History/Religion 345 – RELIGION IN AMERICA – September 23 2005  

The New Republic & the Churches

(Corrigan, 5)  

KEY TERMS

1. Ezra Stiles, The United States Elevated to Glory & Honor
2. Religion of the Churches & Religion of the Republic
3. Versions of the “mission” of America
4. Protestant Episcopal Church
5. Samuel Seabury
6. Three “old” English Dissent denominations
7. “Standing Order”
8. Disestablishment
9. Francis Asbury
10. Methodist Christmas Conference of 1784
11. Philip William Otterbein
12. Charles Carroll
13. Bishop John Hughes
14. Elizabeth Seton
15. Orestes Brownson
16. Religious pluralism
17. % of Americans who “practice” religion

 

QUESTIONS  

1. In 1781 (or 1783), the colonies became the “United States.”  What THREE qualities do you think characterized religion in the U.S. in these very early years. 

2. American Christians and quickly other non-Christian Americans too, sorted themselves out into “denominations.”  Indeed, after 1783, no one denomination was ever strong enough to dominate American religious life.  What do you think was the long-term significance of this “denominationalism”?

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Modified by:  H.  Kamerling