The Rise of Religious Liberalism | Session 4 | American Christianity

In this video, Dr. Randy White of Taos, NM, dives into the rise of theological liberalism, a transformative 19th-century shift that redefined American Christianity. Moving away from the revivalist fervor of the Second Great Awakening, this new wave of thought emerged under Enlightenment influence, stressing reason, empirical evidence, and alignment with modern culture. Theological liberalism questioned traditional interpretations of the Bible, viewing it less as a literal divine authority and more as a source of moral inspiration shaped by human experience. This shift allowed liberal theologians to reframe scripture’s challenging aspects as symbolic stories, which resonated better with the scientific and ethical sensibilities of the time.

Liberal theology emphasized human potential, moral progress, and social justice. Jesus was seen primarily as a moral role model rather than a divine savior, inspiring compassion and social reform. Figures like Horace Bushnell, Henry Ward Beecher, and Walter Rauschenbusch were pivotal in advocating this moral, socially engaged version of Christianity. Bushnell argued for nurturing faith gradually within families, focusing on religious experience over strict dogma. Beecher emphasized God’s benevolence and love, becoming a vocal abolitionist and social reformer, while Rauschenbusch, father of the Social Gospel movement, saw Christianity’s mission as addressing poverty, inequality, and injustice.

Dr. White explains that the Second Great Awakening unwittingly paved the way for liberalism, as its emphasis on personal faith and social activism encouraged a more flexible interpretation of scripture. The emotional and mystical aspects of revivalism created openness to diverse expressions of faith, which theological liberalism expanded. This shift in focus from strict doctrine to ethics and social reform not only appealed to modern audiences but also left room for future theological tensions. As Dr. White previews, this rise of liberalism set the stage for the emergence of fundamentalism, a conservative movement aimed at preserving traditional Christian doctrines in response to the growing influence of liberal theology.