Religion Revival in the 19th Century

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The latter half of the 19th century marked a time of major changes that sweep the American landscape. Changes included: the second industrial revolution, the third great awakening, abolitionism, immigration, and new religious movements (NRMs). This time period is referred to as the “Gilded Age”; there was rapid economic growth which spurred wage increases, immigration, and technological advances. During the postbellum and early 19th century, people started to challenge what religion meant to them. Lincoln questioned how warring factions could both pray to the same God, yet he concluded that God had “his own purpose” for this war. From these notions, such thought as “the Lost Cause”, was spurred. Another important aspect is people started to challenge their theology with the advent of new science and technology. The effect was to create a competitive marketplace in religion that allowed men and women to shop for religious institutions that they thought best meet their needs. The growing prestige of science compelled Americans reformulating theology; two popular theologies include New Theology, Theodore Munger, and Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy (Goff and Harvey 21-25). These religions are known as NRM, encompassing newer religious groups and old alternative groups, which, together, have challenged mainstream religious traditions and the secular society back in the 19th century, and still to this day. The three popular NRMs during the 19th century are Christian Science, Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormonism), and Jehovah’s Witnesses. According to Daschke and Ashcraft, people are intrigued by NRMs for a number of reasons: new understanding, new self, new family, new society, and new world (Daschke and Ashcraft 1-13). Conversely... ... middle of paper ... ... centering on work, frugality, and temperance that served to empower converts for a measure of economic success in the industrial order (Goff and Harvey 281). rephrase paragraph] Increasingly, he depended on the financial support from the business community. John Wanamaker, one of his primary patrons, supported Moody through giving him a place to preach and then turning said place into a business (Goff and Harvey 55). It appeared that people were fed up with having to follow a certain thought and therefore questioned the religion. Therefore lead them to “sculpt” religion to meet their needs and beliefs. Similar proselytization entered an area of mass marketing where people were fervent to convert and send missionaries out. This also includes fervent revivalism to get people excited and in the moment to convert. During this period of time, proselytization prospered.

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