What do you think?
Rate this book
A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada
Broad in scope yet written from a well-defined perspective, this book provides a superb narrative survey of Christian churches, institutions, and interactions with culture in the United States and Canada from the colonial period to the present.
One of the foremost authorities on the history of Christianity in North America, Mark Noll has intentionally made this history a comprehensive, balanced one-volume the book covers the great variety of Christian experience throughout all of North American history, sensitively encompassing the story of many contrasting groups and regions--elite and common people, whites and blacks, Catholics and Protestants, men and women, North and South. Adding a personal dimension to the narrative, numerous biographical profiles further enrich Noll's multifaceted exploration of major movements and events.
One of the foremost authorities on the history of Christianity in North America, Mark Noll has intentionally made this history a comprehensive, balanced one-volume the book covers the great variety of Christian experience throughout all of North American history, sensitively encompassing the story of many contrasting groups and regions--elite and common people, whites and blacks, Catholics and Protestants, men and women, North and South. Adding a personal dimension to the narrative, numerous biographical profiles further enrich Noll's multifaceted exploration of major movements and events.
592 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
88 people are currently reading
707 people want to read
About the author
Mark A. Noll
124 books215 followersMark A. Noll (born 1946), Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame, is a progressive evangelical Christian scholar. In 2005, Noll was named by Time Magazine as one of the twenty-five most influential evangelicals in America. Noll is a prolific author and many of his books have earned considerable acclaim within the academic community.
The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind
, a book about the anti-intellectual tendencies within the American evangelical movement, was featured in a cover story in the popular American literary and cultural magazine, Atlantic Monthly. He was awarded a National Humanities Medal in the Oval Office by President George W. Bush in 2006.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 1, 2015
The coverage in this book of North American Christianity in the U.S. and Canada is outstanding. One comes out with a much deeper awareness of it’s expansion and diversity.
Religion in the United States, right from the onset of the first landing of the Puritans in the mid-1600's, began to spread. Remarkably religion kept changing by groups splintering, and the original root source was constantly in flux. One reason for this was the abundant geographical space available for expansion and the constant arrival of new-comers – often bringing their religious strains. Protestant groups were never static. They also established several religious institutions of learning which today we know as Harvard, Princeton...
With the American Revolution in 1776 no religion was directly associated with government – theoretically. Regionally this was not the case. Different off-shoots began to dominate in various areas. In new territory and adjoining areas there was competition. It was freedom of religion in that sense. What is also noteworthy is how frequently people changed their religious affiliation. The United States has always been a marketplace of religions.
Page 163 (my book) 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville
In America [the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom] were intimately united and they reigned in common over the country.
Also there were cycles of what the author terms “Great Awakenings” – of charismatic preachers and sermons. They embraced a revivalism – a messianic vision of conversion. What some might call being “born again”, was always in vogue. Many preachers would travel the length and breathe of what then constituted the U.S., speaking to large audiences – and captivating many.
The author also discusses the differences and similarities between Canada and the U.S. Religion was important in Canada but was not as unifying as in the U.S. where Protestantism and the Bible was the key. At the time of confederation in 1867 Roman Catholicism was basically a state sponsored religion in the province of Quebec. Protestantism was in the rest of Canada – the Atlantic Provinces and Ontario. But Roman Catholicism was also “protected” throughout Canada. In Ontario to this day there are Roman Catholic schools that are government funded (by the provincial government).
Page 248
Canadian self-government resulted from pragmatic calculations, it did not engender fierce antagonisms, and it did not provide the stuff of legends. “Peace, order, and good government” was the slogan used to sell confederation. This phrase, as many Canadian historians have pointed out, is almost entirely lacking in the appeal to idealism implied by the “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” clause in the American Declaration of Independence.
Page 250
The persistent fact of French-English multiculturalism, the embrace of Loyalism, the desire for evolutionary as opposed to revolutionary change, the respect for traditions, the knowledge that theirs was a small population in a vast land, a persistent awareness (and wariness) of the United States – these were all aspects of nineteenth-century Canadian history that influenced religion as much as it influenced politics.
American politics is imbued with a religious messianism. Speeches from Abraham Lincoln to Barack Obama have a revivalist tone. There are constant Biblical references to their nation and people as being “chosen”. All want to save their country and since the end of World War I – the entire globe. American politicians often invoke Biblical passages, whereas in Canada this is very rare.
