Rebuilding Zion
Book Description
In the aftermath of America's Civil War, a profound spiritual battle emerged across the divided nation, one that would reshape the religious landscape of the South for generations to come. Daniel W. Stowell examines this pivotal moment when faith communities grappled with fundamental questions about divine will, moral purpose, and spiritual identity.
This groundbreaking study reveals how three distinct groups interpreted the war's outcome through vastly different spiritual lenses. Southern white evangelicals wrestled with whether their defeat signaled God's disapproval, while their northern counterparts and newly freed African Americans felt certain it represented divine judgment against slavery and rebellion. These competing theological interpretations sparked an intense struggle for the spiritual future of the reconstructed South.
Stowell traces the complex religious conflicts that unfolded as these groups fought to establish their vision of Christian life in the post-war era. At the center of this contest lay crucial questions about the spiritual destiny of freed people and the preservation of southern religious identity. The author demonstrates how southern evangelical churches ultimately succeeded in maintaining their influence, becoming powerful institutions that would define the region's spiritual character.
Through careful analysis of this religious reconstruction, readers gain insight into how faith communities navigate crisis, interpret suffering, and compete for spiritual authority. This work illuminates the enduring connections between religious belief, cultural identity, and social power in American spiritual life.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~8 hours)
🕉️ Tradition: Christianity
📄 Length: 278 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Sezessionskrieg
- ✓ Explore Évangélisme
- ✓ Explore Protestant churches
- ✓ Explore History
- ✓ Explore Sezessionskrieg (1861-1865)
- ✓ Explore United states, history, civil war, 1861-1865
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Religieuze aspecten
