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'''Modernism''' is a philosophical movement which began in the late 19th century. Its historical background in terms of its development was the [[industrial revolution]] and growth of cities following [[World War I]].  

'''Modernism''' is an outdated philosophical movement and "artistic style or movement" (''OED''), which began in the [[Progressive Era]] of the late 19th century. Its historical background in terms of its development was the [[industrial revolution]] and growth of cities following [[World War I]].  Modernism is also a religious movement that began in the 19th century that advocated the need to harmonize religion with recent scientific developments.<ref>W. T. Conne,  "Fundamentalism vs Modernism".''Social Science'', Vol. 2, No. 2 (Feb., Mar., Apr., 1927), pp. 101-106 </ref>  Modernism was later replaced by [[post-modernism]], which itself later also became outdated.

An article at Miami Dade College on the history of modernism indicates:

An online article at Miami Dade College on the history of modernism indicates:

{{cquote|Arising out of the rebellious mood at the beginning of the twentieth century, modernism was a radical approach that yearned to revitalize the way modern civilization viewed life, art, politics, and science. This rebellious attitude that flourished between 1900 and 1930 had, as its basis, the rejection of European culture for having become too corrupt, complacent and lethargic, ailing because it was bound by the artificialities of a society that was too preoccupied with image and too scared of change. This dissatisfaction with the moral bankruptcy of everything European led modern thinkers and artists to explore other alternatives, especially primitive cultures. For the Establishment, the result would be cataclysmic; the new emerging culture would undermine tradition and authority in the hopes of transforming contemporary society.

{{cquote|Arising out of the rebellious mood at the beginning of the twentieth century, modernism was a radical approach that yearned to revitalize the way modern civilization viewed life, art, politics, and science. This rebellious attitude that flourished between 1900 and 1930 had, as its basis, the rejection of European culture for having become too corrupt, complacent and lethargic, ailing because it was bound by the artificialities of a society that was too preoccupied with image and too scared of change. This dissatisfaction with the moral bankruptcy of everything European led modern thinkers and artists to explore other alternatives, especially primitive cultures. For the Establishment, the result would be cataclysmic; the new emerging culture would undermine tradition and authority in the hopes of transforming contemporary society.}}

The first characteristic associated with modernism is [[nihilism]], the rejection of all religious and moral principles as the only means of obtaining social progress. In  other words, the modernists repudiated the moral codes of the society in which they were living in. The reason that they did so was not necessarily because they did not believe in God, although there was a great majority of them who were [[Atheism|atheists]], or that they experienced great doubt about the meaninglessness of life. Rather, their rejection of conventional morality was based on its arbitrariness, its conformity and its exertion of control over human feelings. In other words, the rules of conduct were a restrictive and limiting force over the human spirit. The modernists believed that for an individual to feel whole and a contributor to the re-vitalization of the social process, he or she needed to be free of all the encumbering baggage of hundreds of years of hypocrisy.

The first characteristic associated with modernism is [[nihilism]], the rejection of all religious and moral principles as the only means of obtaining social progress. In  other words, the modernists repudiated the moral codes of the society in which they were living in. The reason that they did so was not necessarily because they did not believe in God, although there was a great majority of them who were [[Atheism|atheists]], or that they experienced great doubt about the meaninglessness of life. Rather, their rejection of conventional morality was based on its arbitrariness, its conformity and its exertion of control over human feelings. In other words, the rules of conduct were a restrictive and limiting force over the human spirit. The modernists believed that for an individual to feel whole and a contributor to the re-vitalization of the social process, he or she needed to be free of all the encumbering baggage of hundreds of years of hypocrisy.

The rejection of moral and religious principles was compounded by the repudiation of all systems of beliefs, whether in the arts, politics, sciences or philosophy. Doubt was not necessarily the most significant reason why this questioning took place. One of the causes of this iconoclasm was the fact that early 20th-century culture was literally re-inventing itself on a daily basis.<ref>[https://www.mdc.edu/wolfson/Academic/ArtsLetters/art_philosophy/Humanities/history_of_modernism.htm History of Modernism], Miami Dade College</ref>}}

The rejection of moral and religious principles was compounded by the repudiation of all systems of beliefs, whether in the arts, politics, sciences or philosophy. Doubt was not necessarily the most significant reason why this questioning took place. One of the causes of this iconoclasm was the fact that early 20th-century culture was literally re-inventing itself on a daily basis.<ref>[https://www.mdc.edu/wolfson/Academic/ArtsLetters/art_philosophy/Humanities/history_of_modernism.htm History of Modernism], online from Miami Dade College</ref>

== Modernism and liberal Christianity ==

== Modernism and liberal Christianity ==

In Christian theology, modernism is a hostile term used by its enemies to attack the tendency of [[liberal Christianity]] toward revision of certain Christian doctrines such as the [[Virgin Birth]] and the [[Resurrection]] of Christ, or subjecting the Bible to the [[Higher Criticism]]. Modernism was the target of [[Fundamentalism|the Fundamentalists]] after 1910, and was an especially bitter issue in the 1920s.

