Was there a 4th Great Awakening?

[Wiggle Your Yummy Moist Preggers Cake Ben Shapiro]

Did a 4th Great Awakening happen from the 1950's to the 1980's? (Or did it last even longer?) Churches that were more radical gained membership, the rise of the Religious Right, 3 of the most beloved figures in the history of Christianity (Billy Graham, Martin Luther King Jr., and Pope John Paul II), the Civil Rights support that were part of earlier ones returned, and a few other things.

But does it count as a Great Awakening?

[Free Speech Enjoyer]

I think so.  I almost said no on account of the fact that there was never a period in human history (up until modern day) when religion didn't play a large role in society, but the past century has produced few noble figures who will be remembered until the end of time.

On another note, it will be interesting to see what the next Great Awakening will look like.  The rise of secularism is going to have a significant impact on religion whether we like it or not, and I think the new, globalized environment is going to foster some memorable figures.  Pope Francis could just be a preview of that era.  I don't know.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

There certainly was a period of religious renewal and invigoration in that period, just as there was during the First, Second, and Third Great Awakenings, but I wouldn't call it a Fourth Great Awakening.  Unlike the first three, there was no lasting surge in church attendance, nor was the religious surge confined to Christianity.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I think there was.  As Ernest said, it was short lived, and spiked again in the year or so following 9/11, but there was definitely an enlightenment of some kind.  Back in the 1950's everybody went to church.  That's just what you did.  Even when the Supreme Court took prayer out of the schools in 1963 there was still high church attendance, but it started to die off in the late 60's through the 80's and really dropped off after the 9/11 effect wore off around the beginning of 2003.  Whether it was long enough to count as a Great Awakening or not is debatable, but what else would you call it?

[Wiggle Your Yummy Moist Preggers Cake Ben Shapiro]

Short lived? Graham, King, and JPII were all most popular in different decades.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Short lived? Graham, King, and JPII were all most popular in different decades.

The spike in church attendance was short-lived.  Granted, the fundamentalist churches continued to grow well beyond the peak in overall attendance, but that was due to catching a portion of those leaving the mainline churches, and even that seems to be coming to an end, with even the Southern Baptists suffering membership declines of late.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

Hopefully a 5th Great Awakening comes from the emergent church movement.

[DC Al Fine]

Short lived? Graham, King, and JPII were all most popular in different decades.

The spike in church attendance was short-lived.  Granted, the fundamentalist churches continued to grow well beyond the peak in overall attendance, but that was due to catching a portion of those leaving the mainline churches, and even that seems to be coming to an end, with even the Southern Baptists suffering membership declines of late.

This.

Most of what went on in the 60's through 80's would be more accurately described as "reaction" rather than "awakening".

[Wiggle Your Yummy Moist Preggers Cake Ben Shapiro]

Short lived? Graham, King, and JPII were all most popular in different decades.

The spike in church attendance was short-lived.  Granted, the fundamentalist churches continued to grow well beyond the peak in overall attendance, but that was due to catching a portion of those leaving the mainline churches, and even that seems to be coming to an end, with even the Southern Baptists suffering membership declines of late.

Of course it's coming to an end. The 4th Great Awakening ended in the 1980's.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Short lived? Graham, King, and JPII were all most popular in different decades.

The spike in church attendance was short-lived.  Granted, the fundamentalist churches continued to grow well beyond the peak in overall attendance, but that was due to catching a portion of those leaving the mainline churches, and even that seems to be coming to an end, with even the Southern Baptists suffering membership declines of late.

Of course it's coming to an end. The 4th Great Awakening ended in the 1980's.

Church attendance and membership peaked in the early 60s tho.  That's why I don't consider what happened to have been a Great Awakening in the sense of the first three realignments we saw in North America.

[Wiggle Your Yummy Moist Preggers Cake Ben Shapiro]

True, but what about the rise of the Religious Right and Moral Majority?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

True, but what about the rise of the Religious Right and Moral Majority?

Those were far more about politics than religion.

[Joe Biden 2020]

True, but what about the rise of the Religious Right and Moral Majority?

