Reformed Theological Seminary - Charlotte
CHRISTIANITY IN AMERICA
Fall 2015
Professor S. Donald Fortson
704 366-5066 (RTS)
Course Description
This course is a study of the Christian experience in America from its colonial beginnings to the current day, with emphasis on the influences that have forged the current religious scene. Religious thought is traced from Calvinistic Puritanism to Evangelicalism to Protestant liberalism. The nature of the American cultural context is explored along with focusing on key personalities and events that have shaped the church in America. The course goal is for students to gain a historically-informed perspective on what it means to be a twenty-first follower of Christ living in the United States.
Required Reading
Mark A. Noll, The Old Religion in a New World: The History of North American
Christianity (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2002).
Nathan Hatch, The Democratization of American Christianity (New Haven:
Yale Univ. Press, 1991)
George Marsden, Fundamentalism and American Culture 2nd ed. (New York: Oxford
Univ.Press, 2006)
Research Paper
Students will write a 15-20 page research paper on an event, movement, controversy or person in American Christian history. The paper should include research into primary sources as well as secondary sources. Lectures and text books will assist students to identify a paper topic as well as guidance from the instructor. Approval of the research topic is required. A one-page description (with preliminary bibliography) of proposed paper is due to professor on September 22.
Please write the paper in 12-point font, double-spaced with footnotes and bibliography. Students will present the results of their research to classmates during the last few weeks of the course. The finished paper is due on the last day of Exam Week.
Reading Report
The Reading Report will be due the last day of Exam Week (see attached). This report will indicate the amount of Required Reading that has been completed during the semester.
Final Exam
There will be no final exam for this course.
Class participation
Per seminary policy, it is required that students be present for all class sessions. In an emergency, you may notify professor that you have been “providentially hindered” from attendance. It is expected that students will complete assignments on time. Failure to comply with these standards will result in grade reduction.
Grading
Class participation – 25%
Reading Report – 25%
Research Paper – 50%
Course Objectives Related to MDiv* Student Learning Outcomes
MDiv* Student Learning OutcomesIn order to measure the success of the MDiv curriculum, RTS has defined the following as the intended outcomes of the student learning process. Each course contributes to these overall outcomes. This rubric shows the contribution of this course to the MDiv outcomes.
*As the MDiv is the core degree at RTS, the MDiv rubric will be used in this syllabus. / Rubric
Ø Strong
Ø Moderate
Ø Minimal
Ø None / Mini-Justification
Articulation
(oral & written) / Broadly understands and articulates knowledge, both oral and written, of essential biblical, theological, historical, and cultural/global information, including details, concepts, and frameworks. / Strong / 1. Historical research papers
2. Presentation of research to peers in classroom
Scripture / Significant knowledge of the original meaning of Scripture. Also, the concepts for and skill to research further into the original meaning of Scripture and to apply Scripture to a variety of modern circumstances. (Includes appropriate use of original languages and hermeneutics; and integrates theological, historical, and cultural/global perspectives.) / Moderate / 1. Discuss use of Scripture in American church controversies
2. Changing views of inspiration/authority of Scripture in the American context
Reformed Theology / Significant knowledge of Reformed theology and practice, with emphasis on the Westminster Standards. / Minimal / Reformed heritage within the United States is covered briefly
Sanctification / Demonstrates a love for the Triune God that aids the student’s sanctification. / Moderate / 1.Overview of the spiritual awakenings in America
2. Evangelicalism, Methodism, and Holiness Mov’t views of sanctification
Desire for Worldview / Burning desire to conform all of life to the Word of God. / Strong / 1. Church and state relations
2. Cultural mandate as understood in US
3. World missions from US to rest of the world in 19th C.
Winsomely Reformed / Embraces a winsomely Reformed ethos. (Includes an appropriate ecumenical spirit with other Christians, especially Evangelicals; a concern to present the Gospel in a God-honoring manner to non-Christians; and a truth-in-love attitude in disagreements.) / Strong / 1. Ethos of Evangelicalism in America
2. Revivalism
3. Cooperative mission agencies
Preach / Ability to preach and teach the meaning of Scripture to both heart and mind with clarity and enthusiasm. / None
Worship / Knowledgeable of historic and modern Christian-worship forms; and ability to construct and skill to lead a worship service. / Minimal / Evolution of Protestant hymnody and worship in American context
Shepherd / Ability to shepherd the local congregation: aiding in spiritual maturity; promoting use of gifts and callings; and encouraging a concern for non-Christians, both in America and worldwide. / None
Church/World / Ability to interact within a denominational context, within the broader worldwide church, and with significant public issues. / Strong / 1. Evangelical involvement in social issues, politics
2. American ecclesiastical politics
COURSE OUTLINE
Unit I Puritans come to the New World
Unit II Christianity in the Colonies
Unit III The Early Republic
Unit IV African American Faith
Unit V Holiness & Pentecostal Tradition
Unit VI Roman Catholics in America
Unit VII Protestant Liberalism
Unit VIII Fundamentalism
Unit IX The New Evangelicals
Unit X America and Global Christianity
Christianity in America
Reading Report
Please state the percentage of the Required Reading that you have completed.
Hatch, The Democratization of American Christianity ______%
Marsden, Fundamentalism in American Culture ______%
Noll, The Old Religion in a New World ______%
______
Name Date
Bibliography
American Traditions and Movements
Ahlstrom, Sidney. A Religious History of the American People, 2 Vols. New Haven:
Yale University Press, 1972.
