A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada by Mark A. Noll

This phrase, as many Canadian historians have pointed out, is almost entirely lacking in the appeal to idealism implied by the “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” clause in the American Declaration of Independence. “Peace, order, and good government” was the slogan used to sell confederation. In Ontario to this day there are Roman Catholic schools that are government funded (by the provincial government).Ĭanadian self-government resulted from pragmatic calculations, it did not engender fierce antagonisms, and it did not provide the stuff of legends.

But Roman Catholicism was also “protected” throughout Canada. Protestantism was in the rest of Canada – the Atlantic Provinces and Ontario. At the time of confederation in 1867 Roman Catholicism was basically a state sponsored religion in the province of Quebec. where Protestantism and the Bible was the key. Religion was important in Canada but was not as unifying as in the U.S. The author also discusses the differences and similarities between Canada and the U.S. Many preachers would travel the length and breathe of what then constituted the U.S., speaking to large audiences – and captivating many. What some might call being “born again”, was always in vogue. They embraced a revivalism – a messianic vision of conversion. In America were intimately united and they reigned in common over the country.Īlso there were cycles of what the author terms “Great Awakenings” – of charismatic preachers and sermons. The United States has always been a marketplace of religions. What is also noteworthy is how frequently people changed their religious affiliation. It was freedom of religion in that sense.

In new territory and adjoining areas there was competition. Different off-shoots began to dominate in various areas. With the American Revolution in 1776 no religion was directly associated with government – theoretically. They also established several religious institutions of learning which today we know as Harvard, Princeton. One reason for this was the abundant geographical space available for expansion and the constant arrival of new-comers – often bringing their religious strains. Remarkably religion kept changing by groups splintering, and the original root source was constantly in flux. Religion in the United States, right from the onset of the first landing of the Puritans in the mid-1600's, began to spread. One comes out with a much deeper awareness of it’s expansion and diversity. The coverage in this book of North American Christianity in the U.S.

A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada by Mark A. Noll