The American Evangelical Story: A History of the Movement [Paperback]

Douglas A. Sweeney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2005

The American Evangelical Story surveys the role American evangelicalism has had in the shaping of global evangelical history.

Author Douglas Sweeney begins with a brief outline of the key features that define evangelicals and then explores the roots of the movement in English Pietism and the Great Awakening of the eighteenth century. He goes on to consider the importance of missions in the development of evangelicalism and the continuing emphasis placed on evangelism. Sweeney next examines the different subgroups of American evangelicals and the current challenges faced by the movement, concluding with reflections on the future of evangelicalism.

Combining a narrative style with historical detail and insight, this accessible, illustrated book will appeal to readers interested in the history of the movement, as well as students of church history.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Modern evangelicalism, the biggest thing in Protestantism since the Reformation, has influenced all Protestant denominations--indeed, it has generated most of them. Sweeney depicts it as a child of English Puritanism and German Pietism, born in the Great Awakening, which, inspired by the ideas of Massachusetts' Jonathan Edwards (1703-58), first broke out in John Wesley's England. Almost immediately, England dispatched the great George Whitefield (1714-70) to ensure that North America awoke, too. From then to the present, Sweeney traces evangelicalism's American lineage, proceeding chronologically. He treats each successive principal development: institution building, missionary endeavors, dealing with the infamous U.S. color line, the impacts of the late-nineteenth-century holiness and Pentecostal movements, and the twentieth-century emergence of fundamentalism and neoevangelicalism (it may surprise some to learn that evangelicalism and fundamentalism aren't synonymous). Definitions are made, distinctions drawn, and major figures sketched--all in nimble, unmannered, jargon-free prose that makes this the ideal book to read after, before, or in tandem with Wendy Murray Zoba's Beliefnet Guide to Evangelical Christianity (2005). Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Douglas A. Sweeney (Ph.D., Vanderbilt University) is associate professor of church history and the history of Christian thought and director of the Carl F. H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080102658X
• ISBN-13: 978-0801026584
• Product Dimensions: 0.5 x 6.2 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #289,968 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Well Written! October 9, 2006

By Dr. Marc Axelrod VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was very impressed with this book. Some of the other evangelical histories I've read (namely the ones by Mark Noll) have been very detailed, but not always interesting to read. Now, from the keyboard of Douglas Sweeney, we have a tight history of the evangelical movement that reads like a novel. He traces the origins of evangelicalism to the first Great Awakening in the 1730s. We learn of how Christians from different denominations banded together to support the revival preaching of men like George Whitefield, John Wesley and Jonathan Edwards.

We also read about the more Arminian leanings of the 2nd Great Awakening in America, which spanned much of the 19th century and featured the thunderous preaching of Charles Finney and Francis Asbury.

The role of female preachers in evangelicalism is discussed, namely Phoebe Palmer, and Aimee Semple Macpherson, who eventually founded the Foursquare Gospel Church.

I also appreciated the discussion of black evangelicals and mourned with the author over the sad history of segregation and apathy between whites and blacks in the evangelical movement.

There is also a chapter about the holiness and pentecostal movements, and the fissure that developed between neo-evangelicals and fudamentalists. Sweeny concludes with an epilogue about the uncertain future of the American Evangelical movement, including a brief glance at the major division with Southern Baptist circles.

This is the best book I have come across on the American Evangelical movement and I heartily recommend it.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Communicating History with a Purpose May 2, 2007

By P. Higley

Format:Paperback

One of the first advantages for Sweeney's study can be seen in how he opens up the word, definition, and conception of evangelicalism. By no means does he have rose colored glasses about the history of evangelicalism, but at the same time he is not afraid to declare the greatness of the movement itself. In fact, it seems that he regards the movement as one that carries the beneficent ideals of the European Protestant Reformation[s] and Protestant Great Awakening[s], both of which are influenced through the American experiment.

Sweeney first opens up the box, as it were, of Christian presuppositions with respect to the global presence of Christianity, and then gives commentary on how evangelicalism fits into that global structure. His intent here is to demonstrate that there is diversity within evangelicalism, to be sure, but also that evangelicalism is perhaps the most vital movement on the scene of the Christian religion. On this point Sweeney is correct. There is an advantage for Sweeney's study here because he is not merely trying to be ecumenical, but to be realistic that Christianity is encompassed by much more than just the word or designation of evangelical. However, at the same time Sweeney is by no means apologetic about his own evangelical presuppositions. He also humbly counts himself within the movement.

