The Conservative Turn

American Religious History

Explosion of Pentecostalism

• Popular music, praise music, “Christian rock”

• Growing Hispanic presence

• Influence on other churches: looser style, less liturgy

Rise of Evangelicalism

• Quiet suburban growth: megachurch

• From “truth-oriented” to “conversion-oriented”

• Televangelism

• Early stars: Oral Roberts & Billy Graham

• Kathryn Kuhlman’s faith healings

• Pat Robertson, “700 Club” on CBN

• Jerry Falwell, “Moral Majority”

• Jimmy Swaggart & Jim Bakker of PTL

• Collapse in late ’80s

Catholic Conservative Turn

• Pope Paul VI

• Humanae Vitae, 1968: no artificial birth control

• Affirms celibate priesthood

• Pope John Paul II (1978-2005), celebrity pope

• Experience under Nazis and Communists

• Conservative on personal & sexual morality: Abortion issue

• Strengthened papal control of bishops & theology (continued by Benedict XVI, 2005-13)

• Problems in the priesthood: shortages and child sex abuse scandals

• The Hispanic challenge

a Changing World

• New Deal and Great Society: Government takes over some traditional roles

• Government forces racial integration in schools

• Southern denominations establish “white academies”

• Immorality? Divorce, Vietnam, youth rebellion, the sexual revolution, drugs, rock music

• Government and religion

• Feminism and the Equal Rights Amendment, 1972

• 1977 battle against non-discrimination laws for homosexuals

• 1979, conservative evangelicals oppose Roe v. Wade (1973)

Resurgence of Fundamentalism

• Axis from Oklahoma and Texas to southern California, funded with oil money

• Rise of Fundamentalist Seminaries

• Dallas Theological Seminary, center for dispensationalism

• Hal Lindsay, Late Great Planet Earth, 1970

• Tim LaHaye, Left Behind series, 1995

• Fundamentalists take over Southern Baptist Church, 1979

Families in a Changing Society

• Meaning of marriage changes to companionate marriage

• Working mothers, divorce, remarriage

• Challenge to traditional teachings

• Challenge of religious adherence

• Battle over same-sex marriage

• From theology to “morals” and “values”: James Dobson, “Focus on the Family,” 1977

Conservative Evangelical Politics

• Jimmy Carter, 1977-81, first born-again President

• New political activism

• Election of Ronald Reagan, 1980–88

• Republicans learn to cater to the religious right

• Robertson, ’88: Christian Coalition: Ralph Reed

• George W. Bush’s faith-based initiatives, 2001-2009

• Plateau and recent decline of membership

Recent Trends

• Reform Judaism rediscovers tradition

• Mainline denominations riven by controversies

• Ordination of women

• Anything having to do with homosexuals (lifestyle, ordination, marriage)

• Loss of young people, shrinking numbers

• Rising secularism? Disillusionment with overpoliticized churches?

• Recent poll: 30% not affiliated with any religious group