Author Archives: Nicole Murphy

Team 7, Question 1

Posted on by under global christianity

After WWII America went through a religious revival in society. It was in the 1950’s that the mention of God was added to the Pledge of Allegiance and America’s motto.

Established mainline Protestant denominations remained popular, especially in American suburbs. The election of President Kennedy helped bring Catholic Americans to the forefront. Catholic churches also opened more Catholic schools, which helped to separate Catholic children from Protestant ones. The high rate of church attendance could be attributed to American desire to return to peace and normalcy after WWII. The 1960’s and Civil Rights Movement signaled changes in American society. Predominantly black churches in the South helped to spur desegregation.

Evangelicalism was refueled by debates over abortion rights in the 1980s. This brought evangelicalism into the public view, and began the relationship between evangelicalism and political and social issues.  Jacobsen also says that around this time denominations among certain Christians became less important. Catholics still called themselves Catholics, but Lutherans, Baptists and Presbyterians started to refer to themselves simply as Christians. To measure this statisticians ask respondents if “they have been born again” and “do you believe the Bible is the Word of God”.

Today the various cultures and ethnicities that have come to America is reflected in the wide variety of religions in America. Jacobsen does explain that overall religious attendance is declining in America. Evangelicalism is now a movement, with evangelical members in all Christian denominations.  There is also the tendency to associate Christians with conservative politics. Jacobsen points out that Christian churches have also become centers of charity and volunteering in America and abroad. This also includes providing relief after natural disasters, where religious centers often cater to the needs of the communities not only religiously but with basic human needs.

One aspect I would add to my Christianity would be the aspect of forgiveness from Ubuntu and African culture. Americans do not generally focus on forgiveness and reconciliation, generally society is focused on punishment. I appreciate that in Asian cultures they are more accepting of all types of religion, and focus on similarities rather than differences. Americans typically do not face the same levels of poverty as people in other countries, but I think that the sentiment from liberation theology that all people are equally important and that we should be free from social class and oppression is a good one. America has a wide variety of religions, but often people of different religions do not discuss religion with people of other religions. I also think that there is a tendency for non-religious Americans to judge religious Americans. I think a higher emphasis on community service and charity and a emphasize politics could help this issue. There is also a rather big divide among the political beliefs and leanings of Americans, and potentially equality among the religion would go a long way to help bridge political gaps. I think I also would not place a huge emphasis on dogma and rules, because there are many ways to be religious and pray.

Team 7, Question 3

Posted on by under evangelicalism

Maurer explains that the rise of the evangelical movement were political issues in the 1980’s. The main issue was abortion laws in America, evangelicals believe that human life begins at conception, so they think that abortion is killing human life. He explains that the Moral Majority were pleased that Reagan was conservative, but they felt that the country as a whole was moving too far away what evangelicals considered to be important religious principles. Evangelical fears were increased by very public money and sex scandals in the 80’s. Gonzalez explained that American society after WWII was experiencing great changes. The baby boomers would be America’s largest generation. With the rise of suburban communities people would lean on churches for stability as well as places to socialize. There was an increased fear of Communism. As there became greater socioeconomic and racial differences between those in the inner-cities and the suburbs these differences expanded to where people worshiped. Gonzalez explains that the Civil Rights and feminist movements changed how American society viewed itself. The evangelical rebirth was in response to the rapid changes America was going through. Some evangelicals used the media to spread their message, and tried to appeal to a wider variety of people. Others felt they needed to work for more justice economically and socially.

Falwell is concerned with American society in the 80’s for several reasons. Throughout his writings he is hostile towards American liberals. He expresses fear that America is moving away from its Judeo-Christian past. Specifically he addresses abortion right, marriage equality, acceptance of all sexualities and what he perceived as an increase in the use of illegal drugs and pornography in American society.

