Long before evangelicalism became associated with the mostly white, conservative followers aligned with the Republican Party, a long line of progressive evangelicals led reforms to abolish slavery, give women the vote and improve public schools.
But the history of evangelicalism is complicated. It has a rich history of social activism on behalf of the marginalized, mixed with deep discomfort with the very people it seeks to help.
This paradox allowed the Republican Party to weave politics into the fabric of evangelicalism more than 30 years ago. Today, the loyalty remains, despite presidential contenders who speak against the tenets of evangelical faith.
Some say a new generation of progressive evangelical women and minorities are reviving the biblical and social justice foundation upon which the long history of evangelicalism rests. Is evangelicalism ready for another revival?
GUESTS:
- Deborah Jian-Lee - Journalist and author of Rescuing Jesus: How People of Color, Women and Queer Christians are Reclaiming Evangelicalism
- Liza Arulampalam - Associate pastor at Riverfront Family Church, a progressive evangelical church in Glastonbury, Connecticut
- Randall Balmer - Chair, Department of Religion at Dartmouth and a Fellow at Dartmouth’s Ethics Institute, and author of Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter
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Colin McEnroe and Chion Wolf contributed to this show.
