Essays that provide a history of the Christian church in the United States with biographical information on church leaders, the different organized churches, and popular Christian movements.

Was America founded as a "Christian" nation? What role has the Christian faith of many of its leaders played in the course of its history? How has Christianity affected American culture and society? This trenchant critique of the role of Christianity in American history highlights both the ways in which Christians have made many valuable contributions as "salt and light," and how they have caused a great deal of damage by trying to be "savior and lord." Believers in Christ have built one of the most "Christianized" countries in the world, with benefits for millions. They have also nurtured messianic aspirations that have spawned disasters for themselves and other countries. Generous in praise for dedicated believers who have reflected the character of Christ, the book is also unsparing in criticism of Christians who have, sometimes with the best intentions, failed to act wisely. In short, the reader will be encouraged by the many "triumphs" of Christianity in America, and sobered by its "tragedy."

Author Mark Noll presents the unfolding drama of American Christianity with accuracy and skill, from the first European settlements to ecumenism in the late 20th Century. This work has become a standard in the field of North American religious history.

God and history. God, time and history / John Briggs -- Beginnings 1-325. The church expands / W. Ward Gasque ; What the first Christians believed / David F. Wright -- Acceptance and conquest 325-600. Constantine and the Christian empire / Richard Todd ; Councils and creeds / David Wright ; The fall of the Roman empire / Richard Todd ; Christian ascetics and monks / Michael Smith -- A Christian society 600-1500. The West in crisis / Harry Rosenberg ; The Eastern church / Harlie Gallatin ; Flowering : the Western church / Robert Clouse ; An age of unrest / Ronald Finucane -- Reform 1500-1650. Seeds of renewal / Philip McNair ; Reform / James Atkinson ; Rome responds / Robert Linder -- Reason, revival and revolution 1650-1789. Awakening / A. Skevington Wood ; Expansion worldwide / James De Jong ; Reason and unreason / Colin Brown -- Cities and empires 1789-1914. Europe in revolt / Wayne Detzler ; The first industrial nation / John Briggs ; The ascent of man / Colin Brown ; Outposts of empire / Andrew Walls -- Towards 2000. An age of ideology / Richard Pierard ; An age of anxiety / Anthony Thiselton ; An age of liberation / C. René Padilla.