Page 261
Because of the divided Christian allegiances of Canadians, they were much less tempted than Protestant Americans to conceive of their nation as standing uniquely in covenant with God. Such notions can stimulate good, but they also lead to a great deal of moral posturing and simple hypocrisy that Canadians have mostly been able to avoid.
But there are other reasons as well. Canada is a bigger country than the U.S. but with a much smaller population, making it less prone to grandiosity. Also Canadians have forever been struggling with internal issues – use to be Protestant- Catholic, perennially French-English language disputes, provincial versus federal jurisdictions, and for the last 50 years the meaning and challenge of multiculturalism.
As the U.S. developed and matured, serious fissures became apparent with its’ Protestant-Biblical view. One was centred on slavery. The Bible was used to justify slavery – and then the racism of the Jim Crow era. The same Bible was used in the North by anti-slavery abolition groups. The same Bible was used by African American slaves and “free” African Americans in their quest for full equality.
Page 322 Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address of March 1865
Both [North and South] read the same Bible, and pray to the same God and each invokes His aid against the other...The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither have been answered fully.
This led to a permanent schism in U.S. religion. It was further accentuated by the rise of secularism - of urbanism and of science (Darwinism). Schools and universities (like the above mentioned Harvard and Princeton) became more secular. Religion started to divide into two disparate groupings (and they themselves had sub-genres or styles). There were the evangelical conservatives that emphasized an individualistic and personal redemption interpreting the Bible literally. And somewhat in contradiction to this are liberal theologists and denominations that emphasize a less rigorous interpretation of the Bible.
The more conservative groups have many local brands scattered throughout both the U.S. and Canada. They have become much more popular and powerful since the publication of this book in 1992. There is one striking statistic (and in my opinion very concerning) in this book which is that 50% of Americans believe the Bible is God’s literal word. Probably that is still the same today.
Canada, by contrast, has become more secular. The province of Quebec now has the lowest church attendance of any province. This statistic of attendance was, I felt, not emphasized enough by the author. There is a distinct difference between statistics for church affiliation and actual church attendance (i.e. one may say that he is of such-and-such a denomination, but I find it carries little significance if this person is not an active church participant).
Another factor that has affected the Protestant-Biblical view in the U.S. is immigration. Catholics are now the largest group in the U.S. – due to Irish, Italian, and Hispanic immigration. Protestants are still the majority in total – but none of their denominations (as in Baptists, Methodists, Mormons...) outnumber Catholics.
The author does not discuss fringe or isolationist groups (like Jim Jones). He also avoids, for the most part, the entire sexual liberation (whether it be birth control, sexual openness and expressiveness, gay marriage...) that took place in the 20th Century. I do feel that this has contributed to much religious fallout – Christianity equates sex with sin.
But overall this book gives us an encompassing history of Christianity in the U.S. and Canada. It is dynamic and constantly mutating. I came out with a deeper understanding of who we are.
Sorry for this very extended review!
Religion in the United States, right from the onset of the first landing of the Puritans in the mid-1600's, began to spread. Remarkably religion kept changing by groups splintering, and the original root source was constantly in flux. One reason for this was the abundant geographical space available for expansion and the constant arrival of new-comers – often bringing their religious strains. Protestant groups were never static. They also established several religious institutions of learning which today we know as Harvard, Princeton...
With the American Revolution in 1776 no religion was directly associated with government – theoretically. Regionally this was not the case. Different off-shoots began to dominate in various areas. In new territory and adjoining areas there was competition. It was freedom of religion in that sense. What is also noteworthy is how frequently people changed their religious affiliation. The United States has always been a marketplace of religions.
Page 163 (my book) 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville
In America [the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom] were intimately united and they reigned in common over the country.
Also there were cycles of what the author terms “Great Awakenings” – of charismatic preachers and sermons. They embraced a revivalism – a messianic vision of conversion. What some might call being “born again”, was always in vogue. Many preachers would travel the length and breathe of what then constituted the U.S., speaking to large audiences – and captivating many.
