Curated OER
History Matters: "Shall the Fundamentalists Win?"
As a rebuttal to Christian Fundamentalism in the 1920s, Harry Emerson Fosdick preached an important sermon celebrating liberal Protestantism. Read this well-thought out sermon here.
On Being
American Public Media: Reinhold Niebuhr: Does His Legacy Have a Future?
An article which examines the major ideas of the theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr, and their impact on America during the 20th century and what use they have in current American life.
Other
Boston Globe: Beyond Serenity: Life of Reinhold Niebuhr
A short biographical sketch of one of the leading American theologians of the 20th century focusing on the use of his prayer known as "the Serenity Prayer".
George Mason University
Chnm: Between the Wars: The Scopes Trial
Read the fascinating transcript of the proceedings in court when Clarence Darrow called William Jennings Bryan to the stand to expose the weakness in his argument against evolution in the famous Scopes trial.
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Aardoc: African Americans and Billy Sunday in Atlanta (Nov. Dec. 1917)
Read this intoduction that describes and sets the stage for Billy Sunday's meetings with the influential African-American preachers and congregations in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1917. After you have an understanding of the situation,...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Taming the Octopus: Social Policy: Social Darwinism vs. Social Gospel
Two Protestant clergymen discuss the morality of wealth: William Graham Sumner defends it and the practices that create it, while Walter Rauschenbusch questions its impact on society and calls for its Christianization.
British Library
British Library: Discovering Literature: Medieval Drama and Mystery Plays
The mystery plays and morality plays of the 15th and 16th centuries were very different from modern drama. This article takes us back in time to show how these plays portrayed scenes from the Bible, conveyed religious doctrine, and...
Stanford University
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Nietzsche
An excellent and extensive biography. Covers main ideas, as well as career accomplishments and publications. Proceeds work by work, dividing Nietzsche's works into Early, Middle, Late, and Final. Contains bibliography, biography, and...
University of Missouri
Famous Trials: William Jennings Bryan (1860 1925)
Provides a short biography on William Jennings Bryan, focusing on his antievolution campaign and his part in the Scopes Monkey Trial.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Billy Sunday
Wikipedia encyclopedia article on Billy Sunday, noted for his fire and brimstone evangelism.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Monkey Trial
A very good look at the Scopes Monkey Trial that pit prosecuting attorney, William Jennings Bryan against defense attorney, Clarence Darrow. Read about the issues, the media circus at the trial, and eventual outcome. Find the basis of...
Other
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Friedrich Nietzsche
This biographical essay reviews Friedrich Nietzsche's life and his philosophy, including the way it challenged the foundations of traditional morality and Christianity.
Curated OER
William Graham Sumner
Two Protestant clergymen discuss the morality of wealth: William Graham Sumner defends it and the practices that create it, while Walter Rauschenbusch questions its impact on society and calls for its Christianization.
Curated OER
Walter Rauschenbusch
Two Protestant clergymen discuss the morality of wealth: William Graham Sumner defends it and the practices that create it, while Walter Rauschenbusch questions its impact on society and calls for its Christianization.