{"product_id":"washington-gladdens-church-the-minister-who-made-modern-american-protestantism-9781538159637","title":"Washington Gladden's Church: The Minister Who Made Modern American Protestantism","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003eWashington Gladden was a minister, journalist, and reformer whose message of religious liberalism defined modern Protestantism in the US. Mislin's biography chronicles his early years, Civil War, and professional success, highlighting his fusion of progressive political, social, and religious commitments and the potential perils of critiquing society from inside elite institutions. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Paperback \/ softback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 226 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 15 March 2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Rowman \u0026amp; Littlefield\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWashington Gladden, a minister, journalist, and reformer whose message of religious liberalism came to define modern Protestantism in the United States, has been the subject of the first significant book-length biography in over 50 years. Despite being largely forgotten today, Gladden was one of the most well-known pastors of his time and a leader of the social gospel and progressive movement. Mislin chronicles Gladden's early years, bristling against the culture of a pious small town in upstate New York, his personal and family struggles during the Civil War, and his eventual professional success in providing a religious message for a society struggling with skepticism about organized religion, massive economic inequality, rampant corporate malfeasance, and widespread racial and religious bigotry.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThrough this book, Gladden's life emerges as both a model for the fusion of progressive political, social, and religious commitments and a cautionary tale of the potential perils for those who critique society from inside elite institutions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWashington Gladden was born in 1836 in a small town in upstate New York. He grew up in a religious family and was deeply influenced by the teachings of the Methodist Church. However, he soon became disillusioned with the strict rules and traditions of the church and began to question its authority.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt the age of 16, Gladden left home to pursue his education at a local college. He was a talented student and quickly became involved in the political and social movements of the time. He was a strong advocate for the abolition of slavery and the rights of workers and was a member of the Republican Party.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDuring the Civil War, Gladden served as a chaplain for the Union Army. He saw firsthand the devastating effects of the war on both soldiers and civilians and was deeply affected by the suffering he witnessed. He became a vocal opponent of the war and was eventually arrested and imprisoned for his anti-war activities.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter the war, Gladden returned to his hometown and began to preach a message of religious liberalism. He believed that the church should be more open to the needs of the people and should be more involved in social reform. He was a strong advocate for the rights of women, minorities, and the poor and was a member of several social reform organizations.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGladden's message of religious liberalism quickly gained popularity and he became one of the most well-known pastors of his time. He was a leader of the social gospel and progressive movement and was a frequent speaker at conferences and rallies.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHowever, Gladden's message was not without its critics. Some conservative Christians accused him of compromising the teachings of the Bible and of promoting a social agenda that was too liberal. Others accused him of being too close to the political establishment and of being too influenced by the social and economic reforms of the time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDespite these criticisms, Gladden remained committed to his message of religious liberalism and continued to preach and write about it until his death in 1915. He is remembered as a pioneer in the fusion of progressive political, social, and religious commitments and as a champion of social justice and human rights.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn conclusion, Washington Gladden was a remarkable man who played a significant role in shaping modern Protestantism in the United States. His message of religious liberalism was a powerful force for social change and his life serves as a model for the fusion of progressive political, social, and religious commitments. Despite facing criticism and opposition, Gladden remained committed to his message and his legacy continues to inspire and influence people today.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 340g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 220 x 154 x 17 (mm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9781538159637\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"David Mislin","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":44102314393850,"sku":"9781538159637","price":34.26,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/1648203018049_book.jpg?v=1648224527","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/washington-gladdens-church-the-minister-who-made-modern-american-protestantism-9781538159637","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}