Evangelicalism and fundamentalism in the United Kingdom during the twentieth century

Historians have sometimes argued, and popular discourse certainly assumes, that evangelicalism and fundamentalism are identical. In the twenty-first century, when Islamic fundamentalism is at the center of the world's attention, whether or not evangelicalism should be seen as the Christian version of fundamentalism is an important matter for public understanding. The essays that make up this book analyze this central question. Drawing on empirical evidence from many parts of the United Kingdom and from across the course of the twentieth century, the essays show that fundamentalism certainly existed in Britain, that evangelicals did sometimes show tendencies in a fundamentalist direction, but that evangelicalism in Britain cannot simply be equated with fundamentalism.The evangelical movement within Protestantism that arose in the wake of the eighteenth-century revival exerted an immense influence on British society over the two subsequent centuries. Christian fundamentalism, by contrast, had its origins in the United States following the publication of __The____Fundamentals__, a series of pamphlets issued to ministers between 1910 and 1915 that was funded by California oilmen. While there was considerable British participation in writing the series, the term "fundamentalist" was invented in an exclusively American context when, in 1920, it was coined to describe the conservative critics of theological liberalism. The fundamentalists in Britain formed only a small section of evangelical opinion that declined over time. Historians Have Sometimes Argued, And Popular Discourse Certainly Assumes, That Evangelicalism And Fundamentalism Are Identical. In The Twenty-first Century, When Islamic Fundamentalism Is At The Centre Of The World's Attention, Whether Or Not Evangelicalism Should Be Seen As The Christian Version Of Fundamentalism Is An Important Matter For Public Understanding. The Essays That Make Up This Book Analyse This Central Question. Drawing On Empirical Evidence From Many Parts Of The United Kingdom And From Across The Course Of The Twentieth Century, The Essays Show That Fundamentalism Certainly Existed In Britain, That Evangelicals Did Sometimes Show Tendencies In A Fundamentalist Direction, But That Evangelicalism In Britain Cannot Simply Be Equated With Fundamentalism. The Evangelical Movement Within Protestantism That Arose In The Wake Of The Eighteenth-century Revival Exerted An Immense Influence On British Society Over The Two Subsequent Centuries. Introduction / David Bebbington And David Ceri Jones -- I. Before Fundamentalism. The British Contribution To The Fundamentals / Geoffrey R. Treloar ; A Scottish Fundamentalist?: Thomas Whitelaw Of Kilmarnock (1840-1917) / Neil T.r. Dickson -- Ii. The Beginnings Of British Fundamentalism. Evangelicalism And Fundamentalism In The Inter-war Church Of England / Andrew Atherstone ; Methodist Fundamentalism Before And After The First World War / Martin Wellings ; Baptists And Fundamentalism In Inter-war Britain / David Bebbington ; How Fundamentalist Were British Brethren During The 1920s? / Tim Grass ; Women, Men, And Fundamentalism In England During The 1920s And 1930s / Linda Wilson ; Fundamentalism And Anti-catholicism In Inter-war English Evangelicalism / John Maiden -- Iii. The Later Twentieth Century. Billy Graham, Evangelism, And Fundamentalism / Ian M. Randall ; Evangelical Or Fundamentalist?: The Case Of John Stott / Alister Chapman ; 'secession Is An Ugly Thing': The Emergence And Development Of Free Methodism In Late Twentieth-century England / Derek Tidball ; Evangelical, But Not 'fundamentalist': A Case Study Of The New Churches In York, 1980-2011 / David Goodhew -- Iv. National Variations. Revivalism And Fundamentalism In Ulster: W.p. Nicholson In Context / Andrew R. Holmes ; Fundamentalism In Scotland / Kenneth B.e. Roxburgh ; Evangelicalism And Fundamentalism In Post-war Wales, 1947-1981 / David Ceri Jones -- V. Theological Reflections. Pentecostalism And Fundamentalism / William K. Kay ; Evangelical Bases Of Faith And Fundamentalizing Tendencies / Rob Warner ; Evangelicals, Fundamentalism, And Theology / Stephen R. Holmes ; Conclusion / David Bebbington And David Ceri Jones. Edited By David Bebbington And David Ceri Jones. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [377]-393) And Index. Historians have sometimes argued, and popular discourse certainly assumes, that evangelicalism and fundamentalism are identical. In the twenty-first century, when Islamic fundamentalism is at the center of the world's attention, whether or not evangelicalism should be seen as the Christian version of fundamentalism is an important matter for public understanding. The essays that make up this book analyze this central question. Drawing on empirical evidence from many parts of the United Kingdom and from across the course of the twentieth century, the essays show that fundamentalism certainly existed in Britain, that evangelicals did sometimes show tendencies in a fundamentalist direction, but that evangelicalism in Britain cannot simply be equated with fundamentalism. The evangelical movement within Protestantism that arose in the wake of the eighteenth-century revival exerted an immense influence on British society over the two subsequent centuries. Christian fundamentalism, by contrast, had its origins in the United States following the publication of The Fundamentals , a series of pamphlets issued to ministers between 1910 and 1915 that was funded by California oilmen. While there was considerable British participation in writing the series, the term "fundamentalist" was invented in an exclusively American context when, in 1920, it was coined to describe the conservative critics of theological liberalism. The fundamentalists in Britain formed only a small section of evangelical opinion that declined over time. Historians have sometimes argued, and popular discourse certainly assumes, that evangelicalism and fundamentalism are identical. In the twenty-first century, when Islamic fundamentalism is at the centre of the world's attention, whether or not evangelicalism should be seen as the Christian version of fundamentalism is an important matter for public understanding. The essays that make up this book analyse this central question. Drawing on empirical evidence from many parts of the United Kingdom and from across the course of the twentieth century, the essays show that fundamentalism certainly existed in Britain, that evangelicals did sometimes show tendencies in a fundamentalist direction, but that evangelicalism in Britain cannot simply be equated with fundamentalism. The evangelical movement within Protestantism that arose in the wake of the eighteenth-century revival exerted an immense influence on British society over the two subsequent centuries. Christian fundamentalism, by contrast, had its origins in the United States following the publication of The Fundamentals, a series of pamphlets issued to ministers between 1910 and 1915 that was funded by California oilmen. While there was considerable British participation in writing the series, the term ‘fundamentalist’ was invented in an exclusively American context when, in 1920, it was coined to describe the conservative critics of theological liberalism. The fundamentalists in Britain formed only a small section of evangelical opinion that declined over time This volume takes a detailed look at the history of Christian fundamentalism in the United Kingdom during the 20th century examining the inter-relation between fundamentalism and evangelical theology. Using detailed empirical evidence the authors challenge generalisations and enable a more nuanced understanding of the roots of fundamentalism today