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A study of the society and culture of early nineteenth-century British evangelicalism, challenging the stereotype that evangelicals were anti-intellectual.
Nineteenth-century evangelicals have often been dismissed as antiintellectual and philistine. This book draws on periodicals, memoirs and letters to discover how far this was true of British evangelicals between 1790 and 1833. It examines their leisure pursuits along with their enjoyment of art, music, literature, and study, and concludes that they shared the thought and taste of their contemporaries to a far greater extent than is always acknowledged. What is more, their theology encouraged such activities. Evangelicals regarded recreations which engaged the mind, or which could be pursued within the safety of the home, as more concordant with spirituality than 'sensual' or 'worldly' pleasures. Nevertheless, their faith did militate against culture and learning. Some evangelicals dismissed all nonreligious pursuits as 'vanity', since their deep rooted otherworldliness made them suspicious of anything which did not contribute to eternal well-being. A new generation adopted a more rigid attitude to the Bible, which made them unwilling to examine new ideas. In the last resort, even the most cultured evangelicals were unable to reconcile their delight in the arts with their world-denying theology.
Nineteenth-century evangelicals have often been dismissed as antiintellectual and philistine. This book draws on periodicals, memoirs and letters to discover how far this was true of British evangelicals between 1790 and 1833. It examines their leisure pursuits along with their enjoyment of art, music, literature, and study, and concludes that they shared the thought and taste of their contemporaries to a far greater extent than is always acknowledged. What is more, their theology encouraged such activities. Evangelicals regarded recreations which engaged the mind, or which could be pursued within the safety of the home, as more concordant with spirituality than 'sensual' or 'worldly' pleasures. Nevertheless, their faith did militate against culture and learning. Some evangelicals dismissed all nonreligious pursuits as 'vanity', since their deep rooted otherworldliness made them suspicious of anything which did not contribute to eternal well-being. A new generation adopted a more rigid attitude to the Bible, which made them unwilling to examine new ideas. In the last resort, even the most cultured evangelicals were unable to reconcile their delight in the arts with their world-denying theology.
Price: $29.99
Pages: 198
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Inc.
Imprint: James Clarke
Publication Date:
26 July 2012
Trim Size: 9.02 X 5.98 in
ISBN: 9780227680346
Format: Paperback
''This book's essence is to challenge the allegation of philistinism against nineteenth century evangelicals, focussing particularly on the years 1790-1830. ... it was interesting to discover the attitudes that they adopt towards their contemporary culture, and the distinctive contributions that some of them made.
— Peter Murcott in: English Churchmann, 21.-28. September 2012
Although in the intervening decades scholars have worked and published in different fields, this still offers an overview which is otherwise hard to find, and for anyone wanting a handle on how culture and religion related in the years before Victoria this is indispensable reading.
— Peter S. Forsaith
... [Evangelicals and Culture] is to be commended on two grounds: as an excellent introduction to an important aspect of a movement in the life of the churches at a critical moment; and, at the same time, pointing up some of the surprising echoes to be found with our contemporary debates which can be given a fresh perspective in the light of history...
— Paul Ballard
...Whilst the bibliography has been updated and there are stylistic adjustments, the content and argument of the second edition are unchanged from the original and thus continue to provide an invaluable insight into the Evangelical mind. It is to be hoped that this new edition of Roman's work will reach the wider public that its wisdom has always deserved...
— John Briggs
— Peter Murcott in: English Churchmann, 21.-28. September 2012
Although in the intervening decades scholars have worked and published in different fields, this still offers an overview which is otherwise hard to find, and for anyone wanting a handle on how culture and religion related in the years before Victoria this is indispensable reading.
— Peter S. Forsaith
... [Evangelicals and Culture] is to be commended on two grounds: as an excellent introduction to an important aspect of a movement in the life of the churches at a critical moment; and, at the same time, pointing up some of the surprising echoes to be found with our contemporary debates which can be given a fresh perspective in the light of history...
— Paul Ballard
...Whilst the bibliography has been updated and there are stylistic adjustments, the content and argument of the second edition are unchanged from the original and thus continue to provide an invaluable insight into the Evangelical mind. It is to be hoped that this new edition of Roman's work will reach the wider public that its wisdom has always deserved...
— John Briggs
Foreword by David Bebbington
Acknowledgements
Prologue 1
1. The Story of Evangelicalism 1790-1833
2. The Theology of Evangelicalism
3. Faith and Fashion
4. Faith and Family Life
5. Faith and Fun
6. Faith and Harmony
7. Faith and the Fine Arts
8. Faith and Fancy
9. Faith and Thought
Epilogue
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgements
Prologue 1
1. The Story of Evangelicalism 1790-1833
2. The Theology of Evangelicalism
3. Faith and Fashion
4. Faith and Family Life
5. Faith and Fun
6. Faith and Harmony
7. Faith and the Fine Arts
8. Faith and Fancy
9. Faith and Thought
Epilogue
Bibliography
Index