He claims to have been waiting for other religious-minded individuals to speak out against the current American morality. Eventually he decided he would need to do it for himself. Falwell says that his Moral Majority does not consider itself a political party and they do not endorse political candidates. They “believe in the Separation of Church and state”. They also believe that morals are not exclusive to certain religious people, so they do not align with a specific religion. The Moral Majority wanted to see abortions made illegal. They do not believe in anything besides traditional marriage between a man and a woman. They do not support homosexual relations. They also want to stop illegal drug use and addiction. With pornography they do not condone censorship, but want to promote education and legislation to stop the use of pornography. They specifically mention economic boycotts to achieve this. They support Israel, as well as having a strong national defense system. They want equality for women, but do not support the Equal Rights Amendment. They do not support the ERA because they think it will lead to things like legal gay marriage. They believe that homosexuality is a “moral perversion”. They think that the rights of homosexual people should be preserved, but do not think that they should be given special treatment as a minority group.

For Falwell the fundamentalists are inspired by the Bible. He also tells Evangelicals that they should not worry that they are becoming too involved in political discussions, and cites a congressman that said religion is imperative in political decision making. He does not think that fundamentalists and evangelicals are very different theologically. He says that they hold the same beliefs about the Bible, and both fear that their youth are leaning too liberally. He wants fundamentalists and evangelicals to work together. He would also like those who are charismatic speakers to become leaders and speak up.

Team 7 : Question 3

Posted on by under methodism

Wesley was born to an Anglican priest, and his maternal grandfather was one as well. He attended college at Oxford University. As a student he joined a religious order that had been started by his brother, Charles. The order agreed to live a holy and sober life, receive communion at least once a week, to visit prisons and study the Bible and books of devotion. Eventually John Wesley would take over as leader of the group would eventually be called Methodists.

He became acquainted with Pietism in early 1736 on a boat ride to Georgia in the New World, where he was to be a priest. During a bad storm at sea Wesley saw that while he was concerned with his own salvation the Moravians on board did not seem concerned during the storm, in fact they were singing. They told them this was because they did not fear death. This caused Wesley to reexamine his own faith. When he arrived in Georgia he asked the Moravian Gottlieb Spangenberg for advice on missionary and pastor work. He appreciated the advice because his new parishioners, Native Americans, had different spiritual attitudes from those at Oxford. Wesley returned to England after he was sued for defamation after refusing communion to a woman he was courting after she married another man. He contacted the Moravians in England. His advisor, Peter Boehler encouraged him to continue preaching. Wesley felt more spiritually free and was able to more successfully help others achieve salvation. He also decided that Moravian spirituality was not conducive with his temperament; he decided against becoming a Moravian.

Wesley gains his understanding that he is a “child of God” from Scripture, Romans 8:16. He says that because the importance placed in Scripture there are certain responsibilities that “children of God” must complete. He thinks that every believer needs to fully understand the responsibilities of being a child of God, or the religion would become only a religion in name. If they practice being children of God but do not fully understand it they may not correctly practice. He also claims that it is part of the Methodist calling to teach others about God, as such it is important that they have a complete understanding of Him. Pietist believers thought that an over-emphasis on dogma and philosophy took away from truly worshiping God. Wesley thought that children of God should be educated enough to help others find salvation.

Methodists believe that Scripture is the one true Word of God. According to Wesley Methodists are distinguished from Roman Catholics because they believe that nothing but the written Word of God should dictate Christian faith and practices. Wesley says that Methodists should prefer to express the Word of God as simply as they possibly can, meaning that Latin would not necessarily be used for sacred texts and ceremonies. He goes on to say that Methodists do not abstain. Methodists are those that truly love God, the love is so deep it is clear to the outside world. People may have been attracted to being a Methodist because the scriptures and ceremonies were practiced in the local language, meaning they would more easily understand the religion. They also were not asked to abstain from enjoyable things, as long as they thanked God for the things they had in life.

In “Christian Perfection” Wesley argues that too often people are discouraged from practicing religion because they fear they can never reach perfection. The former Catholic belief was that all humans were sinners and that because of this reaching perfection was a difficult process. Wesley simplified the way that Christian Perfection is achieved.  In his views Christian Perfection is achieved by all true believers, perfection is gained through Christ. Christ’s suffering and sacrifices purified Christian’s souls. Christians are also purified when they confess their sins. Christian perfection can be attained by all. It is more attractive to feel that you can be purified in the eyes of God. It is a more accessible and easily attained salvation.

 

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