The Democratization of American Christianity :: Book Review, Nathan Hatch

The Democratization of American Christianity, by Nathan Hatch, is written about the cultural and unearthly hi accounting of the early American republic and the enduring structures of American Christianity (3). Hatch writes to make two arguments 1) the theme of democratization is central to arrangement the development of American Christianity, and 2) the years of the early republic are the closely crucial in revealing to process that took and is still taking place. The story of the democratization of American Christianity begins with the population boom in America from the whirling up to 1845. Hatch writes that during this boom, American Christianity became a vision enterprise (4). This mass enterprise is reviewed through five traditions in the early nineteenth atomic number 6 the Christian movement, the Methodists, the Baptists, the black churches, and the Mormons. Hatch explains that these major American movements were led by young men who shared an ethic of unrelenting toi l, a temper for expansion, a hostility to orthodox belief and style, a zeal for religious reconstruction, and a systematic plan to realize their ideals (4). These leaders changed the scope of American Christianity by orientating toward democratic or populist ideals. Their movements offered both individualistic potential and collective aspiration, which were ideas ready to be grasped by the young and halcyon population. These early leaders had a vision of a faith that handle social standing, and taught all to think, interpret, and organize their faith for themselves. It was a faith of religious populism, reflecting the passions of ordinary people and the charisma of democratic movement-builders (5). New brands of distinctly American Christianity began developing early in the countrys history. Before the whirling, George Whitefield organise the stage for American religious movements. The most important factor that helped douse these movements was the American Revolution. The c ountry was ripe with conversation and action on a new mind of freedom. The revolution expanded the circle of people who considered themselves exposed of thinking for themselves about issues of equality, sovereignty, and representation (6). The country was beginning to move toward an understanding of strength lying in the common people, and the peoples qualification to make their own personal decisions on issues of leadership and authority. There was a common belief that class structure was the major societal problem. The revolution created the an open environment that pushed equality of the individual, allowing political and religious beliefs to flourish and train without being held in check by authoritarian leaders.