The Conservative Turn
American Religious History
Explosion of Pentecostalism
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Popular music, praise music, “Christian rock”
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Growing Hispanic presence
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Influence on other churches: looser style, less liturgy
Rise of Evangelicalism
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Quiet suburban growth: megachurch
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From
“truth-oriented” to “conversion-oriented”
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Televangelism
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Early
stars: Oral Roberts & Billy Graham
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Kathryn
Kuhlman’s faith healings
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Pat
Robertson, “700 Club” on CBN
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Jerry
Falwell, “Moral Majority”
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Jimmy
Swaggart & Jim Bakker of PTL
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Collapse
in late ’80s
Catholic Conservative Turn
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Pope Paul VI
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Humanae Vitae, 1968: no artificial birth control
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Affirms celibate priesthood
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Pope John Paul II (1978-2005), celebrity pope
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Experience under Nazis and Communists
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Conservative on personal & sexual morality: Abortion issue
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Strengthened papal control of bishops & theology (continued by
Benedict XVI, 2005-13)
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Problems in the priesthood: shortages and child sex abuse scandals
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The Hispanic challenge
a Changing World
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New Deal and Great Society: Government takes over some traditional
roles
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Government forces racial integration in schools
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Southern denominations establish “white academies”
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Immorality? Divorce, Vietnam, youth rebellion, the sexual
revolution, drugs, rock music
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Government and religion
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Feminism and the Equal Rights Amendment, 1972
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1977 battle against non-discrimination laws for homosexuals
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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
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Dallas
Theological Seminary, center for dispensationalism
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Hal
Lindsay, Late Great Planet Earth, 1970
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Tim
LaHaye, Left Behind series, 1995
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Fundamentalists take over Southern Baptist Church, 1979
Families in a Changing
Society
•
Meaning of marriage changes to companionate marriage
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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
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New political activism
•
Election
of Ronald Reagan, 1980–88
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Republicans
learn to cater to the religious right
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Robertson,
’88: Christian Coalition: Ralph Reed
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George
W. Bush’s faith-based initiatives, 2001-2009
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Plateau and recent decline of membership
Recent Trends
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Reform Judaism rediscovers tradition
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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