Essay on "Effect of Protestantism on the World"

Essay 7 pages (2320 words) Sources: 7

[EXCERPT] . . . .

During all stages of America's evangelical movements, Protestantism became a means by which Americans justified slavery, oppression and social control (Massey). Ironically, though, Protestant churches became potent community organizations for African-Americans during and after slavery.

In the United States, Protestantism laid the foundations for what would become the American Dream. As Uhlman and Sanchez-Burks point out, "the United States is distinguished by a faith in individual merit and traditional values uncommon among economically developed democracies, both of which have been traced, in part, to the moral ideals of the founding Protestant communities," (992). The United States has built its cultural identity upon the notion of a meritocracy: that anyone who works hard enough can achieve their goals. Of course, the American Dream is fundamentally flawed in practice, but the Protestant "ethic" that Weber recognized has nevertheless "moralized" work to the point where work was presented as a form of spiritual penance and proof of one's piety (Uhlman and Sanchez-Burks 992). Protestant ethics have permeated American culture to the degree that even non-Christians are affected by sociological norms and phenomenon such as "impersonal and unemotional workplace interactions," a denigration of the body and sexuality, and rigid gender norms (Ulhman and Sanchez-Burks 992). Protestant ethic has, at the same time, promoted universal education and helped strengthen America's institutions of higher learning. As in Britain at Cambridge and Oxford, Protestant religious institutions had at least initially been tightly wound up and concerned with the development of academia.

Protestant revivalist movements have sought to narrow the divide between church and state in America, fusing religion and politics as they were in the initial days of Puritan settlements in the colonies. "Christian faith and economic striving were blended together to encapsulate a vision of Christian destiny and civilization," (Lindner 1). Religious pluralism and Protestant presumptuousness continue to battle in what is technically a secular American society. Tensions between Protestant evangelists and secular humanists continue to brew in American culture and have bred deep social and political divides. The belief in charity and volunteer work is not something unique to Protestant culture, contrary to apologists like Lindner, who claim such; Catholicism, Judaism, and every other formal religious denomination promotes charity work as a moral imperative. Moreover, there are currently hundreds of denominations of Protestantism, "with an expansive variety of doctrines, rituals, and religious practices," ("Protestantism"). Differences range in liturgy to religious practice. For example, "Anglican and Lutheran churches have maintained liturgies and rituals similar to those of the Roman Catholic Church, whereas other denominations, such as Baptists, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, and United Church of Christ, have developed less liturgical forms of worship," ("Protestantism"). Although generally connected by their mutual belief in the Bible as sacred text, the different Protestant churches compete for followers worldwide.

What began as a protest movement has become a dominant force in global politics. Protestantism helped to undermine the stalwart religious, economic, and political authority represented by the Roman Catholic Church. The movement helped stimulate populist and democratic revolutions in Europe and the New World. Moreover, Protestantism helped entrench values like universal education and a "work ethic" that was uniquely conducive to the capitalist labor system. The legacy of Protestantism remains indelible, especially in the United States.

Works Cited

Bremer, Francis J. The Puritan Experiment. Lebanon, NH: University Press of New England, 1995.

Claydon, Tony and McBride, Ian. "The Trials of the Chosen Peoples." Chapter One in Protestantism and National Identity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998.

Cotter, Thomas F. "Gutenberg's Legacy: Copyright, Censorship, and Religious Pluralism." Social Science Research Network. Aug 21, 2001. Retrieved online: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=280815

Delacroix, Jacques and Nielsen, Francois. "The Beloved Myth: Protestantism and the Rise of Industrial Capitalism in Nineteenth-Century Europe." Social Forces 80(2): 509-553.

Lindner, John B. "The Hundred-Year Transition: From Protestant Privilege to Cultural Pluralism." Yale University Reflections. Retrieved online: http://reflections.yale.edu/article/how-firm-foundation-churches-face-future/hundred-year-transition-protestant-privilege

"Martin Luther and the 95 Theses." History. Retrieved online: http://www.history.com/topics/martin-luther-and-the-95-theses

Massey, Alana. "The White Protestant Roots of American Racism." New Republic. 26 May, 2015. Retrieved online: https://newrepublic.com/article/121901/white-protestant-roots-american-racism

McLoughlin, William G. Revivals Awakenings, and Reforms. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1978.

"Protestant Reformation." Theopedia. Retrieved online: http://www.theopedia.com/protestant-reformation

"Protestantism." Patheos Library. Retrieved online: http://www.patheos.com/Library/Protestantism

Smith, Timothy L. Revivalism and Social Reform. Eugene: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 1957.

Trim, David J.B. "The Reformation and Wars of Religion." Liberty Magazine. May/June 2010. Retrieved online: http://www.libertymagazine.org/article/the-reformation-and-wars-of-religion

Uhlmann, Eric Luis and Sanchez-Burks, Jeffrey. "The Implicit Legacy of American Protestantism." Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology. vol. 45 no. 6 992-1006, March 24, 2014. doi: 10.1177/0022022114527344.

Weber, Max. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Routledge, 1930. Digital Copy: http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/jhamlin/1095/The%20Protestant%20Ethic%20and%20the%20Spirit%20of%20Capitalism.pdf

Wilhelm, Joseph. "Protestantism." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 1 Apr. 2016 READ MORE

How to Reference "Effect of Protestantism on the World" Essay in a Bibliography

Related Essays:

Protestant Reformation, Imperialism, and WW1: Impact on History Term Paper

Protestant Ref., Imperialism, and WWI

An Analysis of the Effects of Protestantism, Imperialism, and WWI on History

The medieval world had been one in which the "age of faith" and… read more

Term Paper 4 pages (1290 words) Sources: 4 Topic: World History

---

Renaissance and Reformation Term Paper

Renaissance

The Emergence of the Renaissance Movement

Determining and analyzing what gave rise to the Renaissance movement during the 14th to 16th centuries include a closer look into its main… read more

Term Paper 3 pages (801 words) Sources: 3 Topic: World History

---

Historical Contexts and Literature Term Paper

human condition transcends the esoteric and becomes real is through the human ability to conceptualize events outside of the horrific reality of the event and turn these events into something… read more

Term Paper 8 pages (3896 words) Sources: 16 Topic: World History

---

Role of Women Since World War Term Paper

Role of Women Since World War 2 (WWII)

The role of women in society may have changed more during and after World War Two than any other period in human… read more

Term Paper 7 pages (1757 words) Sources: 3 Style: Chicago Topic: Women / Feminism

---

Charles v. Hapsburg Monarchy and Murad III Ottoman Empire Term Paper

Charles V and Murad III

Charles V of the Hapsburg dynasty and Murad III, sixteenth century rulers of the Roman and Ottoman empires, respectively, were in some ways polar opposites… read more

Term Paper 11 pages (3363 words) Sources: 5 Style: APA Topic: World History

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>