The author also discusses the differences and similarities between Canada and the U.S. Religion was important in Canada but was not as unifying as in the U.S. where Protestantism and the Bible was the key. At the time of confederation in 1867 Roman Catholicism was basically a state sponsored religion in the province of Quebec. Protestantism was in the rest of Canada – the Atlantic Provinces and Ontario. But Roman Catholicism was also “protected” throughout Canada. In Ontario to this day there are Roman Catholic schools that are government funded (by the provincial government).
Page 248
Canadian self-government resulted from pragmatic calculations, it did not engender fierce antagonisms, and it did not provide the stuff of legends. “Peace, order, and good government” was the slogan used to sell confederation. This phrase, as many Canadian historians have pointed out, is almost entirely lacking in the appeal to idealism implied by the “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” clause in the American Declaration of Independence.
Page 250
The persistent fact of French-English multiculturalism, the embrace of Loyalism, the desire for evolutionary as opposed to revolutionary change, the respect for traditions, the knowledge that theirs was a small population in a vast land, a persistent awareness (and wariness) of the United States – these were all aspects of nineteenth-century Canadian history that influenced religion as much as it influenced politics.
American politics is imbued with a religious messianism. Speeches from Abraham Lincoln to Barack Obama have a revivalist tone. There are constant Biblical references to their nation and people as being “chosen”. All want to save their country and since the end of World War I – the entire globe. American politicians often invoke Biblical passages, whereas in Canada this is very rare.
Page 261
Because of the divided Christian allegiances of Canadians, they were much less tempted than Protestant Americans to conceive of their nation as standing uniquely in covenant with God. Such notions can stimulate good, but they also lead to a great deal of moral posturing and simple hypocrisy that Canadians have mostly been able to avoid.
But there are other reasons as well. Canada is a bigger country than the U.S. but with a much smaller population, making it less prone to grandiosity. Also Canadians have forever been struggling with internal issues – use to be Protestant- Catholic, perennially French-English language disputes, provincial versus federal jurisdictions, and for the last 50 years the meaning and challenge of multiculturalism.
As the U.S. developed and matured, serious fissures became apparent with its’ Protestant-Biblical view. One was centred on slavery. The Bible was used to justify slavery – and then the racism of the Jim Crow era. The same Bible was used in the North by anti-slavery abolition groups. The same Bible was used by African American slaves and “free” African Americans in their quest for full equality.
Page 322 Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address of March 1865
Both [North and South] read the same Bible, and pray to the same God and each invokes His aid against the other...The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither have been answered fully.
This led to a permanent schism in U.S. religion. It was further accentuated by the rise of secularism - of urbanism and of science (Darwinism). Schools and universities (like the above mentioned Harvard and Princeton) became more secular. Religion started to divide into two disparate groupings (and they themselves had sub-genres or styles). There were the evangelical conservatives that emphasized an individualistic and personal redemption interpreting the Bible literally. And somewhat in contradiction to this are liberal theologists and denominations that emphasize a less rigorous interpretation of the Bible.
The more conservative groups have many local brands scattered throughout both the U.S. and Canada. They have become much more popular and powerful since the publication of this book in 1992. There is one striking statistic (and in my opinion very concerning) in this book which is that 50% of Americans believe the Bible is God’s literal word. Probably that is still the same today.
Canada, by contrast, has become more secular. The province of Quebec now has the lowest church attendance of any province. This statistic of attendance was, I felt, not emphasized enough by the author. There is a distinct difference between statistics for church affiliation and actual church attendance (i.e. one may say that he is of such-and-such a denomination, but I find it carries little significance if this person is not an active church participant).
Another factor that has affected the Protestant-Biblical view in the U.S. is immigration. Catholics are now the largest group in the U.S. – due to Irish, Italian, and Hispanic immigration. Protestants are still the majority in total – but none of their denominations (as in Baptists, Methodists, Mormons...) outnumber Catholics.
The author does not discuss fringe or isolationist groups (like Jim Jones). He also avoids, for the most part, the entire sexual liberation (whether it be birth control, sexual openness and expressiveness, gay marriage...) that took place in the 20th Century. I do feel that this has contributed to much religious fallout – Christianity equates sex with sin.
But overall this book gives us an encompassing history of Christianity in the U.S. and Canada. It is dynamic and constantly mutating. I came out with a deeper understanding of who we are.
Sorry for this very extended review!
