Douglas Sweeney\'s Book \"The American Evangelical Story: History of the Movement\"

¶ … American Evangelical Story" Douglas a. Sweeney. I a paragraph summary chapter.

"The American Evangelical Story: A History of the Movement" - review

Douglas Sweeney's book "The American Evangelical Story: A History of the Movement" provides an elaborate description of the evangelical movement in the U.S. And how it started. The first chapter is intended to have readers gain a more complex understanding of the concept of evangelicalism in the U.S. Sweeney attempts to enable readers to realize that it would be difficult and almost impossible to consider a simple definition while relating to the movement. He actually acknowledges the fact that his experience somewhat limits him in providing the perfect explanation of evangelical traditions in the U.S. "Evangelicals comprise a movement that is rooted in classical Christian orthodoxy, shaped by a largely Protestant understanding of the gospel, and distinguished by other such movements by an eighteenth-century twist." (Sweeney 2005, p. 24)

The first chapter in the book further addresses the complexity of the topic under discussion by acknowledging that it would be impossible for it to provide a final definition on the subject. Sweeney also uses this chapter to emphasize the fact that the other chapters in the text are going to focus on the matter even more and that they are going to introduce readers into a world filled with information on the American evangelical movement. Throughout the chapter, the writer relates to the strong connection between the movement and Protestant concepts. "Second, evangelicals are descendants of the Protestant Reformation with a commitment to the orthodoxy (i.e., right doctrine and right worship) expressed in the Ancient Christian creeds and promoted further by Reformers such as Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin -- especially with regard to the gospel message." (Sweeney 2005, p. 24)

Chapter two, "A Surprising Work of God," relates to the Transatlantic Great Awakening occurring in the eighteenth century. Sweeney highlights the fact that this event was rooted in European ideas like Puritanism and Pietism. This creates a link between European religious ideas and concepts that were provided with wide-spread appreciation in evangelical circles in the U.S. society.

The evangelical movement in the U.S. had apparently been shaped by influential figures in the Christian revival. Bringing on individuals like John Wesley, George Whitefield, and Jonathan Edwards, Sweeney does not necessarily attempt to claim that evangelicalism in the U.S. is a consequence of the Christian Revival. Instead, he tries to make it possible for readers to comprehend how the movement saw a great deal of controversies as a consequence of individuals interfering with its agenda and providing different interpretations of the scripture.

Chapter three follows the movement as it recovered from the trouble it experienced during the Great Awakening. Even with the fact that individuals supporting it had reached a series of common conclusions, it divided into several communities that each favored a particular concept concerning divinity. "For several decades after the rise of the transatlantic Great Awakening, New England led the way in constructing new evangelical organizations, often dividing and even destroying older structures in the process." (Sweeney 2005, p. 56)

The first half of the nineteenth century has had a strong impact on evangelicalism, as it came to be institutionalized. Individuals involved in the process got actively engaged in restructuring the movement. The Second Great Awakening was more complex in nature and addressed much more issues than the first.

Chapter four follows by providing a set of actions that led to the emergence of movements meant to promote evangelicalism. At this stage readers are provided with more information on how the movement spread across the world and gave birth to a series of organizations that each took charge of changing people's understanding of religion in general. Several notable figures have emerged in this era, with preachers like Billy Graham and D.L. Moody playing an active role in the revivalist movement.

Whether discussing the evangelical movement being promoted in the U.S. Or overseas, the fourth chapter provides a more detailed definition of what the movement's intentions at the time were. Early Protestant missionary activity was, in spite of its limitations, very effective and it managed to draw large crowds that would support its actions and that eventually contributed to promoting it.

The fifth chapter, "Crossing the Color Line Without Working to Erase It," provides a view on the racial aspect of evangelicalism. A series of African-American Christians were involved in the movement, but it is difficult to relate to their exact purpose as seen from the perspective of the general evangelical movement. Many notable African-American individuals who supported the interest group were hesitant about associating themselves with it and history rarely mentions them when it comes to the movement.

While skin color was a divisive concept in the era, many small evangelical institutions attempted to change society's perception of it. These respective churches addressed the idea of racism and tried to have the general public accept African-Americans as an integral part of society by relating to the religious aspect of the matter and to how one should not differentiate between individuals as a consequence of their background.

Chapter six, "In Search of a Higher Christian Life," the writer focuses on the spiritual aspect of the matter and on how several traditions are often ignored when considering evangelicalism from a historical perspective. Movements like the Holiness, the Pentecostal, and the Charismatic are addressed at this point more thoroughly, with Sweeney attempting to discuss each of them individually and to help readers understand why it would be important for them to consider these respective traditions need to be taken into account when considering this topic.