Balmer, Randall. Blessed Assurance: A History of Evangelicalism in America. Boston:
Beacon Press, 1999.
Boles, John B. The Great Revival: Beginnings of the Bible Belt. Lexington: Univ. of
Kentucky Press, 1996.
Carpenter, Joel. Revive Us Again: the Reawakening of American Fundamentalism. NY:
Oxford University Press, 1997.
Conkin, Paul Keith. Cane Ridge: America’s Pentecost. Madison: University of
Wisconsin Press, 1990.
Dayton, Donald W. The Theological Roots of Pentecostalism. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow,
1987.
Dictionary of Christianity in America. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1990.
Eerdmans’ Handbook to Christianity in America. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983.
Encyclopedia of African American Religions. NY: Garland, 1993.
Elsbree. Oliver Wendell. The Rise of the Missionary Spirit in America, 1790-1920,
Reprint. Philadelphia Porcupine Press, 1980.
Ferm, Robert L. ed. Issues in American Protestantism: A Documentary History from the
Puritans to the Present. Gloucester, MA: Peter Smith, 1976.
Fortson, S. Donald. Colonial Presbyterianism: Old Faith in a New Land. Princeton
Theological Monograph Series. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2007.
Gaustad, Edwin. S. ed. A Documentary History of Religion in America 2 Vols. 2nd ed.
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing, 1993.
Hart, D.G. and John R. Muether. Seeking A Better Country: 300 Years of American
Presbyterianism. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2007.
Kidd, Thomas S. The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in
Colonial America, New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007.
Hatch, Nathan. The Democratization of American Christianity. New Haven:
Yale Univ. Press, 1991.
Heimert, Alan and Andrew Delbanco. eds. The Puritans in America: A Narrative
Anthology. Cambridge, MA:Harvard Univ. Press, 1985.
______. and Perry Miller, eds. The Great Awakening: Documents Illustrating the Crisis
and its Consequences. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Educational Publishing,
1967.
Holifield, E. Brooks. Theology in America: Christian Thought from the Age of the
Puritans to the Civil War. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003.
Larson, Edward J. Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America’s Continuing
Debate over Science and Religion. Cambridge: Harvard Univ. Press, 1998.
Lincoln, C. Eric and Lawrence H. Mamiya. The Black Church in African American
Experience. Durham: Duke University Press, 1990.
Long, Kathryn. The Revival of 1857-58. Interpreting an American Religious Awakening.
NY: Oxford Univ. Press, 1998.
Longfield, Bradley J. The Presbyterian Controversy: Fundamtalists, Modernists, and
Moderates. NY: Oxford University Press, 1991.
Marsden, George. Fundamentalism and American Culture 2nd ed. (New York: Oxford
Univ.Press, 2006).
______. Reforming Fundamentalism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co.,
1987.
______. Understanding Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism. Grand Rapids:
Eermans Publishing Co., 1991.
Marty, Martin E. Righteous Empire: The Protestant Experience in America. NY: Harper
Torch Books, 1977.
McGrath, Alister. Evangelicalism and the Future of Christianity. Downers Grove:
InterVarsity Press, 1995.
Mitchell, Henry H. Black Church Beginnings: The Long-Hidden Realities of the First
Years. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004).
Neil, Stephen. A History of Christian Missions. Reprint. New York: Peguin Books, 1986.
New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2002.
Noll, Mark A. A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1992.
______. America’s God: From Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln. New York:
Oxford University Press, 2002.
______. et.al. ed. Eerdman’s Handbook to Christianity in America. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans Publishing, 1983
______. The New Shape of World Christianity: How American Experience Reflects
Global Faith. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Academic, 2009
______. The Old Religion in a New World. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co.,
2002.
______and Carolyn Nystrom. Is the Reformation Over: An Evangelical Assessment of
Contemporary Roman Catholicism. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005.
______. The Rise of Evangelicalism: The Age of Edwards, Whitefield and the Wesleys.
Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2003
Raboteau, Albert J. Canaan Land: A Religious History of the African Americans. NY:
Oxford Univ. Press, 2001.
Sandeen, Ernest R. The Roots of Fundamentalism: British and American Millenarianism,
1800-1930. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press, 1970.
Smith, Christian. American Evangelicalism: Embattled and Thriving. Chicago: Univ.
Chicago Press, 1998.
Smith, Timothy L. Revivalism and Social Reform in Mid-Nineteent-CenturyAmerica. NY:
Abingdon, 1957.
Smith, H. Shelton, Robert T. Handy and Lefferts A. Loetscher, eds. American
Chrisitianity: An Historical Interpretation with Representative Documents. 2
vols. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1963.
Sweeney, Douglas A. The American Evangelical Story. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic,
2005.
Synan, Vinson. The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition. 2nd Ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1997.
Wacker, Grant. Heaven Below: Early Pentecostals and American Culture. Cambridge:
Harvard Univ. Press, 2001.
Walls, Andrew F. The Missionary Movement in Christian History: Studies in the
Transmission of Faith. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 1996.
Wigger, John H. Taking Heaven by Storm: Methodism and the Rise of Popular
Christianity in America. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Wills, Gregory A. Democratic Religion: Freedom, Authority, and Church Discipline in
the Baptist South, 1785-1900. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.
Wolffe, John. The Expansion of Evangelicalism. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press,
2007.
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