November 18, 2019
When first published in 1992, Mark A. Noll’s A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada quickly established itself as one of the best, if not the best, treatments of the subject. The second edition of that book revises, updates, and adds to the original text. Its length (592 pages) and price ($55.00) will limit its readership to scholars and students in undergraduate and graduate institutions, who are likely its intended demographic. As a Christian minister in the U.S., however, I heartily recommend it to my North American colleagues who are past their school years because it will enrich their understanding of the development of our faith in these lands.
Noll divides his treatment of the subject into five parts:
1. Beginnings (17th century)
2. Americanization (18th-century)
3. The “Protestant Century” (19th century)
4. Tumultuous Times (20th-21st centuries)
5. Reflections
As can be seen from these divisions, the book tells the story—or perhaps, stories—of Christianity in the U.S. and Canada chronologically, though he sometimes jumps ahead of the chronology in order to show organic connections across the centuries.
The book begins with a nine-page analytical Table of Contents that outlines the topics in each chapter, as well as a Preface that briefly describes the revisions, updates, and additions to the 1992 edition. The chapters do not contain notes, but each one concludes with an up-to-date list of Further Readings for those interested in pursuing the topic in greater detail. The book ends with a Bibliography of General Works and an Index.
As a layman to the academic discipline of history, I won’t pretend to offer an academic review of this text. Instead, let me identify several aspects of the book that stood out to me as particularly helpful:
First, as Noll himself notes in the Introduction, “The ‘plot’ of this text centers on the rise and decline of Protestant dominance in the United States. Along the way, full consideration is paid to Canadian contrasts, both Catholic and Protestant.” In large part, this is the story of “evangelical America,” which grew in the 18th century, dominated the 19th, and fractured in the 20th. If you’re looking for a historical explanation of why so many U.S. evangelicals believe that America is a “Christian nation” or feel that their worldview should shape American culture, Noll provides one of the best.
Second, my favorite chapter of the book, if that’s allowable in a personal review of an academic work, is chapter 11, “The American Civil War.” Noll divides the chapter into two sections: “The Civil War as a Religious War” and “The Civil War as Turning Point.” The war both reflected the “Protestant Century,” as each side was intensely religious, and began the unraveling of “evangelical America,” because though each side “read the same Bible” and “prayed to the same God,” as Lincoln put it, their common faith could not resolve their deepest differences. The title of an earlier book by Noll states the matter well: The Civil War as a Theological Crisis.
Third, the comparison to the development of Christianity in Canada, whether in its French Catholic or Anglo Protestant varieties, was informative and humbling. To be honest, I didn’t know much about Canadian history generally, and Noll’s book helped begin to fill that deficiency. In the concluding chapter, Noll writes, apropos of the running comparison of American and Canadian forms of Christianity: “despite a national history without the ideology of special divine blessing, Canada has enjoyed an even better objective argument for having enjoyed the history of a ‘Christian nation’ than does the United States.” That’s a bitter pill to swallow, but a medicine we American Christians might want to consider taking, if only to alleviate our symptoms of nationalist pride.
Fourth, and finally, Noll raises the question of where Christians should find meaning in their histories of faith in the U.S. and Canada. He writes: “the history of Christianity in North America, as opposed to the history of North American Christianity, might not be so much about the gain or loss of culture influence as about ‘signs of contradiction,’ moments when the faith offered something unexpected to a person, a problem, a situation, or a region” (emphasis in original). He offers numerous examples of these contradictory signs, but concludes with this one: “They are illustrated supremely by the black acceptance of Christianity, offered as it was with a whip.” There’s much to unpack in these two brief quotes, but for those concerned with the practice of authentic Christianity, they need to be unpacked, for they demonstrate the “theology of the Cross” impinging on how we understand and write our history.
A final personal note: I had the privilege of taking two classes from Prof. Noll when he taught at Wheaton College, from which I graduated in 1991. He wouldn’t remember me—I studied philosophy, not history—but I remember him and his excellence as a teacher. I’ve read the majority of books he’s published, and I can honestly recommend each one.
Book Reviewed
Mark A. Noll, A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2019).
P.S. if you liked my review, please click "Helpful" on my Amazon review page.
Noll divides his treatment of the subject into five parts:
1. Beginnings (17th century)
2. Americanization (18th-century)
3. The “Protestant Century” (19th century)
4. Tumultuous Times (20th-21st centuries)
5. Reflections
As can be seen from these divisions, the book tells the story—or perhaps, stories—of Christianity in the U.S. and Canada chronologically, though he sometimes jumps ahead of the chronology in order to show organic connections across the centuries.
