Religion

In my Religion in America class at Arizona State University we have covered simple yet profound topics that have been crucial not only in the history of America, but also in current American issues. This class shows that religion is heavily involved in the lives of Americans no matter the ethnicity. Religion not only affects and impacts issues of civil rights, but also controversial issues such as politics and globalization. I have provided a list of the key topics covered in class and the important points that I drew from them.

19th century Revivalism and Millennialism

Many 19th century evangelicals were influential and part of the Second Great Awakening. The preachers of that time pushed for social changes such as the abolition of slavery and women’s suffrage. Jim Wallace explains that for a period after (20th century) evangelicalism became more intertwined with politics and was used to fit an agenda that used the idea of sanctity of life to push for political issues like abortion and gay marriage. Wallace hopes that we can be on a verge of another great awakening that can again focus on poverty and those issues focused on the Bible by Jesus Christ. The Sermon on the Mount focuses on the poor and the struggling. Wallace argues that Christ didn’t talk about issues that politics argue about today but about serving the poor and struggling.

The American Origins of Pentecostalism

One of the original initiators of the Pentecostal religious movement, William Joseph Seymour, preached from his rundown building in Los Angeles on Azusa Street. Seymour believed in a “unity of Christ” and accepted everyone regardless of race or sex. He preached from 1906 to 1909 and the revival meetings became known as the Azusa Street Revival and began the Pentecostal religious revolution. Women were accepted and ordained for full-ministry. This acceptance empowered women and allowed them to fully participate in Pentecostalism. These views of complete equality among...