Topics in American History Series: Religion

America was always a Protestant country, expressed in its values. 5.58.00) = Birth of Protestantism. Martin Luther, reformer (11.46.00) = Puritanism. John Calvin, reformer, dynamism aspect, (14.29) = Puritanism in America. (16.14.00) = Ann Hutchinson challenges Puritanism. No need for society. (18.39.00) = Half-Way Covenant. Children are half saved - saved. (20.36.00) = Massachusetts Bay Colony always a capitalist society.measured by materialism. Work not religious becomes central in their lives (23.24.00) = Puritanism and mass hysteria of witches. (27.17.00) = Puritanism and its achievements. : education, sense of religious freedom. (32.13.00) = Religious revival movements. . Women's role (34.52.00) = Other religions in the Colonies. (41.05.00) = Various concepts of Protestantism. (44.48.00) = The Constitution and religion. Bill of Rights. Deism. Separation of church and state. (46.04.00) = Revivalism in perspective.

Protestant society is still dominant. The Constitution provides for periodic revolution. Especially in times of economic and social insecurity people tend to turn to the certitude of emotional religious answers (3.24.00) = The new immigration from the 1880s to the 1920s answers the demand for cheap labor due to the rapid industrialization after the Civil War. Originating from south and east Europe, including Catholics, Jews, and Eastern Christian Orthodox, they are greeted with great hostility, endure the city life of poverty. (5.56.00) = Responses of relition. The response to poverty. The social gospel is mostly protest. Moral concern for the poor is expressed in the idea that the ""meek shall inherit the earth."" (8.13.00) = The slavery period. . Slaves, with their animism brought from West Africa, are seen as not worthy of Christianity. A shift in the 1800s to conversion as a way to control the slaves by sermon to obey the master. Black Christianity evolves with Moses as the hero who leads the slaves to the promised land. The slave-preacher is a natural leader, becomes active in revolts. (13.43.00) = 20th Century. The period after the social reforms of the 19th century. The religious revivalism of the 1920s. The millennium and the anticipated 2nd coming of Christ (15.49.00) = The Mormons led by Brigham Young, settle in Utah, are a despised minority having a belief in polygamy. (22.13.00) = The Scopes Monkey Trial. Trial in the 1920s as modernity and technology become threatening to religions which want a literal interpretation of the bible. Evolution is accepted by many religious leaders as God's way. Scopes issue is still with us today. (28.37.00) = Judaism. Many religious Jews immigrate in the new immigration of 1880s to 1920s, holding on to their heritage and religious faith. By the 2nd or 3rd generations this faith is modified into orthodox, conservative and reform denominations. (31.43.00) = Catholicism. . Irish immigration to America starts before the Civil War and continues into the 20th century to escape poverty and seek opportunity. New immigration is from Italy. Catholicism becomes a potent force in the U.S. (33.06.00) = Current American History. Judaism. Divisions of Orthodox, Conservative and Reformed. Issues of maintaining membership, intermarriage, attempts of convert Jews to Christianity. Ultra-Orthodox within the Orthodox. Time of transition or time of crisis? (34.36.00) = Islam in the U.S. Growing significantly. Cloud of prejudice hovering over Muslims since 9/11. The Black Muslims Nation of Islam during the Jim Crow Era in the early 1900s argued for separation of the races, emphasis on purity of the body, and the rise of the charismatic Malcolm X becomes its spokesman until he disavows it because of corruption, and is assassinated. (39.39.00) = American Catholicism. Irish immigration to America starts before the Civil War and continues into the 20th century to escape poverty and seek opportunity. New immigration is from Italy. Catholicism becomes a potent force in the U.S. (43.48.00) = American Protestantism. A degree of social reform movement in old line denominations. Mormons are now thriving despite earlier fears of their theocracy and elements of polygamy. The Evangelical Movement, deeply emotional, ties to early Puritanism and a one-to-one relationship with God, born again, is particularly associated with the Southern Baptists, now spread nationally and more dominant than the old line denominations. Emphasis on individualism, opposing government role in society. An emphasis on rugged individualism as part of the American heritage. Promotes American Exceptionalism. This has increasing influence on Conservative politics, especially Republicans, arguing for America as a Christian country, challenging basic American tenants such as separation of religion and state.