The book begins with a nine-page analytical Table of Contents that outlines the topics in each chapter, as well as a Preface that briefly describes the revisions, updates, and additions to the 1992 edition. The chapters do not contain notes, but each one concludes with an up-to-date list of Further Readings for those interested in pursuing the topic in greater detail. The book ends with a Bibliography of General Works and an Index.
As a layman to the academic discipline of history, I won’t pretend to offer an academic review of this text. Instead, let me identify several aspects of the book that stood out to me as particularly helpful:
First, as Noll himself notes in the Introduction, “The ‘plot’ of this text centers on the rise and decline of Protestant dominance in the United States. Along the way, full consideration is paid to Canadian contrasts, both Catholic and Protestant.” In large part, this is the story of “evangelical America,” which grew in the 18th century, dominated the 19th, and fractured in the 20th. If you’re looking for a historical explanation of why so many U.S. evangelicals believe that America is a “Christian nation” or feel that their worldview should shape American culture, Noll provides one of the best.
Second, my favorite chapter of the book, if that’s allowable in a personal review of an academic work, is chapter 11, “The American Civil War.” Noll divides the chapter into two sections: “The Civil War as a Religious War” and “The Civil War as Turning Point.” The war both reflected the “Protestant Century,” as each side was intensely religious, and began the unraveling of “evangelical America,” because though each side “read the same Bible” and “prayed to the same God,” as Lincoln put it, their common faith could not resolve their deepest differences. The title of an earlier book by Noll states the matter well: The Civil War as a Theological Crisis.
Third, the comparison to the development of Christianity in Canada, whether in its French Catholic or Anglo Protestant varieties, was informative and humbling. To be honest, I didn’t know much about Canadian history generally, and Noll’s book helped begin to fill that deficiency. In the concluding chapter, Noll writes, apropos of the running comparison of American and Canadian forms of Christianity: “despite a national history without the ideology of special divine blessing, Canada has enjoyed an even better objective argument for having enjoyed the history of a ‘Christian nation’ than does the United States.” That’s a bitter pill to swallow, but a medicine we American Christians might want to consider taking, if only to alleviate our symptoms of nationalist pride.
Fourth, and finally, Noll raises the question of where Christians should find meaning in their histories of faith in the U.S. and Canada. He writes: “the history of Christianity in North America, as opposed to the history of North American Christianity, might not be so much about the gain or loss of culture influence as about ‘signs of contradiction,’ moments when the faith offered something unexpected to a person, a problem, a situation, or a region” (emphasis in original). He offers numerous examples of these contradictory signs, but concludes with this one: “They are illustrated supremely by the black acceptance of Christianity, offered as it was with a whip.” There’s much to unpack in these two brief quotes, but for those concerned with the practice of authentic Christianity, they need to be unpacked, for they demonstrate the “theology of the Cross” impinging on how we understand and write our history.
A final personal note: I had the privilege of taking two classes from Prof. Noll when he taught at Wheaton College, from which I graduated in 1991. He wouldn’t remember me—I studied philosophy, not history—but I remember him and his excellence as a teacher. I’ve read the majority of books he’s published, and I can honestly recommend each one.
Book Reviewed
Mark A. Noll, A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2019).
P.S. if you liked my review, please click "Helpful" on my Amazon review page.
September 18, 2011
I was first surprised at how large a volume it was, but after a few pages, it was hard to put down. Very well written, and it appears to be very thorough. as a interested party to both American history, and Christianity, it has proven to be satisfying on both fronts. It is a big book, and although a textbook, it reads more like a good story. each chapter has a tone to itself, and begins with a hymn or song, of the period to set the tone. The feeling after reading a while is much like the satisfying-but-wanting more feeling after visiting a good museum.
You will find facts about our history that you likely have never seen before unless you have focused on that particular event or person. I would that every church would have a copy in their library, and it could be especially useful to high school seniors heading off to college. it is readable by that age group (assuming decent education), and contains valuable information that will be necessary to combat revisionist history that occurs in many schools.
You will find facts about our history that you likely have never seen before unless you have focused on that particular event or person. I would that every church would have a copy in their library, and it could be especially useful to high school seniors heading off to college. it is readable by that age group (assuming decent education), and contains valuable information that will be necessary to combat revisionist history that occurs in many schools.
