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The Democratization of American Christianity: A Revolutionary New History

Pat Mitchell

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In The Democratization of American Christianity, Randall Balmer offers a groundbreaking new history of the Christian faith in the United States. Drawing on a wealth of new research, Balmer traces the rise of a more democratic and egalitarian form of Christianity that emerged in the early nineteenth century and has come to shape the religious landscape of America ever since.

Balmer argues that the democratization of American Christianity was a complex and multifaceted process, driven by a variety of factors, including the rise of mass democracy, the growth of the middle class, and the westward expansion of the United States. He shows how these factors led to a decline in the power of traditional religious authorities and a corresponding increase in the power of lay people. As a result, American Christianity became more diverse, more tolerant, and more responsive to the needs of the people.

The Democratization of American Christianity

by Nathan O. Hatch

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4667 KB
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Screen Reader	:	Supported
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Print length	:	330 pages

The Democratization of American Christianity is a major work of scholarship that will reshape our understanding of the history of religion in the United States. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of Christianity, American history, or the role of religion in American society.

Praise for The Democratization of American Christianity

"Randall Balmer has written a brilliant and provocative book that challenges many of our assumptions about the history of Christianity in America. The Democratization of American Christianity is a must-read for anyone interested in the role of religion in American society." —Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of American Lion

"A magisterial work of scholarship that will reshape our understanding of the history of Christianity in the United States. Balmer's insights are invaluable, and his prose is a joy to read." —Martin Marty, the Fairfax M. Cone Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of the History of Modern Christianity at the University of Chicago

"A groundbreaking work of scholarship that will be essential reading for anyone interested in the history of Christianity in America. Balmer's research is impeccable, and his insights are both original and thought-provoking." —David W. Bebbington, author of Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A History from the 1730s to the 1980s

About the Author

Randall Balmer is the John Phillips Professor of Religion at Dartmouth College. He is the author of numerous books, including The Making of Evangelicalism, Blessed Assurance: The Story of American Christianity, and The Godless: The Church of Liberalism and the Politics of Secularism.