Dear larboc-ga;
Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting
question. Your question about ?church? is quite broad so I will answer
it in a broad sense, not favoring any particular church as my primary
focus. Your question also solicits an opinion so I will be happy to
offer you mine. Here are the five major events in American church
history as I see them:
* * * * * * * *
THE CONSTITUTION AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS
* * * * * * * *
The single most significant event in American church history was, in
my opinion, the First Amendment to the US Constitution as ratified on
December 15, 1791, to wit, the freedom of religion, speech, writing
and publishing, peaceful assembly, and the freedom to raise grievances
with the Government:
?Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.?
RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
http://www.religioustolerance.org/amend_1.htm
This event set the stage for religious diversity as men saw fit to
practice (or not) as well as religious diversity for those who were
willing to embrace it.
WIKIPEDIA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_religion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
So important was this single milestone that it warranted being
repeated as Article I of the Bill Of Rights:
CORNELL LAW
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html
* * * * * * * *
THE REFORMATION MOVEMENT
* * * * * * * *
In the Catholic Faith the modern reformation can be simplified this way:
?The First Vatican Council was held in 1870. It was here that the pope
was formerly declared infallible. Pope Pius IX reacted to modernism --
democracy, freedom of conscience -- by condemning it. During this
time, the Christian faith became truly universal through wide
geographic expansion. Beginning with the papacy of John XXIII in 1958,
there was an opening up to the modern world. The Second Vatican
Council opened in 1962 brought further reform to the Church.?
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH HISTORY
http://www.allaboutreligion.org/roman-catholic-church-history-faq.htm
In the protestant sector, the reformation movement can be summarized this way:
?At the end of the 1700's, the Wesley brothers, John and Charles led a
reform moving away from England's Anglican Church holding large
revivals in farm pastures. They sailed in ships to America bringing
their reformed message with them. This led to the basic foundation for
many of the predominant denominations in America today. Revival spread
throughout several countries from the years 1850 to 1930s.?
CHURCH HISTORY TIMELINE
http://www.allaboutreligion.org/church-history-timeline-faq.htm
This, of course, is not inclusive of all religions (churches, faiths,
etc) but since these two doctrines make up the vast majority of
faithful in the United States these two notable periods of religious
reformation are undeniably worthy of mention as major events.
* * * * * * * *
CIVIL RIGHTS
* * * * * * * *
In my opinion, another one of the most important events in American
church history was desegregation and the recognition of civil rights
in general. Civil rights are now widely accepted in religious circles
(be they Christian, Jewish, Islamic, or what have you) as a matter of
common sense and greater good, but such was not always the case. The
issue of racism was only a small symptom of a much more sinister
school of thought that encompassed class, gender, age, handicap and a
variety of other aspects that are now viewed almost universally as
decidedly ?un-Christian?. Ironically one of the most nefarious of
these so-called moral dogmas was the unequal treatment of religious
belief and practice. The advent of civil rights literally forced some
to permit (which differs greatly from ?tolerate?, which I?ll get to in
a minute) others to be as they chose to be. They didn?t have to like
it, they merely had to refrain from interfering with it. In doing so
many Americans came to truly appreciate their counterparts and value
their differences. Different (and perhaps even seemingly opposing)
races, genders and religious even, to some extent, blended and added
character to one another in an unexpected compliment. In a very real
way, in my opinion, civil rights put Americans on a much more
decidedly ?Christian? path (doctrinally speaking) in terms of how they
treat their fellow man, than ever before in our nation?s history.
* * * * * * * *
ASSIMILATION, ACCEPTANCE AND TOLERANCE
* * * * * * * *
In the modern era Americans have become widely tolerant of one another
and accepting of difference in ideal, belief, doctrine and
affiliation. Beginning in the 1960?s perhaps when people began to
become more introspective and less judgmental and on through the
1970?s when the last vestiges of open discrimination protected by law
waned and civil rights began to really wind up as a mandate, people
started becoming more accepting of one another. In the coming decades,
for example, the US would have as it?s President a Jehovah's Witnesses
(Eisenhower, who was also affiliated with the Mennonites and later was
baptized a Presbyterian), a Catholic (Kennedy), a Quaker (Nixon), an
Episcopalian (Ford), and a Baptist (Carter) all in the span of
relatively few years. Why is this important? In itself it is not,
however it is indicative of the collective tolerance that was present
in the 20th Century that would have been unheard of just 100 years
prior.
Since the beginning of American politics the major politic leadership
offices were frequently occupied by two overwhelmingly present faith
groups; those being Presbyterian and Episcopalian. By examining the
trend toward public favoritism to one or two particular faiths in our
leadership we see, in some small way perhaps, how the 20th Century
marked the beginning of the assimilation of religion and religious
diversity in pubic life as well as in politics.
