Summary
Protestants established their churches in the American colonies early on, their descendants fought in the American Revolution, and they took the lead in conquering the continent and in settling the frontier. Their culture dominated this country throughout the 19th century, and it continues to influence the direction of American life today.
Protestant Faith in America, Third Edition focuses on those churches that trace their history to the Reformation within the Roman Catholic Church, including the Lutheran, Reformed, Presbyterian, Congregational, and Episcopal churches. More specifically, this book explores the Protestant faith and addresses the impact these churches and their members have had on American culture and society. Given their early interest in education, they led in the founding of many of the country's most prestigious institutions of higher learning, including Harvard, Yale, Rutgers, and Princeton. Not only are a majority of the country's business and intellectual leaders Protestants, but more than half of the American presidents have been drawn from their ranks. This new edition offers an objective look at the influence Protestant leaders have wielded on the direction of American life, from the early days to the present, through their educational, economic, and political accomplishments.
New and updated coverage includes:
- The Establishment of Protestants in America
- Protestant faiths in American culture, society, and politics
- Biographies of American Protestants, such as Elijah Lovejoy, D. James Kennedy, Katharine Jefferts Schori, and Teresa "Terri" Hord Owens
- Intellectual leadership
- Protestants and the LGBTQ community
- Protestants and Catholics
- The role of women in American Protestantism
- Conservative versus liberal Protestants.
About the Author(s)
J. Gordon Melton is distinguished professor emeritus of American religious history at Baylor University's Institute for Studies in Religion. He also served as the director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion in Woodway, Texas. He is the author or editor of dozens of books on religion, including Melton's Encyclopedia of American Religions; Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Belief and Practice; Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations; and Encyclopedia of Protestantism, part of the six-volume Encyclopedia of World Religions set, which he edited for Facts On File.