In Christian theology, modernism is a hostile term used by its enemies to attack the tendency of [[liberal Christianity]] toward revision of certain Christian doctrines such as the [[Virgin Birth]] and the [[Resurrection]] of Christ, or subjecting the Bible to the [[Higher Criticism]]. Modernism was the target of [[Fundamentalism|the Fundamentalists]] after 1910, and was an especially bitter issue in the 1920s. Like secular modernists, adherents of liberal theology often have lower standards of morality (for example, see: [[Liberal Christianity and marital infidelity|Liberal Christianity and higher prevalence of marital infidelity and other sexual immorality]]).

Like secular modernists, adherents of liberal theology often have lower standards of morality (for example, see: [[Liberal Christianity and marital infidelity|Liberal Christianity and higher prevalence of marital infidelity and other sexual immorality]]).  

Different views of the role of Christianity in the face of the growth of modern science and research methods fueled the conflict between the liberal modernist and conservative fundamentalist factions of the Presbyterian Church during the 1920s-30s. Modernists such as [[Harry Emerson Fosdick]], Henry Sloane Coffin, and Robert E. Speer promoted inclusiveness and denied the inerrancy of scripture, while fundamentalists such as [[J. Gresham Machen]], Clarence MacArtney, and [[William Jennings Bryan]] defended traditional doctrine. The fundamentalist cause, popularly identified with antievolutionism, was damaged during the [[Scopes Trial|trial in Tennessee of biology teacher John Scopes in 1925]] for teaching evolution. In 1929, fundamentalist leaders Machen and Macartney left their positions at the [[Princeton Theological Seminary]] to found the [[Westminster Theological Seminary]] to defend the reformed faith.<ref>Bradley J. Longfield, "For Church and Country: The Fundamentalist-Modernist Conflict in the Presbyterian Church". ''Journal of Presbyterian History'' 2000 78(1): 34-50. 0022-3883</ref>

=== Presbyterians ===

=== Southern Baptists ===

Different views of the role of Christianity in the face of the growth of modern science and research methods fueled the conflict between the liberal modernist and conservative fundamentalist factions of the Presbyterian Church during the 1920s-30s. Modernists such as [[Harry Emerson Fosdick]], Henry Sloane Coffin, and Robert E. Speer promoted inclusiveness and denied the inerrancy of scripture, while fundamentalists such as [[J. Gresham Machen]], Clarence MacArtney, and [[William Jennings Bryan]] defended traditional doctrine. The fundamentalist cause, popularly identified with antievolutionism, was damaged during the [[Scopes Trial|trial in Tennessee of biology teacher John Scopes in 1925]] for teaching eolution. In 1929, fundamentalist leaders Machen and Macartney left their positions at the [[Princeton Theological Seminary]] to found the [[Westminster Theological Seminary]] to defend the reformed faith.<ref>Bradley J. Longfield, "For Church and Country: The Fundamentalist-Modernist Conflict in the Presbyterian Church". ''Journal of Presbyterian History'' 2000 78(1): 34-50. 0022-3883</ref>  

The fundamentalist-modernist controversy reached the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] about the same time as it did in the Presbyterian Church. Led by preachers such as [[J. Frank Norris]] (who railed against "liberalism" in SBC universities), many churches withdrew from the SBC, and sizable portions of churches remaining split off and formed new congregations. Though some smaller denominations (such as the [[American Baptist Association]]) would form, the majority of congregations would not align with another denomination; the [[Independent Baptist]] movement gained significant momentum as a result.

 

With the Conservative Resurgence of the 1980's and 1990's bringing some measure of conservatism back to the SBC, formerly independent churches either joined or returned to the SBC; Norris' own church (First Baptist Church of Fort Worth) would later rejoin the SBC and remains a member to this day.<ref>http://sbtexas.com/affiliated-churches/first-baptist-church-of-fort-worth/1017/</ref>

=== Disciples of Christ and Church of Christ ===

=== Disciples of Christ and Church of Christ ===

* [[Fundamentalism]]

* [[Fundamentalism]]

* [[Liberal Christianity]]

* [[Liberal Christianity]]

* [[Neo-orthodoxy]]

* [[Neo-orthodoxy]]