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P
ROT E S TA N T
in
america
J. G
ORDON
M
ELTON
J. GORDON MELTON
, SERIES EDITOR
faith
PROTESTANT FAITH IN AMERICA
Faith in America
Copyright © 2003 J. Gordon Melton
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, elec-
tronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems,
without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, contact:
Facts On File, Inc.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Melton, J. Gordon
Protestant faith in America / J. Gordon Melton
p. cm. — (Faith in America)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8160-4985-8
1. Protestant churches—United States—History. 2. United States—Church history.
I. Title. II. Series.
BR515 .M47 2003
280' .4'0973—dc21
2003040814
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Produced by the Shoreline Publishing Group LLC
Editorial Director: James Buckley Jr.
Contributing Editor: Beth Adelman
Designed by Thomas Carling, Carling Design, Inc.
Photo research by Laurie Schuh
Index by Nanette Cardon, IRIS
Photo and art credits: Cover: Lutheran minister, young people at Thanksgiving (AP/Wide World); church
(Digital Stock); John Cotton (North Wind Archives). AP/Wide World: 51, 68, 79, 81, 86, 98, 109, 118; Art Re-
source: 6; Corbis: 11, 36, 45, 71, 72, 103; Courtesy Oberlin College: 61; Courtesy National Council of Churches:
91; Hulton/Getty: 57; North Wind Archives: 20, 22, 25, 32, 40, 54; Stock Montage: 14, 28, 34, 48, 75, 100, 107.
Printed in the United States of America
VB10987654321
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
C
ONT ENTS
Foreword by J. Gordon Melton 4
I
NTRODUCTION
Protestant Origins and Beliefs 7
C
HAPTER
1
Establishing Protestant Faiths in America 21
C
HAPTER
2
The Protestant Church in a New Land 37
C
HAPTER
3
Protestant Faiths and American Culture 55
C
HAPTER
4
Protestant Faiths and Social Issues 73
C
HAPTER
5
Protestants and Politics 87
C
HAPTER
6
Important American Protestant Leaders 99
C
HAPTER
7
Protestantism’s Prospects in the New Century 113
Glossary
120
Time Line
122
Resources
123
Index
124
F
OREWORD
AMERICA BEGINS A NEW MILLENNIUM AS ONE OF THE MOST RELIGIOUSLY
diverse nations of all time. Nowhere else in the world do so many people—offered a
choice free from government influence—identify with such a wide range of religious
and spiritual communities. Nowhere else has the human search for meaning been
so varied. In America today, there are communities and centers for worship repre-
senting all of the world’s religions.
The American landscape is dotted with churches, temples, synagogues, and
mosques. Zen Buddhist zendos sit next to Pentecostal tabernacles. Hasidic Jews walk
the streets with Hindu swamis. Most amazing of all, relatively little conflict has oc-
curred among religions in America. This fact, combined with a high level of tolerance
of one another’s beliefs and practices, has let America produce people of goodwill
ready to try to resolve any tensions that might emerge.
The Faith in America series celebrates America’s diverse religious heritage.
People of faith and ideals who longed for a better world have created a unique society
where freedom of religious expression is a keynote of culture. The freedom that Amer-
ica offers to people of faith means that not only have ancient religions found a home
here, but that newer forms of expressing spirituality have also taken root. From huge
churches in large cities to small spiritual communities in towns and villages, faith in
America has never been stronger. The paths that different religions have taken through
American history is just one of the stories readers will find in this series.
Like anything people create, religion is far from perfect. However, its contribu-
tion to the culture and its ability to help people are impressive, and these accomplish-
ments will be found in all the books in the series. Meanwhile, awareness and tolerance
of the different paths our neighbors take to the spiritual life has become an increas-
ingly important part of citizenship in America.
Today, more than ever, America as a whole puts its faith in freedom—the
freedom to believe.
4
PROTESTANT FAITH IN AMERICA
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