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{{Short description|Disputed christian revival in the United States in the late 20th century}}{{Use American English|date=August 2024}}{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}}

{{Great awakenings}}
The '''Fourth Great Awakening''' was a Christian awakening that some scholars{{snd}} including [[economic historian]], [[Robert Fogel]]{{snd}} say took place in the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s, while others look at the [[post-war era]]. The terminology is controversial, with some historians{{who|date=August 2024}} believing the religious changes that took place in the US during these years were not equivalent to those of the first three [[Great Awakening]]s. Thus, the idea of a Fourth Great Awakening itself has not been generally accepted.<ref>Robert William Fogel (2000), ''The Fourth Great Awakening & the Future of Egalitarianism''; see the review by Randall Balmer, ''Journal of Interdisciplinary History'' 2002 33(2): 322–325</ref>

Whether or not they constitute an ''awakening'', many changes did take place. The [[Mainline (Protestant)|"mainline" Protestant]] churches weakened sharply in both membership and influence while the most [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] denominations (such as the [[Southern Baptists]]) grew rapidly in numbers, spread across the United States, had grave internal [[theological]] battles and [[schism (religion)|schisms]], and became politically powerful. Other [[Evangelical Christian|evangelical]] and [[Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] denominations also expanded rapidly. At the same time, [[secularism]] grew dramatically, and the more conservative churches saw themselves battling secularism in terms of issues such as [[LGBT social movements|LGBT rights]], [[abortion]], and [[creationism]].<ref>[[William G. McLoughlin]] (1978), ''Revivals, Awakenings and Reform: An Essay on Religion and Social Change in America, 1607–1977''</ref><ref>Randall Balmer (2001), ''Religion in Twentieth Century America''</ref> Many [[new religious movements]] emerged such as the [[People's Temple]], [[Twelve Tribes communities]] and [[Heaven's Gate (religious group)|Heaven's Gate]], and the corresponding rise of the [[anti-cult]] movement.

==New movements==
{{History of Christian theology}}{{See also|Apostolic-Prophetic Movement|Convergence Movement|Jesus movement}}
Concomitant to the power shift was a change in [[evangelicalism]] itself, with new groups arising and extant ones switching their focus. There was a new emphasis on a personal relationship with Jesus from newly styled "[[Non-denominational Christianity|non-denominational]]" churches and "community faith centers". This period also saw the rise of non-traditional churches and [[megachurch]]es with conservative theologies and a growth in [[parachurch organization]]s while [[mainline Protestant]]ism lost many members. The [[Jesus Movement]] is considered by some to be part of the Fourth Great Awakening.{{fact|date=April 2024}}

Vinson Synan (1997) argues that a [[Charismatic movement|charismatic]] awakening occurred between 1961 and 1982. This stemmed from a [[Pentecostal]] movement that placed emphasis on experiencing what they saw as the [[gifts of the Spirit]], including [[speaking in tongues]], [[faith healing]], and [[prophecy]]. It also focused on strengthening spiritual convictions through these gifts and through signs taken to be from the [[Holy Spirit]]. Originally a Protestant movement, its influence spread to some in the [[Roman Catholic Church]] at a time when Catholic leaders were opening up to more [[ecumenical]] beliefs, to a reduced emphasis on institutional structures, and to an increased emphasis on [[Catholic spirituality|spirituality]] at the [[laity|lay]] level.<ref>Edith L Blumhofer and Randall Balmer (1993), ''Modern Christian Revivals''</ref>

==Trends==
{{See also|Dominion theology|Prosperity theology|Televangelism|Culture war#United States}}
Organized religion in the United States changed in the face of secularizing pressures after World War II. There was a proliferation of megachurches. Denominations such as the [[Assemblies of God]], [[Southern Baptists]] ({{abbr|SBC|Southern Baptist Convention}}), and [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (Mormons) became more popular. Three particular religious leaders were very influential: [[Martin Luther King Jr.]], [[Billy Graham]], and [[Pope John Paul II]]. [[Megachurches]] won attention for the simple reason that 10 churches with 2,000 members each were more visible than 100 churches with 200 members each. The populist denominations' growth coincided with the simultaneous decline of the mainline bodies. While the former trend did not come at the expense of the latter (it represented different fertility and retention rates, not switching), to the media and many ordinary observers those developments signaled the aggressive swelling of religious strength.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}}

The [[Mainstream Protestant|"mainstream" Protestant]] churches contracted sharply in terms of membership and influence.

