Presenting a historical overview of fundamentalism and evangelicalism in America, this volume has been developed from a number of studies undertaken by George Marsden during the 1980s in efforts to understand the recent resurgence of these two movements. It is designed for a wide range of readers, providing both an introduction to these topics and a deeper analysis of important themes. While the term "fundamentalist" has in the last century become a rather specific self-designation -- the majority of fundamentalists are separatist Baptists -- evangelicalism has experienced diverse growth and expanded into a much broader category made up of numerous subgroups: holiness churches, pentecostals, traditionalist Methodists, Baptists, Presby terians, black churches in all these traditions, Mennonites, and Churches of Christ are just some of the most prevalent types. Despite their striking diversities, these groups share con siderable common history; for example, all have to some degree become outsiders to sophisticated modern culture, and all are part of a recent evangelical resurgence. Several additional overarching themes come into focus as Marsden illuminates our current understanding of these movements by looking at the past. This book examines two such themes that have been especially prominent and controversial in these traditions: views of science and views of politics. In both cases Marsden centers his analysis on the views of self-styled evangelicals or fundamentalists who have led efforts to organize either of those related movements as national coalitions. George Marsden is professor of the history of Christianity in America at the Divinity School, Duke University. He is the author of numerous books and articles on fundamentalism and evangelicalism.
