American Evangelicals Today assesses the contemporary social, religious, and political characteristics of evangelical Protestants today, and it does so in light of (1) whether these characteristics are similar to, or different from, the corresponding characteristics of adherents of other major faith traditions in American religious life, and (2) the extent which these particular characteristics among evangelicals may have changed over the past four decades. In addition, it analyzes the extent which evangelicals are divided today, and it does so within the framework of four potential factors that might shape such divisions — racial/ethnic differences, generational differences, educational differences, and religious differences.
American Evangelicals Today is designed to serve as an accessible, but scholarly, overview of American evangelicals, one that is appealing to all scholars, students, and laity alike. Smidt offers a discussion of the nature of evangelical Protestantism, highlights the particular analytical issues at play when one seeks to determine just who are to be classified as evangelicals, and reveals some of the contradictory findings that can emerge through the use of these different analytical frameworks for defining evangelicals. The volume not only analyzes the current characteristics of evangelicals in light of those exhibited by other religious traditions as well as how evangelicals have changed over time, but it looks toward the future, addressing generational differences and other possible factors for change among evangelical Protestants.
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American Evangelicals Today
American Evangelicals Today assesses the contemporary social, religious, and political characteristics of evangelical Protestants today, and it does so in light of (1) whether these characteristics are similar to, or different from, the corresponding characteristics of adherents of other major faith traditions in American religious life, and (2) the extent which these particular characteristics among evangelicals may have changed over the past four decades. In addition, it analyzes the extent which evangelicals are divided today, and it does so within the framework of four potential factors that might shape such divisions — racial/ethnic differences, generational differences, educational differences, and religious differences.
American Evangelicals Today is designed to serve as an accessible, but scholarly, overview of American evangelicals, one that is appealing to all scholars, students, and laity alike. Smidt offers a discussion of the nature of evangelical Protestantism, highlights the particular analytical issues at play when one seeks to determine just who are to be classified as evangelicals, and reveals some of the contradictory findings that can emerge through the use of these different analytical frameworks for defining evangelicals. The volume not only analyzes the current characteristics of evangelicals in light of those exhibited by other religious traditions as well as how evangelicals have changed over time, but it looks toward the future, addressing generational differences and other possible factors for change among evangelical Protestants.
American Evangelicals Today assesses the contemporary social, religious, and political characteristics of evangelical Protestants today, and it does so in light of (1) whether these characteristics are similar to, or different from, the corresponding characteristics of adherents of other major faith traditions in American religious life, and (2) the extent which these particular characteristics among evangelicals may have changed over the past four decades. In addition, it analyzes the extent which evangelicals are divided today, and it does so within the framework of four potential factors that might shape such divisions — racial/ethnic differences, generational differences, educational differences, and religious differences.
American Evangelicals Today is designed to serve as an accessible, but scholarly, overview of American evangelicals, one that is appealing to all scholars, students, and laity alike. Smidt offers a discussion of the nature of evangelical Protestantism, highlights the particular analytical issues at play when one seeks to determine just who are to be classified as evangelicals, and reveals some of the contradictory findings that can emerge through the use of these different analytical frameworks for defining evangelicals. The volume not only analyzes the current characteristics of evangelicals in light of those exhibited by other religious traditions as well as how evangelicals have changed over time, but it looks toward the future, addressing generational differences and other possible factors for change among evangelical Protestants.
Corwin E. Smidt is professor emeritus of political science at Calvin College, where he also served as the director of the Paul B. Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics for fifteen years. Smidt is the author or editor of numerous books, including In God We Trust?: Religion and American Political Life and The Oxford Handbook of Religion and American Politics, and currently serves as a Research Fellow with the Henry Institute.
Table of Contents
Introduction: When Morning Gilds the Sky? Evangelicals in Contemporary American Society1: Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past? The Evangelical Tradition in American Religious Life2: Seek and You Shall Find? The Bases of Analyzing Evangelicals Today3: Let the Weak Say I am Strong? The Size and Social Characteristics of Evangelicals4: How Firm a Foundation? The Theological Beliefs and Behavior of Evangelicals5: Living for Jesus? The Social Theology of Evangelicals6: They Will Know We are Christians by our Love? The Civic Life of Evangelicals7: We’re Marching to Zion? The Politics of Evangelicals8: In the Sweet By and By? Evangelicals and the FutureReferences
What People are Saying About This
Susan Hansen
Corwin E. Smidt’s well-written, historically informed, and thoroughly researched portrait of American evangelicals is a major improvement over previous assessments of this sizeable but often poorly understood group. He uses several recent large-scale surveys to document the theological, demographic, and generational diversity among contemporary evangelicals, and to contrast their beliefs and political involvement with those of other Christian denominations and nonbelievers.
Christian Smith
It has been a long time since we have had a definitive, national-level, empirical study of American evangelicals. Many lately have felt in the dark about the current state of American evangelicalism. Corwin E. Smidt’s new book dispels that dimness with this impressive, rigorous, comprehensive updating of American evangelicalism today
Mark Chaves
This book provides an accessible and highly informative portrait of American evangelicals’ social, religious, and political characteristics. Those who want to know how evangelicals compare to others, how they have changed over time, and how they differ amongst themselves, will find answers here.
Mark A. Noll
Unlike much popular treatment of American evangelicals, this book by Corwin E. Smidt is measured, thorough, balanced, discerning, and informative. Who are "evangelicals"? And what do extensive, carefully analyzed surveys say about their education, racial profile, gender makeup, social views, political actions, theological beliefs, and more? Smidt's answers to these questions are as clear as they can possibly be.
John Schmalzbauer
Corwin E. Smidt presents evangelicals as they are, not as some wish they would be. Drawing on a massive dataset, he paints a state-of-the-art portrait of a dynamic subculture. Documenting change and continuity, this book should put a damper on both triumphalist and declinist narratives of American evangelicalism.
Kenneth D. Wald
An expert, it is commonly said, has forgotten more about a subject than anyone else ever knew. I’d use that phrase to characterize Corwin E. Smidt but I’m not sure he’s ever forgotten anything about American evangelicals. His new book, American Evangelicals Today, is the most comprehensive, insightful and perceptive book on the topic, the first source I’ll recommend to students interested in the subject. A masterful summary of his long career as a pioneer in the social scientific study of evangelical Protestants, the book is a triumph.
Robert Wuthnow
During national political campaigns, polling organizations churn out numbers almost daily that include something about evangelical Protestants. Journalists pick up small ticks in the data and turn them into headlines that become pronouncements about social trends. Thankfully, Corwin E. Smidt has now given us a thorough and judicious assessment of the data. American Evangelicals Today provides a valuable roadmap through the thickets of journalistic and academic prose. Taking a fresh look at the evidence, each of the chapters offers a more complex view of who evangelicals are, what they believe, and how they seek to engage their communities.
