Religious Revival of the 1950s Essay

After Americans endured two decades of continuous depression, war and crisis through the 1930s and 40s, they sought a return to normalcy and longed to focus on the more private details of existence. Instead of national objectives, the unrestricted concentrated on family, home, and career, while becoming more and more absorbed in godliness.As the 1950s saw America in a state of national exhaustion, religion-in-general experienced a surge in popularity. more critical views were silenced or ignored as people became more accepting of a wide variety of beliefs. While the revival was unexpected and unstructured, several(prenominal) events fueled the front man.World War II left the country weary and drained. During the four seemingly-endless years of conflict, almost all churches had rallied behind the war swither. Post-war America a burst in prosperity, and with this support, churches expanded. perform attendance soared while their purpose and goals shifted. As all denominations gai ned a more powerful voice, they used it to increase their role in society. In 1950, several of the oldest Protestant denominations formed the National Council of Churches in order to improve relations with the government, encourage interchurch connections, and promote projects such as account disk translation.1 This organization also helped to do away with the harsh attitudes and antagonism aimed at Catholicism after the war. Toleration and acceptance seemed to be the key to deepened communication amongst both church and state as well and Protestants and Catholics.Following World War II, an era kn give birth as the Cold War shook American faith in the possibility of a peaceful nation. A war with the Soviet Union looming overhead, the threat of a communist takeover, and the potential for nuclear fortuity sent Americans rushing to churches in part to find a sense of stability and security. Survey data shows that Church attendance reached an all-time high 49% of the American popula tion in the mid-1950s2 while nearly 96% claimed ties to some religious affiliation or an early(a).3 Religion helped them cope with the uncertainty of having to live one of two opposing ways of life a poverty-stricken, war torn country, or a thriving, peaceful nationwith an economy to support their growing families. at a lower place the surface of mainstream optimism due to the booming economy, Americas crises with other countries instilled a sense of urgency concerning salvation. Moral values became somewhat self-indulgent, and self-absorption became characteristic of the religious movement, explaining in part the lack of conflict due to varying beliefs.While foreign affairs helped to shape religion in the 1950s, it was perhaps the more informal networks that anchored public interest and in turn became more influential.A small organization called the National Association of Evangelicals, founded in 1942, united several theological groups in an effort to spread the message of the go spels. They promoted such campaigns as that of Billy Graham, perhaps the most popular evangelist in American history. Graham both warned the nation of the give away they faced due to communism and failing American foreign policy, while also providing them an escape through salvation in Jesus Christ. His combination of religion and public concern set Protestants to action in the effort to save America. His rallies attracted crowds upwards of a half million in the mid-1950s.4Another man offered a much more relaxed message concerning ones role in society in relationship to religion. Norman Vincent Peale, a minister from the Reformed Church of America who pastored a church in New York City, preached to large crowds using psychological, therapeutic, and scriptural elements.5 Peale encouraged people to practice their faith and visualize how they cherished to live their lives in order to achieve their goals. This approach to religion caused many to call him the rich mans Billy Graham.6 H e wrote the book The Power of Positive Thinking, in 1952. Positive thinking eased the minds of Americans who remained uncertain about war with the Soviet Union and the permanence of economic expansion in the states.Catherine Wood Marshall also wrote a book offering realistic insight and moral inspiration. Women were contributing more directly to public life inthe 1950s, and when her husband, minister Peter Marshall, died, she gathered his journals and sermons to publish A Man Called Peter.Not only were women writing religious books, but Post-war America saw women entering the ministry. Women had make up the majority of members in church congregations for centuries, but few denominations had recognized them as leaders before the 50s. Conservative churches limited leadership to book of account studies and social programs, but many major denominations joined the Quakers and Pentecostals in ordaining them as ministers.With an endless reserve of new students and a thriving economy to fa ll sustain on, theological schools flourished. Seminaries and other Bible-based schools saw record enrollment. New faculty was added and new areas of study were introduced into the curriculum. Most of these schools became part of the evangelical enterprise, with traveling ministers or radio broadcasts, the likes of those of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. These schools sought to guide the church leaders of the future while also creating a positive public attend for evangelism and religious education.With these new advancements in the Protestant and Catholic churches, also came the growth of other religions. A network called the Beat Movement connected young writers who exhibit a care-free, often reckless approach to both literature and religion. They joined small religious communities called ashrams, where Eastern religions, including Hinduism, Daoism, and Zen Buddhism were explored. Meditation and yoga were widely practiced. Like other groups of their time, they used their religious beliefs as a social stance. Their opposition to government policy and their desire to separate themselves from mainstream social activity was somewhat evident in their religious preferences.These movements and individuals of the 1950s have all altered the America in which we live today. One of the most obvious budges that is so often overlooked was the allowance account of the Pledge of Allegiance. In 1954, following a crusade led by the Knights of Columbus,(a Catholic mens society), telling added the words under God. Their desire was for thepledge to serve both as a patriotic oath and a public prayer.7 Politicians, however, argue to this day about the constitutionality of endorsing religion in the nations pledge. Many of these decisions were do before there was substantial concern surrounding the relationship between church and state, and how much each side should be involved in the other.At the same time in Washington, after President Eisenhower was elected, the pra yer room and the prayer breakfast were established in the Capitol building. Then in 1955, with the support of the president, Congress added the words In God We Trust to all paper currency. One year later, the same phrase replaced E Pluribus Unum as the nations official motto. Legislators even began to bring Constitutional amendments that ordered Americans to obey the authority and law of Jesus Christ.The government directly fueled the revival in the 1950s, and the American public fell deeper and deeper into their own interests all the while believing what is good for ones own private interest is good for all,8 as was mentioned to the country by popular Motors Charles E. Wilson. National needs began to fall by the wayside as personal improvement took over top priority in the American household. Still, spiritual renascence was the topic of concern in the minds of the American people.Southern revivalism got a boost with the beginning of the Civil Rights movement. Thousands of black and white Americans alike took part in the movement for justice. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, attended by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., sought to end racial segregation and was fueled by Christian ideals rather than governmental agenda. Dr. King, a Southern Baptist minister, lead the non-violent undertaking, which lead to a polite rights movement that extended well into the 60s and 70s. He urged Americans to stand up for justice, stand up for truth.9Americans felt a sense of moral responsibility in the 1950s. The revival of the decade, if nothing else, proved there was a civil religion in the nation. Most Americans at the time put faith in four basic points. First, the existence of God second, a life to shine third, they would be rewardedfor the good and punished for their sinful actions and lastly, that there was no room for religious intolerance if there was to be peace in the nation.10A change in the religious tone of the country was perhaps most evident in Wash ington. Even the government and its leaders recognized a higher law, and demonstration of their dedication to the fusion of religious principles and democratic ideals is evident still today. They believed that a nation with strong values and beliefs would lead to a responsible social system, a strong sense of patriotism and common ideals around which to base strong communities. Such beliefs created an atmosphere that encouraged religious pluralism and as a result the 1950s saw some of the most rapid spiritual growth in American history to date.