Religion paper

PROTESTANT AMERICA

1. Its great diversity from the beginning: “Denominationalism is the shape of religion in America.” (Sidney Mead)

2. Its stress on hearing the word of God in worship services via Bible reading, preaching and music.

3. Its dominance from colonial times so that even today the nation is about 51% Protestant (vs. 21% Roman Catholic, and less than 1% Eastern Orthodox).

4. Its great revivals: Great Awakening (1700-1770), Second Awakening (1800-40), Third Awakening (1890-1914), Fourth (?) Awakening (1973-2008?)

5. Its eventual split into two wings—liberal and conservative. The split began with the slavery debate and was further widened by (a) the controversy over biblical interpretation (leading to the publication of “The Fundamentals” ca. 1910) and (b) Darwinian evolution (Scopes Trial: 1925)

“MAINLINE”/LIBERAL PROTESTANTS

1. Liberal (non-literal) interpretation of the Bible

2. Strong emphasis on the “Social Gospel”/social justice (e.g., fighting poverty& homelessness; environmental issues, gay rights)

3. Very prominent until the 1970s when memberships began to slip (especially among Episcopalians, Presbyterians, United Church of Christ members, Lutherans and Methodists)

4. Welcoming of LGBT people, but very conflicted on the issue of ordination of sexually active gays and lesbians (e.g., Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire)

5. Generally pro-choice and strong on women’s rights

6. Endorses teaching of evolution, and concerned about climate change

7. Favorable (mostly) towards universal health care or Obamacare 2.0

EVANGELICAL PROTESTANTS

1. The “born again” experience is central

2. Belief in the centrality and inerrancy of the Bible

3. Great emphasis on convert making (evangelism)

4. Strong conviction that the end of the world and Christ’s second coming are imminent

5. Very supportive of the State of Israel (see Genesis 12:2-3)

6. Intense opposition to abortion, gay marriage, and the teaching of evolution (and endorsement of Creationism or Intelligent Design)

7. Political conservatism in most cases (e.g., strong on national defense, suspicious of the United Nations, supportive of gun owners’ rights & the NRA, skeptical of climate change, opposed to sexually explicit material on TV and in films, supportive of the “Tea Party” movement). VERY PRO-TRUMP

8. Prefer the term “Christian” to “Protestant,” though Roman Catholics, liberal Protestants & E. Orthodox are equally a part of the Christian world.

� Pentecostal or charismatic Christians are often grouped with Evangelicals. Though similar in most respects, they place more emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit: tongue speaking/glossolalia, healing, and a stronger emotional component in worship.