Turning Points in American Church His..., Elesha J. Coffman
Turning Points in American Church His..., Elesha J. Coffman
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Turning Points in American Church History
How Pivotal Events Shaped a Nation and a Faith

Author: Elesha J. Coffman, Mark A. Noll

Narrator: Nan McNamara

Unabridged: 11 hr 30 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/30/2024


Synopsis

"An excellent resource for those eager to learn more about the evolution of American Christianity." —Publishers Weekly

American history has profoundly shaped, and been shaped by, Christianity. This engaging introduction provides a brisk and lively yet deeply researched survey of these intertwined forces from the colonial period to the present.

Elesha Coffman tells the story of Christianity in the United States by focusing on thirteen key events over four centuries of history. The turning points are as varied as the movements they track, including a naval battle, a revival, a schism, a court case, an outpouring of the Spirit, an act of terrorism, the election of a bishop, and the election of a president. Coffman highlights women and men from a range of traditions and shows how, throughout these events, Christians endeavored to discern what it meant to live faithfully in the diverse and rapidly changing place that became the United States.

This book helps listeners understand their own faith and the landscape of American religion. Each chapter includes a hymn, a prayer, and excerpts from primary sources. Foreword by Mark A. Noll.

About Elesha J. Coffman

Elesha J. Coffman is associate professor of history at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She previously served as the editor of Christian History magazine and has taught at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. She spent a year as a fellow at the Center for the Study of Religion at Princeton University. Coffman is the author of The Christian Century and the Rise of the Protestant Mainline, Margaret Mead: A Twentieth-Century Faith, and numerous articles on American religious history.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Cathryn on May 02, 2024

This was a nice overview of certain “turning points” in our church history here in America. It’s definitely an emotionally provoking read and shows how the church has been led the wrong way IMO. I’m just gonna say it…heartbreaking. I find it hard to tell if there’s a bias, but this did seem level in......more

Goodreads review by Andrew on November 28, 2023

Elesha J. Coffman’s "Turning Points in American Church History, How Pivotal Events Shaped a Nation and a Faith" is a masterful exploration that sheds light on the pivotal moments shaping the American Christian faith. Coffman, Baylor’s Associate Professor of History, has followed up her well received......more

Goodreads review by Bob on November 21, 2024

Summary: Shows ways the church contributed to American history through 13 key events over four centuries. If we have taken a history course in college, we may have read a text that tried to cover every significant event and date within its scope. While comprehensive, at least in a superficial sense,......more

Goodreads review by Adam on August 15, 2024

Summary: An introduction to American Church history. Mark Noll originally released his book Turning Points in Church History in 2001. (It is now in its 14th edition.) Elesha Coffman is writing a United States-focused version with the consent (and introduction) of Mark Noll. Noll is approaching 80 and......more

Goodreads review by Jeff on February 07, 2024

Well Documented Examination Of Oft-Ignored Periods Of History As They Relate To The American Church. Coffman makes it clear in the introduction of this book that she is setting out to examine 12 events/ periods of history that had what she believes is the greatest impact on the American Church over......more