CHHI 670 History of Evangelicalism

This course is designed to explore the development of Evangelicalism in the 20th century. This course includes the major issues that gave rise to Evangelicalism, such as its background, beliefs, and major personalities, the development of the Evangelical movement in America in the 20th century, fundamentalism, and the current state of Evangelicalism today. (Formerly CHHI 686)

Evangelicalism has directly and distinctly impacted American religious thought and experience. At the core of historic Evangelicalism is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and so philosophically, Evangelicalism must be studied and defined by its vigorous proclamation of the message of the gospel. Evangelicalism is also recognized as a “come-outer” movement as distinguished from those who reject biblical literalism as seen from the results of the Great Awakenings upon the populace in both the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This separatist tendency within the Evangelical movement is the basis for the development of fundamentalism in the twentieth century and remains a core premise of what drives the Evangelical Movement into the 21st century.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview. 

Discussions (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt. Each thread must be at least 300 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 100 words. For each thread, the student must support his/her assertions with at least 2 scholarly citations in Turabian format. Each reply should include a balance between supportive elements and critical analysis of the thread contents. Any sources cited must have been published within the last 5 years. Acceptable sources include the textbook, the Bible, etc. (CLO: A, B, D, F)

Reading Reflection Video Discussions (2)

During the course, the student must report verbally the percentage of required readings completed and then give a five-minute synopsis of the reading as it relates to a given theme. The student must watch the videos submitted by peers in the Discussion and write 2 replies with a 50-word encouragement or comment. (CLO: B, D)

Evangelical Influence-Tree AI Assignment

Using an AI tool, the student will create an influence-tree (diagram, chart, or list) with at least 3 branches that trace at least 35 influential individuals and institutions (schools, publications, events) that played key roles in the development of evangelicalism as a historical movement, starting with the Reformation period. The timeline should show sources and tributaries of the evangelical movement. The timeline must include a date, location, and the significance of the individual/institution. Then the paper must cover gaps in data from the AI-generated tree with at least 10 well researched bridges using academic sources such as journals and primary sources such as newspaper archives. Each researched gap should include at least 1 citation in Turabian format and include unique information not found in an AI query. (CLO: C, G)

Confessional Paper Assignment

The student will write a 10-12 page paper that explains 8 key formal doctrinal elements that represent the core beliefs of evangelicals historically with a critical evaluation of current evangelical understanding of each doctrine. One doctrine must be inerrancy. The paper must be written in current Turabian format and include a bibliography of at least 10 scholarly sources published in the last 5 years in addition to the course textbooks. (CLO: E)

Confessional Paper Proposal Video Assignment

The student will create a five-minute video explanation answering why each of the eight key formal doctrinal elements are necessary to be examined in the Confessional Paper Assignment. (CLO: E)

Confessional Paper PPT Video Lesson Assignment

The student will create a 7-minute PPT narrated instruction that covers the 8 doctrinal elements of the Confessional Paper Assignment. The audience is college-educated adults. At least 15 slides are required. (CLO: E, F, G)