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An '''Evangelical Christian''' is a Protestant who spreads the Gospel. In recent decades the term has narrowed to designate a white conservative Protestant, usually with a belief in the inerrancy of scriptures. "Evangelical" includes [[Fundamentalists]]. In the [[Reformation]] of the 16th century, "Evangelical" was a favorite term especially used by [[Lutherans]]. This article focuses on the United States and Canada since 1800.

An '''Evangelical Christian''' is a Protestant who spreads the Gospel. In recent decades it designates a conservative Protestant, usually with a belief in the inerrancy of scriptures. "Evangelical" includes [[Fundamentalists]].

==19th century America==

The [[Second Great Awakening]] from 1800 to the 1830s created a dramatic growth in "evangelical" or "pietistic" denominations. They included the Methodists, Congregationalists, most Presbyterians, Christians (Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ) and Scandinavian Lutherans. They were opposed theologically by the liturgical or "high" churches, including Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, and German Lutherans.<ref>See Richard Jensen, ''The Winning of the Midwest, 1888-1896'' (1971)</ref>   The evangelicals were strong supporters of moral reforms in society, using government action to promote women's rights, the abolition of slavery, and the prohibition of liquor.

In the [[Reformation]] of the 16th century, "Evangelical" was a favorite term especially used by [[Lutherans]].  

 

==19th century==

In the 19th century United States "evangelical" or "pietistic" denominations included Methodists, Congregationalists, most Presbyterians, Christians (Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ) and Scandinavian Lutherans. They were opposed theologically by the liturgical or "high" churches, including Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, and German Lutherans.<ref>See Richard Jensen, ''The Winning of the Midwest, 1888-1896'' (1971)</ref>

The 19th century evangelicals were strong supporters of moral reforms in society, using government action to promote women's rights, the abolition of slavery, and the prohibition of liquor.

Evangelicals were active in missions (as were the non-evangelical Chrisians).  Missionaries, in addition to spreading the word of God, have helped bring much needed medical and educational services to poor parts of the world, as part of their missionary activities.  

Politically, the evangelicals in the North were the core of the Republican party in the [[Third Party System]], as well as the small Prohibition party.

The [[Third Great Awkaening]] from 1850 to about 1900 saw the evangelical denomintions organize themselves more thoroughly, and begin to have splits between "modernists" and "fundamentalists" about therological principles.  

"Evangelical" suggests an ardent or zealous enthusiasm for a cause<ref>[http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=evangelical Princeton University]</ref> such as [[Christianity]].

==20th century==

Evangelical missionaries have, in addition to spreading the word of God, have helped bring much needed medical and educational services to poor parts of the world, as part of their missionary activities.  

By the end of the 20th century there were nearly 100 million Americans who identified themselves as "Evangelical Christians," according to a [[Gallup Poll]] in 1995.

==Self Image==

==Self Image==

The self image of evangelical Christians include:

The self image of evangelical Christians include:

 

* generally better knowledge of the Bible compared to non-evangelical Christians

* generally better knowledge of the [[Bible]] compared to non-evangelicals

* view all events recorded in the Bible as historically accurate and treat it as the infallible Word of God

* view all events recorded in the Bible as historically accurate and treat it as the infallible Word of [[God]]

* See [[Holy Communion|communion]] as a symbolic sacrament instead of the literal flesh and blood of Christ as held by Catholics

* promotge active participation in a local church

* [[Holy Communion|communion]] as a symbolic sacrament instead of the literal flesh and blood of Christ

* active participation in a local church

* high levels of charity

* high levels of charity

* support of [[homeschooling]]

* support of [[homeschooling]], especially in [[Europe]]

* emphasize humility, as in [[Isaac Newton]]'s attitude towards science <ref>"I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me." [http://www.bartleby.com/100/195.1.html]</ref>

* emphasize humility, as in [[Isaac Newton]]'s attitude towards science <ref>"I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me." [http://www.bartleby.com/100/195.1.html]</ref>

Evangelical Christians tend to vote Republican and be politically [[conservative]].

White Evangelical Christians in the 21st century have been voting 75%-80% for Republican presidential candidates and are politically [[conservative]].

==See also==

==See also==

*[[American Presbyterian Church]]

*[[American Presbyterian Church]]

*[[Anti-Saloon League]]

*[[Anti-Saloon League]], led the dry forces to enact Prohibition

*[[Assemblies of God]]

*[[Assemblies of God]]

*[[Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church]]

*[[Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church]]

*[[William Jennings Bryan]], politician who fought Darwinism

*[[William Jennings Bryan]]

*[[Calvinism]]

*[[Calvinism]]

*[[Christian Reformed Church]]

*[[Christian Reformed Church]], Dutch Calvinists

*[[Common Sense Realism]]

*[[Common Sense Realism]], part of [[Princeton Theology]]

*[[Creation vs. evolution debate]]

*[[Culture War]]

*[[Culture War]]

*[[Fundamentalism]]

*[[Fundamentalism]]

*[[Billy Graham]]

*[[Billy Graham]], post 1945

*[[Heritage Reformed Congregations]]

*[[Heritage Reformed Congregations]]

*[[Charles Hodge]]

*[[Charles Hodge]], leader of Princeton theology

*[[Holiness Movement]]

*[[Holiness Movement]]

*[[John Gresham Machen]]

*[[John Gresham Machen]], Fundamentalist theologian early 20c

*[[Princeton Theology]]

*[[Princeton Theology]]

*[[Protestant Reformed Church]]

*[[Protestant Reformed Church]]

*[[Reformed Churches]]

*[[Reformed Churches]]

*[[William Bell Riley]]

*[[William Bell Riley]], organizer of 20c Fundamentalism

*[[Southern Baptist Convention]]

*[[Southern Baptist Convention]]

*[[Billy Sunday]]

*[[Billy Sunday]], early 20c

*[[Theory of Fundamentalist Antisemitism]]

*[[Theory of Fundamentalist Antisemitism]]

*[[Third Great Awakening]]

*[[Third Great Awakening]], 1850-1900

*[[Westminster Presbyterian Church in the United States]]

*[[Westminster Presbyterian Church in the United States]]

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Balmer, Randall. ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism'' (2002), 654pp, by leading historian

* Balmer, Randall. ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism'' (2002), 654pp, by leading historian

* Balmer, Randall. ''Blessed Assurance Cl: A History Of Evangelicalism In America'' (2000), 144pp [http://www.amazon.com/BLESSED-ASSURANCE-HISTORY-EVANGELICALISM-AMERICA/dp/0807077119/ref=sr_1_28?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242466742&sr=1-28 excerpt and text search], topical essays but not a systematic history  

* Balmer, Randall. ''Blessed Assurance Cl: A History Of Evangelicalism In America'' (2000), 144pp [http://www.amazon.com/BLESSED-ASSURANCE-HISTORY-EVANGELICALISM-AMERICA/dp/0807077119/ref=sr_1_28?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242466742&sr=1-28 excerpt and text search], topical essays but not a systematic history  

* 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]

* [http://www.questia.com/library/religion/christianity/protestantism/evangelicalism.jsp online books]

* [http://www.questia.com/library/religion/christianity/protestantism/evangelicalism.jsp online books]

 

==References==

==References==

{{reflist|2}}

{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Christian Denominations]]

[[Category:Christian Denominations]]

[[Category:Fundamentalism]]

[[Category:Fundamentalism]]

[[Category:Christian Movements]]

[[Category:Christian Movements]]

[[category:Evangelicals]]

[[category:Evangelicals]]