DESCRIPTION: This course provides an opportunity to study the development of Protestant evangelicalism in America with particular emphasis on fundamentalism and its near relations. It will first broadly survey how transatlantic evangelicalism took root in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century America, looking at how evangelical versions of Christianity influenced the culture and at how the American cultural setting helped shape the religious movement. The focus will then turn to the religious crisis of the late nineteenth century and the rise of fundamentalism, Pentecostalism, and related movements. Finally, the course will deal with the new evangelicalism (including the early Fuller Theological Seminary) after World War II, the continuance of fundamentalism, the rise of the religious right, and the varieties of evangelicalism in recent decades.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Understanding how evangelicalism has developed in its American cultural context can be of great value in gaining perspective for evangelical ministry, especially in an American setting. American developments have often set precedents for developments in other nations and so can be useful for ministries in such settings as well. We will also be discussing a number of significant practical and theoretical questions regarding theology, thought, science, culture, the church, practical ministries, ethics, politics, social issues, and the like.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of the course, students will have demonstrated (1) familiarity with the history of evangelicalism particularly in its American cultural settings and (2) perspective in addressing the sorts of questions mentioned above.

COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet twice weekly for three-hour sessions, during the latter five weeks of the Winter term. Most of the class time will be devoted to discussion of assigned readings and other materials.

REQUIRED READING:

Harvey, Paul. Freedom's Coming: Religious Culture and the Shaping of the South from the Civil War through the Civil Rights Era. Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 2005. (Chapter 2 optional.) ISBN: 978-0807858141. Publisher price: $22.95.

Hatch, Nathan. The Democratization of American Religion. New Haven: Yale, 1989. ISBN: 978-0300050608. Publisher price: $23.00.

Marsden, George. Reforming Fundamentalism: Fuller Seminary and the New Evangelicalism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995. ISBN: 978-0802808707. Publisher price: $34.00.

_________. Understanding Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991. ISBN: 978-0802805393. Publisher price: $18.00.

Noll, Mark. The New Shape of World Christianity. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2009. ISBN: 9780830828470. Publisher price: $25.00.

_________. The Rise of Evangelicalism. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2003. ISBN: 978-0830838912. Publisher price: $24.00.

Sutton, Matthew Avery. Aimee Semple McPherson and the Resurrection of Christian America. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0674032538. Publisher price: $18.95.

Course reader containing articles provided as PDFs.

1. During the first five weeks of Winter term students will be required to have completed the reading of the above books. Students should prepare a one-page set of critical questions for possible discussion regarding each book and to email these to me (marsden.1@nd.edu), along with a statement that you have completed the reading of that book conscientiously. Prior to each class these questions will be posted online for all to see. These will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis only.

2. A few other articles will be assigned during the course. PDFs of these will be provided.

3. Students will be required to write a paper of about 10 pages (3,000 words) on a topic of their choice. This paper may be on how a particular subject has been interpreted by various historians over the years. Or it may be a discussion of a question about a particular topic. Or it might be a comparison of two comparable figures or of aspects of their life and work. These figures might be contemporary with each other or be comparable figures from two different eras. Or it might be a comparison of two comparable developments, theologies, or outlooks in an era or eras.

4. There will be a final exam.

5. Class attendance is required.