Publisher's Synopsis
Ordeal of Faith: The Crisis of Church-Going America, 1865-1900 by Francis Phelps Weisenburger is a historical account of the challenges and transformations faced by American churches in the late 19th century. The book explores the factors that led to a decline in church attendance and the consequent crisis of faith among Americans during this period.Weisenburger examines the impact of the Civil War, industrialization, urbanization, and immigration on the religious landscape of America. He argues that these changes challenged the traditional religious institutions and practices, leading to a crisis of faith among the American people.The book also discusses the responses of the churches to these challenges, including the rise of evangelicalism, the social gospel movement, and the Catholic Church's efforts to maintain its influence in the changing society. Weisenburger analyzes the strategies adopted by different denominations to attract and retain members, such as the use of music, the establishment of Sunday schools, and the introduction of new forms of worship.The author draws on a wide range of primary sources, including church records, sermons, and newspapers, to provide a detailed and nuanced account of this period in American religious history. Ordeal of Faith is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of American religion and the challenges faced by religious institutions in a rapidly changing society.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