Read
January 15, 2024A very informative overview. The book's most commendable virtue is its thoroughness — the way it comes at the subject matter from a variety of angles — and its fair-mindedness. Less happily, I have to agree with the reviewer who observed that this is a textbook, and definitely reads like one: the presentation of the subject matter, with some exceptions, is not particularly lively or engaging. (Books meant for classroom use surely don't need to be written this way.)
December 20, 2019
Good book. Well-written, but also a textbook, and it feels like it. I read this not long after reading the 5-volume History of Evangelicalism series, to which Mark Noll was also a contributor. That series was definitely superior in its literary style, but it wasn't textbooks, and it had a narrower scope. As a followup to that series, broadening the reader's view (theologically, though narrowing the geographic scope), this was perfect.
Because this book stepped outside the US and Evangelicalism, I found it less relatable. But that was also a benefit to reading it. The Canadian and non-Evangelical Christian experience is not something I am so familiar with, and it was good to broaden my reading this way.
The scope of the book is vast, and as a result, much of the text can only give a very brief introduction--sometimes only a passing mention--of things that surely merit much more of my time, and I hope to track some of those down in time. I'm thankful to Noll for the introduction.
Because this book stepped outside the US and Evangelicalism, I found it less relatable. But that was also a benefit to reading it. The Canadian and non-Evangelical Christian experience is not something I am so familiar with, and it was good to broaden my reading this way.
The scope of the book is vast, and as a result, much of the text can only give a very brief introduction--sometimes only a passing mention--of things that surely merit much more of my time, and I hope to track some of those down in time. I'm thankful to Noll for the introduction.
January 16, 2021
A very impressive, objective but sensitive survey of explores what was new about Christianity in the New World. It portrays the dramatic contrasts between official colonial churches and various refugee sects, with their different visions of how they might relate to each other. Where the first colonies, provinces or states usually had official state churches, Noll documents the issues of church relations on the borders or frontiers between these domains. Into these zones, dissidents of all stripes fled from state-backed religion. And in areas where no religious group had a majority, Noll records how people learned to meet their community needs and get along: "The result was a degree of interdenominational tolerance probably unknown anywhere else in the world at that time" (p. 89). Noll's statement may overlook the religious diversity of India or China, but for the Christian world it applied.
Of course Noll's book holds far more, and is of interest to people of every denomination in Canada and the USA. I was just most impressed by the explanation of how religion in North America escaped state control.
Of course Noll's book holds far more, and is of interest to people of every denomination in Canada and the USA. I was just most impressed by the explanation of how religion in North America escaped state control.
July 9, 2018
This is our best evangelical survey of church history. We use it as our text at CCU. The only frustating part is that it has to fly over so many things that you wished were more fully developed. But it is supposed to be an introductory survey so its probably wrong to wish for more.
July 28, 2011
I found the book to be fantastic and well worth the money and the time it took to get through. It is about 50 bucks and has about 550 pages so beware.
January 23, 2023
An incredibly thorough (and long) survey of Christianity in North America. Took me almost two months to work through this beast.
December 21, 2024
It is exactly what it says it is.
December 20, 2025
‘tis good. Would recommend 👍
May 12, 2021
The author has done a great job of writing a very detailed account of the history of Christianity in North America in a single volume. The people and events he shares brings the reader into a better understanding of the roots of Christianity in the U.S.A. and Canada. As a history buff I found the book intriguing. As a student of history I found the book to be a worthwhile resource. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of Christianity.
May 12, 2018
If you have an interest in the history of Christianity in the United States and Canada then this book is an excellent overview. It covers predominantly the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and the various Christian movements and controversies. One criticism is the book tends to repeat things without adding much to the narrative.
October 12, 2018
This was a good book but not quite a five star book. Noll covers the history of religion in the United States. And Canada beginning with Sixteenth century and moving rather rapidly across the centuries to arrive in the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries cover major events like the Great Awakening, the American Revolution and how it affected religion in the colonies, the American Civil War and Slavery in the South. The rise of the black African American churches and their affect on American Christianity is covered in quite some detail. There are many comparisons throughout the book between American and Canadian Christianity.
