Battling Protestants is based on an in-depth filmed conversation between Howard Burton and intellectual historian David Hollinger, UC Berkeley, and examines the unique role that different strands of religion have played in 20th-century American culture. The conversation examines intriguing aspects of the distinction between Ecumenical and Evangelical Protestantism, the often overlooked role of Ecumenical Protestantism in the history of the USA, secularization theory, the development of the two-party system, the role of missionaries, and more.
This carefully-edited book includes an introduction, The Exception that Proves the Rule?, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter:
- Diverging Protestants – Ecumenical vs. Evangelical
- Drifting towards Secularism? – American religious exceptionalism
- Often Overlooked – Reinhold Niebuhr’s Legacy
- The Missionary Position – Encounters with The Other
- Demographic Diversification – Cosmopolitan spies and other issues
- William James – Interpretations and misinterpretations
- Strident Atheists – Evangelism 2.0
- An Empty Stage – America’s intellectual exchange deficit
- Future Speculations – Pushing a historian out of his comfort zone
Available in electronic format on all major booksellers, including:
Battling Protestants is also part of the five-part Ideas Roadshow Collection, Conversations About Religion, which is available in hardcover, paperback and electronic format.
