Monday, November 7, 2022

*** This is a rough transcript of today’s show ***

It is the 7th of November, 2022. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

A happy Monday- time to go to the mailbag:

It was so good to see you at HWSS. Knowing that you have a particular interest in Christianity in America, my question for you is this.

If American Christianity were personified or classroom-ified, and you had a whole semester, what would that course cover? What if you only had one class period? What history lesson would you want to teach or think would be most beneficial?

Thanks!

-Adam in Boulder City, NV

Yes- Adam sat at my table along with Katie Koplin from the Freely Given podcast. And to make you jealous of the conference, we had a magician come to our table… take that other theological conferences without magicians.

Ok- So I know Adam from his time at Concordia, Irvine. Boulder City, like Irvine, is a thoroughly planned community- it was created for workers on the Hoover Dam. It is one of the few places in Nevada where you can’t gamble, it’s the home of Desi Arnaz Jr, and it is in Clark County, which has the motto: "Living Relentlessly, Developing Economically!” Which is hilarious.

Ok- so, as far as what a course would cover, this serves as a good reminder that I have a free online class called “Christianity in America” at the 1517 Academy- so that’s a long answer. I think both ideas and social movements are essential, so I would want to follow the major trends and characters but also use a lot of demographic information and research from the likes of the Pew research group, Barna, etc.

But as I was thinking about one class, what would I choose if I had one class period? Of course, if it were just for fun, I might do Southern California Christianity in the second half of the 20th century. The Pentecostal movement is also essential, distinctly American, and then exported around the world where it makes up much of the expressions of Christianity in Africa and South America- as those are the most prominent Christian locales today, Pentecostalism might be my choice.

But, as I walked around Costco today, it hit me- the Great Awakenings. Let me explain why I think the Great Awakenings would be my “one lecture you need to hear to understand American Christianity.”

First, and I know it’s cheating, but with the first Great Awakening, you get a look at Christianity in the colonies- and it will set the stage for a nation that would have a Christian flavor but with a disestablished church. The first Great Awakening takes you inside a distinctly democratic and intellectual Church tradition that emphasizes balancing “heart and mind.” You get characters like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield. It was a national movement that featured warring sides- the Old Lights and New Lights. As we know, there is nothing so inherently American when it comes to Christianity than to have schisms (it’s not only an American thing, but we do it as much as anyone).

Then, you get the Second Great Awakening, roughly the 1790s to 1830s. There is nothing so American as thinking if something is good, then why not overdo it? The big tent revival, the anxious bench, the camp meetings, and the frontier. It is decidedly Baptist and Methodist in its theology, and you can’t convince me that these aren’t the most significant denominations in American church history. It is the do-it-yourself church; the church went viral, contemporary music at the center of the church service, and an emphasis on feelings. Of course, the aftermath of the 2nd Great Awakening is the great “burned over district,” which gave rise to new religious movements in America, from Mormonism to Adventism and the Jehovah’s Witnesses (and, of course, the Oneida community that I did one of my first Weekend Editions on because they are so dang interesting).

So, thanks, Adam, for the question- you can send me your questions (and favorite episodes and movements) to Danv@1517.org.

The Last Word for today comes from the lectionary for today from 2 Peter 1:

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 7th of November 2022, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man whose life motto (also tattooed across his back) is "Living Relentlessly, Developing Economically!” He is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man who can’t take another Rams loss, so think of me if we lost again yesterday. I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.