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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. "Fundamentalists" are fighting evangelicals taking on mainstream religion; they believe in [[Dispensationalism]] which most [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] Evangelicals reject. The largest Evangelical church is the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], which is also Fundamentalist. Also important is the [[Missouri Synod Lutheran Church]], which is Fundamentalist and Lutheran. | + | 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]]. |
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| − | There is no exact definistion. Pollsters often ask, "Are you a born-again Christian?" to define the group. Sociologists look at membership in specific denominations, and often include [[Holiness Movement]], [[Pentecostal]] and [[Nazarene]] groups. Some scholars focus on the Bible beliefs, together with a personal commitment to Christ.<ref> See Krapohl and Lippy (1999) ch 1</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> |
| − | ==19th century America== | + | |
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| | + | "Fundamentalism" is not an organization but a style of religious activism: Fundamentalists are fighting evangelicals taking on mainstream religion. Most Fundamentalists believe in [[Dispensationalism]] (which most [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] Evangelicals reject). The largest Evangelical church is the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], which is largely Fundamentalist. Also important is the [[Missouri Synod Lutheran Church]], which is both Fundamentalist and Lutheran. |
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| | + | There is no exact definition. Pollsters often ask, "Are you a born-again Christian?" to define the group. Sociologists look at membership in specific denominations, and often include [[Holiness Movement]], [[Pentecostal]] and [[Nazarene]] groups. Some scholars focus on the Bible beliefs, together with a personal commitment to Christ.<ref> See Krapohl and Lippy (1999) ch 1</ref> |
| | + | ==Colonial America== |
| | + | The [[First Great Awakening]] was a spontaneous outburst of religious enthusiam 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> |
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| | + | ==19th century== |
| | 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. | | 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. |
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| | * Carpenter, Joel A. ''Revive Us Again: The Reawakening of American Fundamentalism'' (1999), major scholarly history of post 1925 era [http://www.amazon.com/Revive-Us-Again-Reawakening-Fundamentalism/dp/0195129075/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242033102&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search] | | * Carpenter, Joel A. ''Revive Us Again: The Reawakening of American Fundamentalism'' (1999), major scholarly history of post 1925 era [http://www.amazon.com/Revive-Us-Again-Reawakening-Fundamentalism/dp/0195129075/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242033102&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search] |
| | * Hankins, Barry. ''American evangelicals: a contemporary history of a mainstream religious movement'' (2008) 205 pages [http://books.google.com/books?id=TZ-bwSDb5KcC&pg=PA47&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] | | * Hankins, Barry. ''American evangelicals: a contemporary history of a mainstream religious movement'' (2008) 205 pages [http://books.google.com/books?id=TZ-bwSDb5KcC&pg=PA47&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] |
| | + | * Kidd, Thomas S. ''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 exxcerpt and text search] |
| | * 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] |