Brendan Cummins | University of Lethbridge (original) (raw)
Papers by Brendan Cummins
The idea of religious freedom was one of the hallmarks of early nineteenth-century America, but i... more The idea of religious freedom was one of the hallmarks of early nineteenth-century America, but it was not truly universal. Despite denominational differences, mainstream white evangelical Protestants formed a body of unified believers that defined “true” American religion. The Burned Over District of central New York would give birth to two religious movements, Mormonism and Millerism, that challenged the position of evangelical religion in the spiritual consciousness of the nation. The Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and the followers of William Miller’s end time prophecy were inspired by, but moved outside the boundaries of, established evangelical theology and practice. In reacting to these movements, evangelical denominations went beyond cooperation to try to forge a unified congregation of believers. In the face of religious movements that posed real challenges to their prominent position, mainstream evangelical denominations like Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians responded in strikingly similar ways, belying the notion of religious plurality.
From the time of the Latter-day Saints' arrival in the Great Salt Basin in 1847 to the dispatch o... more From the time of the Latter-day Saints' arrival in the Great Salt Basin in 1847 to the dispatch of U.S. Army troops in 1857, the Mormons were very close to establishing their prophesied temporal Kingdom of God. The isolation of the Mormon settlement and the commitment of the settlers who made the overland journey to the Church made it possible to build the theocracy that had failed in Missouri and Illinois. The ten years between 1847 and 1857, free of serious outside interference, allowed the Saints to assume control of all aspects of life in the territory. The total power over the physical, spiritual, and civil realms enabled the Saints to stand against outside influences until the end of the nineteenth century. Non-Mormon's were not part of the Church's plans for the Kingdom and those who were not willing to be part of the theocracy were harassed, threatened, or physically driven out. The systems of government that existed in other parts of the United States were used to further the Saints' designs for their perfect millennial state. The decade of 1847-57 is pivotal in understanding how a marginal sect grew to be the influential international organization of today.
The development of child and youth piety was an important facet of Puritan family religion in ear... more The development of child and youth piety was an important facet of Puritan family religion in early modern England. The focus on a child's spiritual growth was not just about developing their relationship with God, but to provide a strong temporal foundation for the Protestant society in a time of religious uncertainty
The historiography of the nativist movement is dominated by the idea that anti-Catholic sentiment... more The historiography of the nativist movement is dominated by the idea that anti-Catholic sentiment was pervasive, nationwide and had a long history. While anti-Catholicism was a major trend in many areas of the United States, in the South the feelings were more muted. The Catholic Church's position on slavery, the long history of the Church in the South, and the support of Southern ideals suggest that organized anti-Catholicism has little place in antebellum Southern memory.
The idea of religious freedom was one of the hallmarks of early nineteenth-century America, but i... more The idea of religious freedom was one of the hallmarks of early nineteenth-century America, but it was not truly universal. Despite denominational differences, mainstream white evangelical Protestants formed a body of unified believers that defined “true” American religion. The Burned Over District of central New York would give birth to two religious movements, Mormonism and Millerism, that challenged the position of evangelical religion in the spiritual consciousness of the nation. The Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and the followers of William Miller’s end time prophecy were inspired by, but moved outside the boundaries of, established evangelical theology and practice. In reacting to these movements, evangelical denominations went beyond cooperation to try to forge a unified congregation of believers. In the face of religious movements that posed real challenges to their prominent position, mainstream evangelical denominations like Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians responded in strikingly similar ways, belying the notion of religious plurality.
From the time of the Latter-day Saints' arrival in the Great Salt Basin in 1847 to the dispatch o... more From the time of the Latter-day Saints' arrival in the Great Salt Basin in 1847 to the dispatch of U.S. Army troops in 1857, the Mormons were very close to establishing their prophesied temporal Kingdom of God. The isolation of the Mormon settlement and the commitment of the settlers who made the overland journey to the Church made it possible to build the theocracy that had failed in Missouri and Illinois. The ten years between 1847 and 1857, free of serious outside interference, allowed the Saints to assume control of all aspects of life in the territory. The total power over the physical, spiritual, and civil realms enabled the Saints to stand against outside influences until the end of the nineteenth century. Non-Mormon's were not part of the Church's plans for the Kingdom and those who were not willing to be part of the theocracy were harassed, threatened, or physically driven out. The systems of government that existed in other parts of the United States were used to further the Saints' designs for their perfect millennial state. The decade of 1847-57 is pivotal in understanding how a marginal sect grew to be the influential international organization of today.
The development of child and youth piety was an important facet of Puritan family religion in ear... more The development of child and youth piety was an important facet of Puritan family religion in early modern England. The focus on a child's spiritual growth was not just about developing their relationship with God, but to provide a strong temporal foundation for the Protestant society in a time of religious uncertainty
The historiography of the nativist movement is dominated by the idea that anti-Catholic sentiment... more The historiography of the nativist movement is dominated by the idea that anti-Catholic sentiment was pervasive, nationwide and had a long history. While anti-Catholicism was a major trend in many areas of the United States, in the South the feelings were more muted. The Catholic Church's position on slavery, the long history of the Church in the South, and the support of Southern ideals suggest that organized anti-Catholicism has little place in antebellum Southern memory.