Different Religious Attitudes Chapter 20 Part 2

Church Growth 1860-1910: twenty-one million immigrants Church membership increasing, especially in “mainline” or common denominations. However, some began to feel church was too cold/too formal and formed new denominations

Church Growth Strange unorthodox groups also began to form: Christian Science Jehovah’s Witness Seventh Day Adventist American value of freedom of religion gives these groups the right to exist and practice freely. Risk: Gives greater opportunity for Americans to practice wrong beliefs.

Liberalism 1600-1700s: Europeans focus on reason—if it’s not logical, it’s not correct. Focus switched from living righteously to good works. Social Gospel: the message of doing good to others without the true gospel of salvation from sin. Social gospel ideas gained popularity

Agnosticism Agnostics Believe that man cannot know if there is a God Famous agnostic = Robert Ingersoll

Darwinism 1859: Charles Darwin published Origin of Species Proposed theory of evolution based on natural selection Not immediately popular; in fact, most rejected it and debated its validity. Ideas only became popular later thanks to a physicist named John Tyndall

Reform and Outreach Liberalism hardened people away from accepting idea of sin. B. B. Warfield Published books/pamphlets about the problems with liberalism; opposed growing belief that the Bible had errors Billy Sunday—former professional baseball player held revival meetings Preached against liberalism and liquor

Temperance Groups Abuse of alcohol big problem during this era. Crime rates, poverty, and domestic violence rose. Many religious Americans wanted to help: Formed temperance societies which tried to help people get away from alcohol Led to the efforts of the Prohibition movement (banning of alcohol legally)

Interdenominational organizations Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Formed for entertaining young people who lived in the cities and were tempted by social evils D. L. Moody largely responsible for bringing this organization to America from England. Salvation Army Designed to provide relief to poor and set up rescue missions to convert and rebuild lives.

Foreign Missions America sent out more missionaries than any other nation. Some historians have called the 19th century the “Great Century of Christian Missions”

Overall View Faith split Some stayed true to the Bible and its teachings; sent out missionaries Others altered it to fit the lifestyles that were becoming popular. Respect for the Bible and morals diminished No “one correct way”—dangerous to think people could actually be wrong. Question: Does this thought still exist today?