Evangelical credentials questioned as a result of their recent acceptance of homosexuality. Some Evangelical Protestant critics, believing homosexual acts to be contrary to Scripture, place these churches on the edge of fringe Christianity along with Jehovah's Witnesses, The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints (Mormons), and Seventh Day Adventists.  

==Colonial America==

==Colonial America==

The [[First Great Awakening]] was a spontaneous outburst of religious enthusiasm in the American colonies, with a decisive long-term impact on setting the stage for Evangelicalism in Congregational, Baptist, Methodist and presbyterian denominations, among others.  It did not add new members so much as to change the religious consciousness of church members to a greater awareness of sin and redemption, and a downplaying of ritual, liturgy and theology.  The Great Awakening heavily emphasized the individual’s experience of salvation and the Holy Spirit’s work in revivals. By giving many evangelicals radical notions of the spiritual equality of all people, the revivals helped form the democratic style came to characterize the American people.<ref> Thomas S. Kidd, ''The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America'' (2007) </ref>

The [[First Great Awakening]] was a spontaneous outburst of religious enthusiasm in the American colonies, with a decisive long-term impact on setting the stage for Evangelicalism in Congregational, Baptist, Methodist and presbyterian denominations, among others.  It did not add new members so much as to change the religious consciousness of church members to a greater awareness of sin and redemption, and a downplaying of ritual, liturgy and theology.  The Great Awakening heavily emphasized the individual’s experience of salvation and the Holy Spirit’s work in revivals. By giving many evangelicals radical notions of the spiritual equality of all people, the revivals helped form the democratic style came to characterize the American people.<ref>Thomas S. Kidd, ''The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America'' (2007)</ref>

==19th century==

==19th century==

* Krapohl, Robert H., and Charles H. Lippy. ''The Evangelicals: A Historical, Thematic, and Biographical Guide'' (1999). 338 pgs. [https://www.questia-online-library.com/read/111701129?title=Abbreviations online edition]

* Krapohl, Robert H., and Charles H. Lippy. ''The Evangelicals: A Historical, Thematic, and Biographical Guide'' (1999). 338 pgs. [https://www.questia-online-library.com/read/111701129?title=Abbreviations online edition]

* Larsen, Timothy and Daniel J. Treier, eds. ''The Cambridge companion to evangelical theology‎'' (2007) 303 pages; [http://books.google.com/books?id=vlmXBe0RPxYC&pg=PA158&dq=%22Revive+Us+Again:+The+Reawakening+of+American+%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES excerpt and text search]

* Larsen, Timothy and Daniel J. Treier, eds. ''The Cambridge companion to evangelical theology‎'' (2007) 303 pages; [http://books.google.com/books?id=vlmXBe0RPxYC&pg=PA158&dq=%22Revive+Us+Again:+The+Reawakening+of+American+%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES excerpt and text search]

* Marsden, George M. ''Fundamentalism and American Culture: The Shaping of Twenteth Century Evangelicalism, 1870-1925'' (2nd ed. 2006). standard scholarly history by leading Evangelical scholar[http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentalism-American-Culture-George-Marsden/dp/0195300475/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242033450&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Marsden, George M. ''Fundamentalism and American Culture: The Shaping of Twenteth Century Evangelicalism, 1870-1925'' (2nd ed. 2006). standard scholarly history by leading Evangelical scholar [http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentalism-American-Culture-George-Marsden/dp/0195300475/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242033450&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Marsden, George M.  ''Understanding Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism''

* Marsden, George M.  ''Understanding Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism''

* Noll, Mark. ''A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada'' (1992) by leading Evangelical scholar [http://www.amazon.com/History-Christianity-United-States-Canada/dp/0802806511/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242457929&sr=1-4 excerpt and text search]

* Noll, Mark. ''A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada'' (1992) by leading Evangelical scholar [http://www.amazon.com/History-Christianity-United-States-Canada/dp/0802806511/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242457929&sr=1-4 excerpt and text search]