America's Religious History
by Thomas S. Kidd | Book Summary
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Author: Thomas S. Kidd
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Yet, the religious nature of America is not one of uniformity, but diversity, and at times strife and conflict. Various religions such as Judaism and Mormonism have helped shape America. Non-Protestantism such as Roman Catholicism has also played its part. Still, the uncontested influencer in America has been Protestantism. "The Protestant way has been the most powerful religious strain in America since the founding of the British colonies beginning in the early 1600s." (p. 11) This does not mean that the Protestant movement has been fully cohesive. There has been much conflict over race, liberalism, and mission within Protestantism over the course of America's history, but these factors have shaped and fashioned the America we see today. |
Thomas S. Kidd (PhD, University of Notre Dame) is Distinguished Professor of History, James Vardamen Endowed Professor of History, and Associate Director of the Institute of the Studies of Religion at Baylor University. His numerous books include The Great Awakening, Who Is An Evangelical?, Benjamin Franklin, American Colonial History, George Whitefield, and Baptists in America.
Kidd also writes at the Evangelical History Blog at The Gospel Coalition and writes regularly for outlets including WORLD Magazine, The Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. He and his family attend Highland Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, where Dr. Kidd also teaches Sunday school.
America's Religious History
by Thomas S. Kidd
[ Book Summary ]
| Author | Thomas S. Kidd |
| Publisher | Zondervan Academic |
| Date | November 12, 2019 |
| Pages | 296 |
Overview:
It is beyond any doubt or controversy that America is a religious nation. Though secularism continues to find a greater foothold today, even the so-called Nones "commonly affirm belief in God (or at least a higher power), the afterlife, and other spiritual realities" (p. 290).
Yet, the religious nature of America is not one of uniformity, but diversity, and at times strife and conflict. Various religions such as Judaism and Mormonism have helped shape America. Non-Protestantism such as Roman Catholicism has also played its part.
Still, the uncontested influencer in America has been Protestantism. "The Protestant way has been the most powerful religious strain in America since the founding of the British colonies beginning in the early 1600s." (p. 11)
This does not mean that the Protestant movement has been fully cohesive. There has been much conflict over race, liberalism, and mission within Protestantism over the course of America's history, but these factors have shaped and fashioned the America we see today.
Thomas S. Kidd (PhD, University of Notre Dame) is Distinguished Professor of History, James Vardamen Endowed Professor of History, and Associate Director of the Institute of the Studies of Religion at Baylor University. His numerous books include The Great Awakening, Who Is An Evangelical?, Benjamin Franklin, American Colonial History, George Whitefield, and Baptists in America.
Kidd also writes at the Evangelical History Blog at The Gospel Coalition and writes regularly for outlets including WORLD Magazine, The Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. He and his family attend Highland Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, where Dr. Kidd also teaches Sunday school.