Those were far more about politics than religion.

This.  I've never considered the Religious Right to be really religious, just on the right side of the ledger.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

No. We haven't had a third one yet. The closest thing that could be considered for Third Great Awakening status is the Pentecostal Outpouring from 1903-9 which was spearheaded by the events in Azusa and Topeka and nobody is considering that in spite of the impact of those revivals.

We've been on the verge of a Third Great Awakening since 2008-today. The question is what will make the spark of what happened in Kansas City/Atlanta in 2009-10 and Chicago in 2011 go boom?

[DC Al Fine]

We've been on the verge of a Third Great Awakening since 2008-today. The question is what will make the spark of what happened in Kansas City/Atlanta in 2009-10 and Chicago in 2011 go boom?

Could you elaborate on this.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

We've been on the verge of a Third Great Awakening since 2008-today. The question is what will make the spark of what happened in Kansas City/Atlanta in 2009-10 and Chicago in 2011 go boom?

Could you elaborate on this.

I think it's likely JCL is looking upon this though an even narrower theological lens than I am when I state there has not been a Fourth Great Awakening.  I doubt that JCL is a fan of the Social Gospel movement that was at the heart of what is usually considered to be the Third Great Awakening and hence he does not consider it be an actual Great Awakening.

As for what's he's referring to with KC, Atlanta, and Chicago, I haven't a clue and you'll have to wait for his reply, which I too will be awaiting with interest.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

We've been on the verge of a Third Great Awakening since 2008-today. The question is what will make the spark of what happened in Kansas City/Atlanta in 2009-10 and Chicago in 2011 go boom?

Could you elaborate on this.

I think it's likely JCL is looking upon this though an even narrower theological lens than I am when I state there has not been a Fourth Great Awakening.  I doubt that JCL is a fan of the Social Gospel movement that was at the heart of what is usually considered to be the Third Great Awakening and hence he does not consider it be an actual Great Awakening.

As for what's he's referring to with KC, Atlanta, and Chicago, I haven't a clue and you'll have to wait for his reply, which I too will be awaiting with interest.

Certain aspects of the Social Gospel I'm ok with. The theological liberalism is not one of them though I hold King, St. Francis of Assisi and Tolstoy in decent regard. I'm a theological conservative.

Regarding KC, Atlanta, and Chicago:

There was a series of extended meetings which lasted nearly a year amongst two of the IHOP branches. To get further understanding on my view of revival and awakening in Christianity, look up individuals like Banning Liebscher (Jesus Culture), Billy Humphrey (IHOP Atlanta), David Sliker (IHOP Kansas City), Wes Hall (IHOP Kansas City), Allen Hood (IHOP Kansas City).

[afleitch]

We've been on the verge of a Third Great Awakening since 2008-today. The question is what will make the spark of what happened in Kansas City/Atlanta in 2009-10 and Chicago in 2011 go boom?

Could you elaborate on this.

I think it's likely JCL is looking upon this though an even narrower theological lens than I am when I state there has not been a Fourth Great Awakening.  I doubt that JCL is a fan of the Social Gospel movement that was at the heart of what is usually considered to be the Third Great Awakening and hence he does not consider it be an actual Great Awakening.

As for what's he's referring to with KC, Atlanta, and Chicago, I haven't a clue and you'll have to wait for his reply, which I too will be awaiting with interest.

Certain aspects of the Social Gospel I'm ok with. The theological liberalism is not one of them though I hold King, St. Francis of Assisi and Tolstoy in decent regard. I'm a theological conservative.

Regarding KC, Atlanta, and Chicago:

There was a series of extended meetings which lasted nearly a year amongst two of the IHOP branches. To get further understanding on my view of revival and awakening in Christianity, look up individuals like Banning Liebscher (Jesus Culture), Billy Humphrey (IHOP Atlanta), David Sliker (IHOP Kansas City), Wes Hall (IHOP Kansas City), Allen Hood (IHOP Kansas City).

So you’re referring to the International House of Prayer (IHOP) which has been labelled by Christians as a cult? I’m intrigued; are you a member?