The Old Religion in a New World: The History of North American Christianity

I read Mark Noll's work while in seminary. I found it an excellant exposition of the development of Christianity within America. Since reading it myself, I have recommended it as a basic reading in adult education for understanding today's political melieu. The topic is helpful in understanding the development of religious thought that has invaded our understanding of democracy.

I read Mark Noll's first foray into this subject, his 1992 History of Christianity in the US and Canada. I thought it was good, but a little too academic and scholarly for most people. This book is a tight condensation of what appeared in that previous volume, plus a good deal more about African-American Christian history, as well as Mexican Christian history. The thesis of the book seems to be how the separation of church and state in the USA made it possible for many different kinds of Christianity (and of other sects) to flourish. We read about the influential preaching ministry of George Whitefield and thr writings of Jonathan Edwards in the 1740s and how their ministries impacted thousands of people for Christ. We learn about the indefatigable ministry work of Francis Asbury, who started Methodist study groups and congregations all through the states. We learn about Harriet Livermore, the first woman to preach the word in the US Congress. We also see how the black community drew strength and inspiration from the biblical narratives, both during and after the slavery years. We see how Catholicism has had a tremendous influence in Mexico and in Canada. We also see the formidable influence of Pentecostalism, both in the USA and in Mexico. I appreciated the afterword's mentioning of the some of the influences that impacted American Christianity: The slavery issue, the first amendment which guaranteed that the government would not pass legislation with respect to the establishment of a religion, the ministries of Edwards, Whitefield, and other revivalists, and the westward expansion. One way this excellent book could be strengthened would be the addition of material about the impact of postmodernism on biblical Christianity. Perhaps there could also be added sections on the influence of Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, and other evangelical megachurch pastors. This book is great, and it will help you to get a sense of the lay of the land as you seek to learn more about what God has done and what others have done in His name, both good and bad.

In this fascinating book, Professor Mark A. Noll of Wheaton College in Illinois traces the evolution of the various Christian denominations throughout American history. The bulk of the book is taken up with the history of the United States, examining the past very well, and present trends excellently! Following this, the author has 4 chapters that look at certain particulars: theology in America, the Church in Canada (good) and Mexico (excellent!), the fate of European traditions-Lutherans and Roman Catholics, and day-to-day spirituality and the Bible.Overall, I thought that this was a simply fantastic book! I found the author's analysis to be both fascinating and convincing. Also, I must say that I have not seen a look at recent trends that could compare. So, as you might expect from all of this gushing, I loved this book, and highly recommend it to you!