The only thing that I really didn’t enjoy about this book at all was a short treatise toward the end of chapter 19 where Noll is enumerating some of the personalities of American Christianity in the Twentieth century and he goes into some of the leaders in Theology and what they focused on, esspecially the Reinhold and H. Robert Niebuhr. I found this section of the book to be so completely yawn-worthy that I had to take a whole star off of the book. Even though the section on Theology was only about 20-25% of the chapter, it took me as long or longer to get through that section as it did the rest of the chapter.
Still, even with this one drawback, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would recommed it to anyone with an interest in the subject of religious history. If I come across any of Mark Noll’s other books I will most likely read them.
The only thing that I really didn’t enjoy about this book at all was a short treatise toward the end of chapter 19 where Noll is enumerating some of the personalities of American Christianity in the Twentieth century and he goes into some of the leaders in Theology and what they focused on, esspecially the Reinhold and H. Robert Niebuhr. I found this section of the book to be so completely yawn-worthy that I had to take a whole star off of the book. Even though the section on Theology was only about 20-25% of the chapter, it took me as long or longer to get through that section as it did the rest of the chapter.
Still, even with this one drawback, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would recommed it to anyone with an interest in the subject of religious history. If I come across any of Mark Noll’s other books I will most likely read them.
February 20, 2021
This was my first book about the history of Christianity in America, and I found it be incredibly helpful.
Noll does an excellent job providing a general lay of the land without just reducing everything to names and dates. Yes, it’s a long book, but short divisions help the “story” move along at a steady pace.
Something I really gained from this work was a better understanding of the background of major denominations. I usually see denominations from a strictly doctrinal or organizational perspective (“this is what they believe, this is how they’re governed”), but seeing the rise (and fall) of certain denominations in the context of history reminds me that every denomination emerges in a specific time and place, and it’s essentially to view every form of Christian practice as emerging in a specific context.
Noll does an excellent job providing a general lay of the land without just reducing everything to names and dates. Yes, it’s a long book, but short divisions help the “story” move along at a steady pace.
Something I really gained from this work was a better understanding of the background of major denominations. I usually see denominations from a strictly doctrinal or organizational perspective (“this is what they believe, this is how they’re governed”), but seeing the rise (and fall) of certain denominations in the context of history reminds me that every denomination emerges in a specific time and place, and it’s essentially to view every form of Christian practice as emerging in a specific context.
December 21, 2018
In this work, Noll provides an overview of Christianity in America and Canada, beginning with the settlement of the continent and ending in the late 1980s. While forced to paint with sweeping strokes, this book introduces the key movements and players in the development of the church in America. Noll also deals, at some length, with the social and political events that influenced the development of religious doctrine and practice. Noll helpfully contrasts the church in America with the church in Canada, pointing to areas where the church’s development was both similar and dissimilar. Overall, this book was informative and helpful, and provides a solid, detailed glimpse into the development of Christianity in the United States and Canada.
September 21, 2017
Overall takeaway:
The Puritan idea, that conversion comes from within and that all of society can be converted too, is at the core of what makes America unique, and remains a defining characteristic of Americans, even for those who consider themselves opposed to Christianity.
The Civil War, which both sides fought earnestly in what they considered defense of their religious principles, proves that American religion brings a passion to change society, even when people disagree vehemently on what the Christian idea is.
The Puritan idea, that conversion comes from within and that all of society can be converted too, is at the core of what makes America unique, and remains a defining characteristic of Americans, even for those who consider themselves opposed to Christianity.
The Civil War, which both sides fought earnestly in what they considered defense of their religious principles, proves that American religion brings a passion to change society, even when people disagree vehemently on what the Christian idea is.
December 12, 2022
Loved this book. Even for a "textbook" it is still accessible. I appreciated the inclusion of Canada, especially as a means for comparison. I also liked this more than Kidd's survey of America's religious history only because one gets more detail. (Yet, I want to say that I do like Kidd's survey too). As an APUS history teacher I also appreciated how the author stressed the thinking skill of complexity, which is important for people to understand.
July 17, 2021
A broad study of its subject that enlightens a little those of us who do not know the history of those two nations at a more secular level. That knowledge is assumed. Understanding of this work needs to be supplemented by wider reading of North American history. Nonetheless, it is worthwhile as it stands and makes many telling observations and assessments.