After [[World War II]], some conservative Christian denominations including the Southern Baptists, the [[Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod]] ({{Abbr|LCMS|Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod}}), the [[Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)|Church of God]], [[Pentecostal]]s, [[Holiness movement|Holiness groups]], and [[Church of the Nazarene|Nazarenes]] grew rapidly in numbers and also spread nationwide. Some of these denominations, such as the Southern Baptists and Missouri Synod Lutherans, went on to face theological battles and schisms from the 1960s onward. The LCMS had a split in the 1970s with the "moderate" minority eventually helping to form the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]]. The SBC would faced its own battles resulting in the [[Southern Baptist Convention conservative resurgence]]. Many of the more conservative churches went on to become politically powerful as part of the "[[Christian right|religious right]]". At the same time, the influence of [[secularism]] (the belief that government and law should not be based on religion) grew dramatically, and the more conservative churches saw themselves battling secularism in terms of issues such as gay rights, abortion, and creationism.<ref>McLoughlin 1978, Balmer 2001</ref>

{{See also|New Apostolic Reformation|Seven Mountain Mandate}}

Byrnes and Segers note regarding the abortion issue, "While more theologically conservative Protestant denominations, such as the Missouri-Synod Lutherans and the Southern Baptist Convention, expressed disapproval of [[Roe v. Wade|Roe]], they became politically active only in the mid and late 1970s."<ref>Timothy A. Byrnes, Mary C. Segers, eds. ''The Catholic Church and the politics of abortion'' (1992) p 158</ref><ref>Mark A. Noll, ''Religion and American politics: from the colonial period to the 1980s'' (1990) p 327</ref> The SBC itself actually passed resolutions at two Annual Meetings in support of legalized abortion; not until 1980 (in the early days of the conservative resurgence) would it reverse its position and, from that point on, continually adopt resolutions opposing it. However, the political involvement of churches ranged from actively participating in organizations such as the [[Moral Majority]] and the [[Christian Coalition of America|Christian Coalition]] to adopting the much more indirect and unorganized approach of the LCMS.<ref>Jeffrey S. Walz and Stephen R. Montreal, ''Lutheran Pastors and Politics: Issues in the Public Square'' (Concordia, 2007)</ref>

==Effects outside Christianity==
{{Empty section|small=n|date=August 2024}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity|Evangelical Christianity|Reformed Christianity}}
*
*[[Christianity and politics]]
*[[Jim Jones]]
*[[New religious movement]]
*{{anl|The 'Me' Decade and the Third Great Awakening|quote=y}}