ADHERENTS.COM
http://www.adherents.com/adh_presidents.html
ROMAN CATHOLICS AND THE AMERICAN MAINSTREAM IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
http://www.nhc.rtp.nc.us:8080/tserve/twenty/tkeyinfo/tmainstr.htm
RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
http://www.religioustolerance.org/
* * * * * * * *
DENOMINATIONS / DENOMINATIONALISM
* * * * * * * *
Denominations and denominationalism can be viewed both favorably and
poorly depending on how one wishes to characterize it. There are
easily 1000+ religious denominations in the United States and among
them perhaps even tens of thousands of greatly to ever-so-slightly
differing religious beliefs. The advent of religious freedom and
political and human rights accompanied by tolerance, diversity and
acceptance, when multiplied times free speech, press and assembly all
predictably (in hindsight, of course) set the stage for the almost
explosive creation of differing denominations. As a free nation which
not only encourages diversity but welcomes the persecuted, no matter
how unorthodox their beliefs may be, and offers them an unhindered and
unlimited forum to practice and promote their beliefs, it is no small
wonder that America has been a fertile breeding ground for wide and
varying doctrines since the days of the first Pilgrims.
While it can be said that diversity is a good thing, it is no secret
that growing and continuing promotion of new and lesser-understood
religions pose a challenge to some of the more long-established
mainstream beliefs. Tolerance has become an important part of
denominationalism and it is, in fact, instrumental in a denomination?s
success. Charismatic and new age religious belief does, to some
extent, threaten some of the more fundamental churches? conservative
notions. It is my opinions that, as Americans become more tolerant
they also seem to almost instinctively become more diverse. Is that a
bad thing? Not necessarily, but it?s not college calculus to assume
that as we become more diverse and greater numbers embrace the
thousands of organized religions available to them, the major
long-established religions suffer most in terms of membership,
adherence, and practice. Logically speaking then it is not totally out
of the realm of possibilities that some of the major religions could
theoretically fade out in years to come in favor of more contemporary,
practical and comfortable beliefs commensurate with our free American
lifestyles. In other words, we, as Americans, could unwittingly (or
perhaps intentionally), through our current denominationalism trends,
literally rewrite the church to serve us, as opposed to the other way
around. Having said that, I believe denominationalism is a substantial
event in American church history, though we often overlook it because
we think of history in terms of ?the past? and rarely recognize major
historical events when we are living in the midst of them.
RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_deno.htm
* * * * * * * *
I hope you find that my research (and the personal opinion that you
solicited) informative and that it exceeds your expectations. If you
have any questions about my research please post a clarification
request prior to rating the answer. Otherwise, I welcome your rating
and your final comments and I look forward to working with you again
in the near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.
Best regards;
Tutuzdad ? Google Answers Researcher
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Clarification of Answer by
tutuzdad-ga
on
25 Feb 2006 05:49 PST
THE CONSTITUTION AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS
Simply out, I believe that this single event enabled American religion
(in the style and freedom with which we have come to know it) to come
into being. The freedoms and protection that our forefathers authored
on our behalf with such wisdom, fairness and foresight can easily be
credited with enabling us to worship as we wish, which is not only the
fundamental political concept of American society but it is also the
fundamental concept of most religions.
THE REFORMATION MOVEMENT
The reformation movement marked an important point of evolution in
American religion. The fleeing or foreign lands and governments in
order to practice freely gave rise to the reformed religions we
collectively or individually practice in America today.
CIVIL RIGHTS
The American civil rights movements (not just the one in the 1960?s
but all of them over time) opened the door to more religious freedom
and openness. Through this we learned that struggles to gain what is
rightfully ours (respect, regard, the right to access, etc) is well
worth the heartache of years of difficult trials. In the end we also
learn that right prevails, which also serves to confirm the basic
tenets of most religious doctrines that good can and does overcome
evil.
ASSIMILATION, ACCEPTANCE AND TOLERANCE
As our rights and freedoms matured our society came to learn many
valuable lessons, not the least of which is tolerance. Through
religious tolerance we have also learned to assimilate some beliefs
or, at the very least, accept those who think differently than we do.
Through assimilation, acceptance and tolerance we have learned to live
and worship together ? separately ? and be ok with whatever level of
closeness and similarity that binds us or whatever level of difference
or distance that separates us. This maturity and a religious society
allows us to defend one anothers? right to be difference and validates
each of our own beliefs.
DENOMINATIONS / DENOMINATIONALISM
If you?ll notice, the fundamental premise of all the things that I
felt qualified as the ?most important events? in American religion
involve change, freedom and acceptance of differences. In the course
of my essay I have used the term ?evolve? to describe these events.
While denominationalism is not directly part of that evolution it is a
directly related to it. The creation of various dominations to such an
extent that virtually every person who wishes to worship may do so in
the manner in which that subscribe is a very important point in the
history of American religion. Obviously each person who subscribes to
his or her specific belief does so because they have discounted all
other faiths in favor of the one they have chosen. In some societies
this in itself would cause strife as the denominations clashed.
However, due in large part to our experience in the Civil Rights eras
and through our ability to learn tolerance, we not only able to permit
other denominations which might conflict with our own beliefs but to a
great extent we can appreciate them as well. The most significant
thing about denominationalism, in my opinion, is that it essentially
built a church for every man, regardless of his culture, race,
background, language or belief.
I apologize for not posting this earlier. I had a prolonged ISP outage
last night that prevented me from getting back online. I hope this
serves to clarify.
Regards;
Tutuzdad-ga
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