December 5, 2017
Mark Noll is always great for church history. I enjoyed Turning Points, and I thoroughly enjoyed this longer work! Can't wait for class to start with Dr. Van Dixhoorn!
May 4, 2023
very well written honestly! only will look at the glossary though moving forward.
July 19, 2023
I enjoyed this text and use it regularly in the classroom.
October 2, 2023
pretty much just a narrative. kinda glazed over the wrongs of american preachers tho :/ - HIST 3643
January 22, 2026
Very informative.
August 21, 2022
Null is an excellent writer and catalogues so much of Canada and the US with the events that shape both my nation (Canada) and the nation to the south. As he is not Canadian, the effort he puts in to show Canadian developments is a true labour of love.
Read
May 2, 2022A very good summary of the history of Christianity in North America from the 16th century to the mid 20th century. I found the book particularly useful in explaining developments within protestantism: the effects of the American revolution, the great awakenings, the issue of slavery, the social gospel, and the emergence of fundamentalist/liberal branches within Evengelicalism. The influence of the Catholic church in the US and Canada, and particularly in Quebec, is also discussed at length.
Comparisons between the US and Canadian versions of Chriistianity were particularly interesting. Canadian Christinianity was heavily influenced by American developments, but tended to chart a middle way between American and Old World Christian traditions.
Canada was more christianized than the US in the 19th century, but secularized extremely quickly. The disestablishment of churches in the US contrasted with the official status of Anglicanism in Canada, but seems to have led to stronger and lasting influence of Christianity in the culture and over the lives of individual Americans, as well as a certain increased dynamism, experimentation, and tolerance of heterodoxy. Despite this diversity, a common trend is that the dominant religious tradition in the USA has been reformist and Puritan-Evengelical. In additional contrast, the main cleaveage in American Christianity was between White/Black churches and denominations, while in Canada it was most clearly expressed between English and French cultures (and in the Protestant-Catholic tensions).
Overall: clear, well-researched, provides relevant reading suggestions, and left me with a good understanding of the development of Christianity in North America and its various conflicts, permutations, and evolutions.
Comparisons between the US and Canadian versions of Chriistianity were particularly interesting. Canadian Christinianity was heavily influenced by American developments, but tended to chart a middle way between American and Old World Christian traditions.
Canada was more christianized than the US in the 19th century, but secularized extremely quickly. The disestablishment of churches in the US contrasted with the official status of Anglicanism in Canada, but seems to have led to stronger and lasting influence of Christianity in the culture and over the lives of individual Americans, as well as a certain increased dynamism, experimentation, and tolerance of heterodoxy. Despite this diversity, a common trend is that the dominant religious tradition in the USA has been reformist and Puritan-Evengelical. In additional contrast, the main cleaveage in American Christianity was between White/Black churches and denominations, while in Canada it was most clearly expressed between English and French cultures (and in the Protestant-Catholic tensions).
Overall: clear, well-researched, provides relevant reading suggestions, and left me with a good understanding of the development of Christianity in North America and its various conflicts, permutations, and evolutions.
May 9, 2013
Knoll's task is a difficult one, by any measure--a sweeping overview of Christianity in North America from the time of earliest European settlements. I thought the first three-quarters of the book superior, particularly the sections on the Great Awakenings. As he himself admits towards the end of the book, his treatment of Christianity after the first quarter of the twentieth century is brief (and does, indeed, appear somewhat more rushed than previous sections of the book). All in all, this is an approachable scholarly work which belongs in the library of anyone who wishes to more fully understand the trajectory of Christianity in America, and Canada and its shaping of our society.
May 19, 2014
This is a good and comprehensive exploration of the themes and personalities that have driven Christianity in North America. It is however overly detailed in some sections, giving it a sprawling length (which I understand has been corrected in the author's more recent book on the same topic). At over twenty years old, it is now also best for its understanding of the history until the 1960s, as (as Noll points out on more than one occasion) not enough time had passed to fully understand the implications of the more recent events.
August 7, 2008
thorough, a bit tedious at times. He is careful to cover more than white American men: much text is given to women, people of color, as well as Canadian and Mexican events and people. More of a text book than a casual read.
August 19, 2015
This book took me years to read but was well worth it in the end. Christianity is deeply woven into American history. The only detractor with this book is it hasn't been updated to add the past two decades since it was published.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews