CH260: American Church History 2 — Modernism, Evolution, and the Fundamentalist Controversy (1890s–1930s)

This episode explores the seismic intellectual and spiritual upheaval within Western Christianity between the 1890s and 1930s, a period defined by the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy. As traditional beliefs were challenged by Darwinian evolution and German Higher Criticism, the Protestant consensus fractured into three distinct paths: a defensive fundamentalism committed to biblical inerrancy, a modernist movement seeking cultural accommodation, and a burgeoning Pentecostalism centered on experiential Spirit baptism. The narrative traces this conflict through landmark events like the Scopes Trial and the Azusa Street Revival, while also highlighting the complex social dimensions of the era, including interracial philanthropy and the establishment of Historically Black Colleges. Ultimately, the source provides a comprehensive overview of how these theological and cultural battles permanently reconfigured the DNA of global Christianity in the face of a modernizing world.This podcast was created with the assistance of AI tools.