American Christianity : the continuing revolution

271 Pages·2014·17.5 MB·English

by  Cox

AMERICAN
CHRISTIANITY
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Mark Crispin Miller, Series Editor
This series begins with a startling premise—that even now, more
than two hundred years since its founding, America remains a
largely undiscovered country with much of its amazing story yet to
be told. In these books, some of America’s foremost historians and
cultural critics bring to light episodes in our nation’s history that
have never been explored. They off er fresh takes on events and peo-
ple we thought we knew well and draw unexpected connections that
deepen our understanding of our national character.
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A M E R I C A N
C H R I S T I A N I T Y
THE CONTINUING REVOLUTION
STEPHEN COX
University of Texas Press
AUSTIN
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Copyright © 2014 by the University of Texas Press
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
First edition, 2014
Requests for permission to reproduce material from this work
should be sent to:
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∞ (cid:12)The paper used in this book meets the minimum requirements
of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (R1997) (Permanence of Paper).
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Cox, Stephen D.
(cid:13)American Christianity : the continuing revolution / Stephen Cox. —
First edition.
(cid:13)(cid:13)pages(cid:13)(cid:13)cm. — (Discovering America)
(cid:13)Includes bibliographical references and index.
(cid:13)ISBN 978-0-292-72910-0 (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Christianity—United States.(cid:13)2. United States—Church history.
I. Title.
(cid:13)BR515.C69(cid:13)2014
(cid:13)277.3—dc23 2013034801
doi:10.7560/729100
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To Paul Beroza
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CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- ix -
Chapter ONE
Ruins or Foundations?
- 1 -
Chapter Two
Finding Oil
- 8 -
Chapter Three
The Mainstream and the Cataracts
- 32 -
Chapter Four
The Making of Revival
- 62 -
Chapter Five
Stars That Rise and Set
- 80 -
Chapter Six
The Low Wall of Separation
- 105 -
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= CONTENTS =
Chapter Seven
Millions Now Living Will Never Die
- 128 -
Chapter Eight
Hierarchies and Revolutions
- 150 -
Chapter Nine
Sermons in Stone
- 172 -
Chapter Ten
The Mortal Word
- 195 -
Chapter Eleven
Unfi nished Cathedrals
- 219 -
NOTES
- 229 -
INDEX
- 251 -
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My fi rst debt of gratitude is to Mark Crispin Miller, the edi-
tor of the Discovering America series, who accepted my pro-
posal for this book with no apparent concern except that it be
a good book. At the University of Texas Press, Theresa May,
editor-in-chief, and Robert Devens, assistant editor-in-chief,
adhered to Mark’s curious standard. The intelligence, friend-
liness, and scholarly informality of these three people have
been worth the Seven Cities of Cíbola to me.
Chief among the other friends who helped me was my
superb colleague in the history of American culture Joseph
Ho. Several of the photographs in this book are his, and his
help was essential in presenting the others. Joe also gave me
the benefi t of his large knowledge of contemporary church
music and of Asian American experiences of Christianity.
Colleagues in libraries, archives, and church offi ces gave
me crucial help. I especially want to thank Bonnie Balloch of
the Crystal Cathedral; Mark Edwards and Michael McKeon
of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, San Fran-
cisco; Wayne Kempton of the Archives of the Episcopal
Diocese of New York; Jeannette McDonald of the Jackson,
Michigan, District Library; and Lois Rosebrooks of Plymouth
Church, Brooklyn, New York.
ix
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