Jorstad has written the first comprehensive history of American
religion in the past decade. Drawing on many contemporary sources,
he divides religion in the Eighties into three sections, each
characterized by its own struggle. Mainline churches are largely
involved in identity crises and social issues. Evangelicals are
confronting scandals, politics, and the pressures of the mass
media. Private seekers, which the author sees as the wave of the
future, swing between quietistic New Age philosophies and the
desire for world transformation. Everywhere the tension is between
the conservatives holding fast and the liberals pressing on. While
Jorstad clearly sympathizes with the latter, he presents a balanced
picture of recent religious history. An excellent work of social
and historical analysis with insights for the future. Recommended
for academic and public libraries. Library Journal During the
1980s, some of the most far-reaching and dramatic changes in
American life were those occurring in religious life. Battles over
abortion, televangelist morality scandals, responding to AIDS,
gender issues, and American political policy toward South Africa
are just a few of the major issues that made front-page news. This
comprehensive history of American religion in the 1980s explores
these and other issues, beginning with their historical background
in the great awakening of the 1960s counterculture. It proceeds to
trace the contours of the holders fast/pressers on battle
(conservatives vs. moderates and liberals) in three areas: mainline
struggles over denominational identity, social gospel outreach, and
gender issues; evangelical struggles over involvement in
office-seeking politics, televangelist morality, and popularization
of traditional teaching; and privatized seeking of fulfillment
through personal relationships, inner spiritual growth, and pursuit
of the promises of New Age transformations of self and society.
Using contemporary writings, interviews, reports, and other primary
documents of the times as well as drawing on the interpretations of
specialists in contemporary religious life, Jorstad throroughly
explores every aspect of the themes covered. In Part I, the book
focuses on mainliners, documenting the decline of ecumenical energy
and the sources and results of the fierce internal battles within
mainline denominations over holding to older identities at the
expense of extensive involvement in the major social crises of the
day. Within the evangelical/fundamental section, the book examines
the effects of the Falwells, Robertsons, and others in elective
national politics and to what extent this movement depended on the
leadership in the White House. Evangelism's expression through and
use of mass media is also addressed. The third major trend,
privatization (largely New Age), is examined with attention to how
seekers sought fulfillment through improving the quality of their
relationships with partner, spouse, family, friends, and local
community. The leadership of such interpreters as Scott Peck, James
Dobson, Charles Swindoll, and Robert Schuller is also examined in
detail. The final chapter explores the history, spread, and impact
of New Age faith on the religious expression of the 1980s. Holding
Fast/Pressing On is the first full-length account of the major
developments of religion during the decade. It breaks new ground in
using sociological theory to interpret the importance of the search
for the self and will be of interest to students of American
religious history and life, contemporary social trends and
problems, and mass media, politics and religion.
General
Imprint: |
Praeger Publishers Inc
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
July 1990 |
First published: |
July 1990 |
Authors: |
Erling .T. Jorstad
|
Dimensions: |
235 x 156 x 11mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
216 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-275-93607-5 |
Categories: |
Books
Promotions
|
LSN: |
0-275-93607-4 |
Barcode: |
9780275936075 |
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