PREVIEW: American Evangelicals - A History Podcast

This week on The UpWords Podcast, we're bringing you something a little different — and we think you're going to love it.We're sharing the first episode of a brand-new podcast series from the Lumen Center and SLBF STUDIO: American Evangelicals, A History Podcast. Hosted by historians John Fea, Dan Hummel, and Maggie Capra, this series takes a thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about religious movements in American history.In this opening episode, they start with a deceptively simple question: What is an American evangelical? Beginning with the extraordinary story of Nathan Cole, an ordinary Connecticut farmer who rode twelve miles on horseback in 1740 to hear George Whitefield preach, the historians trace the origins of what would become a world-shaping religious movement.LEARN more about the series - https://slbf.org/americanevangelicalspodcastAlong the way, they discuss:The Bebbington Quadrilateral — the four markers historians use to define evangelicalism: conversionism, biblicism, crucicentrism, and activismWhy the "new birth" or born-again experience is so central to evangelical identityGeorge Whitefield's remarkable celebrity and his transatlantic influenceHow evangelicalism was, in its early form, a disruptive and progressive movement challenging established religious authorityThe complex relationship between the First Great Awakening and the American RevolutionIf you've ever felt like the word "evangelical" is confusing, contested, or a little loaded, this conversation brings real historical clarity. This is episode one of a three-part introduction to evangelicalism — with much more to come in the series.SUBSCRIBE to the podcast in your favorite podcast app - https://americanevangelicalsahistorypodcast.buzzsprout.comAnd if this episode resonates, share it with someone who wants a deeper, more nuanced understanding of American evangelical history.Send us Fan MailCONNECT WITH USSubscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave ConourEdited by Dave Conour