Through an examination of religious life in a typical northern rural locale―Cortland County, New York―from 1790 to 1860, Curtis D. Johnson adds to our understanding of the Second Great Awakening, an intellectual and religious watershed in American history. Offering both quantitative and qualitative analyses of churches' memberships, ideologies, and activities, he maintains that scholars have misunderstood the historical significance of evangelicalism.
Johnson contends that these churches did not constitute society, nor were they microcosms of it; rather, they evolved from embattled congregations of the saved―"islands of holiness"―to ideologically conservative, organizationally unified, integrated parts of society. He uncovers the many diversities of Protestantism in the form of splits between evangelicals and non-evangelicals, formalists and anti-formalists, Arminians and Calvinists, Old School traditionalists and Oberlin perfectionists, church members and religious society members.
At the heart of the revivalistic impulse, he argues, was ideological conflict―primarily between Calvinists and Arminians―with gender politics and internal church dynamics also contributing to the evangelical tumult. With a special interest in the Awakening's impact on congregational life, Johnson focuses on rural community experience to challenge the findings of historians who have concentrated exclusively on urban religious expression. He concludes that the importance of the various factions of evangelicalism lies in their common exhortation to republicanism and reform: these congregations, he says, influenced social change out of proportion to their numbers because activism was a central tenet of their religion.
Islands of Holiness is a gem of local history. A meticulously researched book, it makes a valuable contribution to an enduring aspect of the social history of American religious expression.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Curtis D. Johnson is Chair and Associate Professor of History at Mount St. Mary’s University. He is the author of Redeeming America: Evangelicals and the Road to Civil War.
"This book is an ambitious, original interpretation of antebellum evangelicalism. The author seeks to remedy two large mistakes in current historiography: a neglect of rural experience and an overemphasis upon sociological to the detriment of 'ideological' factors. The correction is provided by a case study, offering attention to theological changes, of rural Congregational, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist congregations in Cortland County in western New York (the ‘burned-over’ district) from 1790 to 1860. . . . It is essential reading for students of the period."―Choice
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
US$ 4.00
Within U.S.A.
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New. Fast Shipping and good customer service. Seller Inventory # Holz_New_0801422752
Book Description Condition: new. Seller Inventory # FrontCover0801422752
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New Copy. Customer Service Guaranteed. Seller Inventory # think0801422752
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. Buy for Great customer experience. Seller Inventory # GoldenDragon0801422752
Book Description Hard Cover. Condition: New. Dust Jacket Condition: New. First Edition. Hardcover 1st Printing in dust jacket BRAND NEW, no remainder mark, pristine new copy; 8vo; xvi + 214pp indexed. Seller Inventory # 28375
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New. Seller Inventory # Wizard0801422752
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # ABLIING23Feb2416190189663
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. This item is printed on demand. Seller Inventory # 9780801422751
Book Description Condition: New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title! 1.1. Seller Inventory # Q-0801422752
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Brand New. 232 pages. 9.00x6.00x1.00 inches. In Stock. Seller Inventory # x-0801422752