==References==
'''Notes '''
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* Balmer, Randall. ''Religion in Twentieth Century America'' (2001)
* Balmer, Randall, and [[Mark Silk]], eds. ''Religion and Public Life in the Middle Atlantic Region: Fount of Diversity.'' (Lanham: AltaMira, 2006. 184 pp. {{ISBN|978-0-7591-0637-6}}.)
* Barlow, Philip, and [[Mark Silk]], eds. ''Religion and Public Life in the Midwest: America's Common Denominator?'' (Lanham: AltaMira, 2004. 208 pp. {{ISBN|978-0-7591-0631-4}}.)
* Bednarowski, Mary Farrell. ''New Religions and the Theological Imagination in America.'' Indiana U. Press, 1989. 175 pp.' looks at Scientology, Unification Church, and New Age religion
* Blumhofer, Edith L., and Randall Balmer. ''Modern Christian Revivals'' (1993)
* Fogel, Robert William. ''The Fourth Great Awakening & the Future of Egalitarianism'', (2000) [https://books.google.com/books?id=3KLw30vZmX8C&dq=Fogel,+Robert+William.+%27%27The+Fourth+Great+Awakening+&pg=PA1 excerpts]
* Gallagher, Eugene V., and W. Michael Ashcraft, eds., ''Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America Vol. 1: History and Controversies,'' xvi, 333 pp. ''Vol. 2: Jewish and Christian Traditions,'' xvi, 255 pp. ''Vol. 3: Metaphysical, New Age, and Neopagan Movements, xvi, 279 pp. Vol. 4: Asian Traditions,'' xvi, 243 pp. ''Vol. 5: African Diaspora Traditions and Other American Innovations,'' xvi, 307 pp. (Greenwood, 2006. {{ISBN|0-275-98712-4}}/set.)
* Houck, Davis W., and David E. Dixon, eds. ''Rhetoric, Religion, and the Civil Rights Movement, 1954–1965.'' (Baylor University Press, 2006. xvi, 1002 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-932792-54-6}}.)
* Keller, Rosemary Skinner, Rosemary Radford Ruether, and Marie Cantlon, eds. ''Encyclopedia of Women And Religion in North America'' (3 vol 2006 [https://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0253346851 excerpt and text search]
* McClymond, Michael, ed. ''Encyclopedia of Religious Revivals in America.'' (Greenwood, 2007. Vol. 1, A–Z: xxxii, 515 pp.&nbsp;Vol. 2, Primary Documents: xx, 663 pp. {{ISBN|0-313-32828-5}}/set.)
* McLoughlin, William G. ''Revivals, Awakenings, and Reform: An Essay on Religion and Social Change in America, 1607–1977'' 1978.
* Killen, Patricia O'Connell, and Mark Silk, eds. ''Religion and Public Life in the Pacific Northwest: The None Zone'' (Lanham: AltaMira, 2004. 192 pp. {{ISBN|978-0-7591-0625-3}}.)
* Lindsay, D. Michael. ''Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite'' (2007)
* Lindsey, William, and Mark Silk, eds. ''Religion and Public Life in the Southern Crossroads: Showdown States.'' (Lanham: AltaMira, 2004. 160 pp. {{ISBN|978-0-7591-0633-8}}.)
* Roof, Wade Clark, and Mark Silk, eds. ''Religion and Public Life in the Pacific Region: Fluid Identities.'' (Lanham: AltaMira, 2005. 192 pp. {{ISBN|978-0-7591-0639-0}}.)
* Shipps, Jan, and Mark Silk, eds. ''Religion and Public Life in the Mountain West: Sacred Landscapes in Transition.'' (Lanham: AltaMira, 2004. 160 pp. {{ISBN|978-0-7591-0627-7}}.)
* Synan, Vinson. ''The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition: Charismatic Movements in the Twentieth Century.'' (2nd ed. 1997). 340 pp.
* Walsh, Andrew, and Mark Silk, eds. ''Religion and Public Life in New England: Steady Habits Changing Slowly''. (Lanham: AltaMira, 2004. 160 pp. {{ISBN|978-0-7591-0629-1}}.)
* Wilson, Charles Reagan, and Mark Silk, eds. ''Religion and Public Life in the South: In the Evangelical Mode.'' (Lanham: AltaMira, 2005. 232 pp. {{ISBN|978-0-7591-0635-2}}.)

{{History of Christianity}}
{{Evangelical Protestantism in the United States}}

[[Category:1960s in the United States]]
[[Category:1970s in the United States]]
[[Category:1960s in Christianity]]
[[Category:1970s in Christianity]]
[[Category:Christian new religious movements]]
[[Category:Great Awakenings]]
[[Category:Christian terminology]]
[[Category:History of Christianity in the United States]]
[[Category:Jesus movement]]
[[Category:20th-century Protestantism]]