Modern Revivalism: Charles Grandison Finney to Billy Graham

by William Gerald McLoughlin

This book is concerned with religious revivalism in the United States since 1825. It attempts to explain the part which revivalism has played, and is playing today, in the social, intellectual, and religious life of America.

560 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2004

About the author

William Gerald McLoughlin was an historian and prominent member of the history department at Brown University from 1954 to 1992. His subject areas were the history of religion in the United States, revivalism, the Cherokee, missionaries to Native Americans, abolitionism, and Rhode Island.

Reviews

[Nelson Banuchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Modern Revivalism" covers Christian evangelical revival leaders and revivals from Charles Gradison Finney (my favorite, which is why I purchased the book) to Billy Graham.

And, wow! What a surprise read this was. It was not what I expected from a book on evangelistic revival. I expected to read about the extraordinary conversions, the thousands converted, and, perhaps, some miraculous encounters, etc, all the positives on revivals and their leaders.

What I got was an extraordinary critique on Christian revival that showed not only its drawbacks and exaggerations, but also how the revival message and method was influenced by the American ideals and way of life; how Christianity was Americanized!

It also discusses how Christian revival leaders criticized liberal theology and its approach to revival in favor of a more rigid type of Christianity which, nevertheless, remained distorted by the American ideal; it was an Americanized Christianity.

McLoughlin discusses some theological controversies and arguments and the influences revival leaders and revivals have had in American society, and I would think, not all of it positive. This is a must read for all those interested in Christian, evangelical revivals. The author seems to have thoroughly resourced his information and provides, in my view, a much needed and balanced discussion on the subject. As you read it, especially from the middle of the book towards the end, you will find it to be quite amazing that the general religious atmosphere in America now, especially with Donald Trump as President, has not changed much in the last 120 years; that the same animosity between the liberals and conservatives and the same solutions to America's problems pointed out 120 years ago are pointed out today with little change except where it is modified to reflect our present conditions.

I think a reading of this book will bring Christians to a better understanding of the significant and crucial effects revival leaders and revivals have had in our American culture.

[Damaris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not my favourite book in the world. In fact, that last sentence was probably my biggest understatement of the year. Reading this book is like wading through muddy concrete while trying to appear graceful and collected. It's also like trying to pour a full pitcher of water into an already-full glass. McLoughlin is not short on information, and at times the facts, statistics and rhetoric he gives can be overwhelming.

However, I appreciated this work because McLoughlin pursued something not many people have written about, in my quick perusal of the Internet. He is also very knowledgeable in what he talks about, and furthermore, very fair in his evaluation of modern revivalists. I especially enjoyed his epilogue, and his comments on modern revivalism.

Overall, I am not sad to this book go back to our dusty bookshelf. But I do definitely appreciate it for McLoughlin's tireless research and well-worded material. I would recommend this to someone who was desperately searching for a slew of information regarding modern revivalism, but for someone more interested in church history in general, I would suggest Bruce Shelley's Church History in Plain Language.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute classic.