One example within Sweeney's study is the subject of the Great Awakening within early New England, which Sweeney labels, "the regional center of American evangelicalism." Thus, it seems that Sweeney regards the dynamic of early Puritanism very important. He is right on this point because this period within American evangelicalism sets the precedent for much of American Christianity. In addition to this, he gives a very positive view of Whitefield and Edwards.... One of the eloquent segments of his writing deals with the dichotomy between the "New Divinity" and the "Old Calvinists." He says, "The New Divinity of the Edwardsians dealt primarily with the experience of revival and conversion. As Calvinists, they taught that none could come to faith in Christ except by supernatural grace, but as evangelists, they knew that saving grace came through the gospel." This is a very good description of the rationale of the New Light Calvinists and thus shows how the major theological perspective of Calvinism was nuanced for the American evangelical context.

Where Sweeney does a particularly good job at painting a high-quality picture of evangelicalism, he also is quick to point out its historical scars. In his chapter, "Crossing the Color Line without Working to Erase It", he unabashedly admits historical mistakes within the evangelical movement. Some of these include "heroes" of the faith such as Edwards and Whitefield preaching the universal gospel, and yet "paradoxically" owning slaves at the same time.

However, as fast as Sweeney admits to the now irrational and unspeakable atrocities committed by evangelicals of the past, he adamantly argues for the substantive good that has been accomplished by evangelicalism. He says that "...despite such undeniable moral failure, God has used the evangelicals to promote the gospel of grace among literally millions of African Americans...Ever since the Great Awakening, white evangelicals have engaged in Christian outreach to black people--never adequately but faithfully and consistently." To this quote, Sweeney must be commended. Not only is he honest about evangelical failures of the past, but his main point is that God's purposes are being fulfilled through morally stained people--black or white. His sections on black evangelicals demonstrate this perspective very well. Further, he does a particularly good job in the same chapter by describing the dynamics of the black evangelical movement. Thus, Sweeney expresses something very profound: being evangelical does not have to do with color, creed, or denomination, but with being a gospel witness.

Although Sweeney says that his study is intended to show the history of evangelicalism, which it of course does, it also conveys much more. Sweeney says that his hope is that the book may be a memorial that bears witness to God's faithfulness. Furthermore, Sweeney hopes not just to educate persons about historical evangelism, but to help believers regain their "spiritual bearings." This strategy by Sweeney is a refreshing perspective that demonstrates his zeal to be a faithful interpreter of evangelical history, and also to communicate that same history with the purpose of showing God's faithfulness. Thus, Sweeney's portrayal of evangelicalism can be helpful for all persons hoping to understand this movement within the broader Christian church. Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Brief yet thorough June 16, 2010

By Calvin W. Fergins, M.Div.

Format:Paperback

This book cover the birth Evangelicalism in the Great Awakening revivals of Whitefield, Edwards and Wesley on up till today. The book is short but covers a vast amount of issues such as race, education, and society. This is a great introducation in the studies of Evangelicalism. Quick read but a good one.

The only downside is that it easily could have been tripled in size and covered more than it does. Sweeney has some opinions about the Evangelical movement that I don't agree with but he still give the history a very objective look. Sweeney holds to much more positive and favorable outlook of the movement as a whole.

For another good resource that holds to a different view of Evangelicalism, a more negative one than Sweeney's, also see
Deconstructing Evangelicalism: Conservative Protestantism in the Age of Billy Graham

5.0 out of 5 stars Great work January 19, 2013

By Joshua T Shevel

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Product was as described and arrived on time. Packaging was great. good good good good good good good good good

4.0 out of 5 stars Contemporary issues, historical perspectives October 6, 2008

By Daniel Ehrman

Format:Paperback

Sweeney presents a quick look at the history of evangelicalism in America. He focuses on contemporary issues including gender and race within the continuum of historical evangelicalism in America.

He allows for a broad sweep of theology, including Pentecostalism, charismatic and historically black churches under the umbrella of evangelicalism.

The book is suitable for an academic context but written in language accessible to anyone interested.