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Evangelical Protestant Christians have been one of the primary groups opposing Mormons since the beginnings of Mormonism in the 1820s. This thesis is an examination of the historical basis for Evangelical opposition to Mormonism and the impact of that opposition on Mormon identity. This study is divided into three chronological chapters representing the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries in America. Evangelical animosity towards Mormonism was grounded in the Christian heretical tradition begun in the second century AD. Because of this tradition, Evangelicals were inherently afraid of heresy for two main reasons: temporal treason and eternal damnation. Due to the heterodox claims of a new prophet and new scripture, Mormonism was quickly labeled as dangerous, not only to Christianity, but to America as a whole. This perceived danger only grew as Mormonism continued to differentiate itself further with the practices of polygamy, communalism, and theocracy. In the nineteenth century, Mormon assimilation of Evangelicalism primarily affected the social structures of marriage, economics, and politics. In the twentieth century, Mormon assimilation of Evangelical identity would focus more on the incorporation of Evangelical ideology and theology. As Fundamentalism and Neo-Evangelicalism protested Mormonism as a cult, Mormonism became more Fundamentalist and Evangelical by nature, especially as the Church of Jesus Christ of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognized how such opposition negatively impacted American public perceptions. Such changes included the development of Mormon neo-orthodoxy with its emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the depravity of man, and salvation by grace. In the twenty-first century, a group of Mormon and Evangelical scholars engaged in the practice of interfaith dialogue developed by Liberal Protestants and Catholics. As part of their dialogue, Evangelicals retained the purposes of evangelism and apologetics thereby qualifying the dialogue as a new more subtle form of Evangelical opposition to Mormonism in the twenty first century. As Evangelicals continuously opposed Mormonism as a Christian heresy, such opposition effected changes within Mormonism, changes that have led to some degree of assimilation and even adoption of several elements of Evangelicalism. The most recent part of this assimilation process has been the development of Mormon progressive orthodoxy that emphasizes anti-sectarianism, anti-liberalism, and revised supernaturalism.

[pt] A presente pesquisa tem por objetivo analisar a espiritualidade, ou espiritualidades, ofertadas dentro do protestantismo brasileiro. Haja vista o crescimento quantitativo significativo deste segmento do campo religioso brasileiro nas últimas décadas, buscou-se observar se tal crescimento vem sendo acompanhado de melhorias nas estruturas sociais do país. Ao se indagar sobre a capacidade da mensagem das igrejas protestantes de promover transformação social, foi apresentada uma proposta de espiritualidade imanente, a partir da análise de conteúdo bibliográfico sobre o assunto, como contribuição ao cenário atual do protestantismo. Nesta pesquisa analítica, para que se pudesse desenvolver o tema, partiu-se da definição da utilização de protestantismo, a partir de tipologias, e se seguiu com a análise do movimento, de maneira geral, desde suas diferentes origens e seus distintos desdobramentos atuais. Assim, chegou-se ao entendimento de que as espiritualidades vigentes no protestantismo propõem a valorização da vida eterna, mas em oposição a vida terrena. Entretanto, em sentido oposto, foi apresentada a espiritualidade encarnada. Destacou-se, então, a polissemia do termo espiritualidade, mas também seu potencial de se comunicar com o tempo hodierno. Percebe-se que ao propor a espiritualidade de seguimento de Jesus Cristo, aqui encarnada, dualismos precisam deixar de existir, o significado de missão deve ser alargado, o eclesiocentrismo descontinuado e a interpretação e mensagens bíblicas devem ser atualizadas. Cada um desses temas foi tratado e observado a sua situação em realidade brasileira. Como consequência, chega-se à proposta contributiva da pesquisa, onde a realidade protestante brasileira é colocada diante da espiritualidade encarnada, e os frutos desse encontro são igualmente apresentados, fragilidades são expostas e caminhos são propostos. / [en] This research seeks to analyze the spirituality, or spiritualities, which are offered within Brazilian Protestantism. Given the significant quantitative growth of this segment of the Brazilian religious field in recent decades, we sought to observe whether such growth has been accompanied by improvements in the country s social structures. When questioning the capacity of the message of Protestant churches to promote social transformation, a proposal of immanent spirituality was presented, based on the analysis of bibliographic content on the subject, as a contribution to the current scenario of Protestantism. In this analytical research, to develop the theme, we started from the definition of the use of Protestantism, based on typologies, and followed with the analysis of the movement, in general, from its different origins and its distinct current developments. Thus, it understood that the spiritualities in force in Protestantism propose the valorization of eternal life, but in opposition to earthly life. However, in the opposite sense, embodied spirituality is presented. Thus, the polysemy of the term was highlighted, but also its potential to communicate with today s time. We understand by proposing the spirituality of following Jesus Christ, embodied here, dualisms need to cease to exist, the meaning of mission must be broadened, ecclesiocentrism discontinued and biblical interpretation and messages must be updated. And each one of the themes was treated and observed its situation in the Brazilian reality. As a result, we arrive at the contribution of the research proposal, where the Brazilian Protestant reality is placed in front of embodied spirituality, the fruits of this meeting are equally presented, weaknesses are exposed, and paths are proposed.

This study investigates the spiritual subjectivities of pastors in the Mainstream White Middle Class Evangelical Church in the context of American capitalism. The Evangelical church carries extreme amounts of power and influence in shaping the beliefs of individuals in American society. However, very little pointed research of pastors' spiritual subjectivities that guide their teachings and views in this sub-sect of church culture is present in academia. Anthropology, along with other disciplines, often focuses on dominant churches from an etic perspective of politics and power relations without fully considering the spiritual beliefs of pastors. This etic perspective can miss the deeply interwoven factors, including understanding of the Scriptures and pastors' role in their congregations, challenges associated with religious consumerist competition, and conceptualizations of church "success" that shape pastors subjectivities, and in turn help shape American Christian culture. Pastors navigate the tension between the broader capitalistic social forces and their spiritual and Biblical beliefs as many pastors of the church aim to change the unquestioned adherence to these ideals. Building on my seven years of experience as a pastor in the Orlando area and drawing on current research with a group of Evangelical pastors, I demonstrate in this study that although capitalistic social forces shape many ideals of individuals in the American Evangelical church culture, understanding pastors' spiritual subjectivities is crucial when investigating the influence of the church in America.

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Text in German / The present dissertation considers the historical and theological foundations of radical evangelicalism and puts it in the context of theologies which influenced it and are similar to it. It will be demonstrated that the evangelicals are enriched by radical evangelicalism - an evangelical basic concept with elements of anabaptism, the social gospel, liberation theology and the ecumencial theologies. Thus it will be demonstrated that radical theology is genuinely evangelical, yet is capable of overcoming the one sidedness of western evangelical theology. Special attention is given to the contributions of radicals from North America as well as from Latin America since they are of considerable importance to radical evangelicalism. The aim of the dissertation is to present radical evangelicalism, to critically evaluate it, and to make it profitable to the European evangelical scene. The first section names the sources from which radical theology flowed. The second section reviews the historical development of radical evangelicalism. It will be demonstrated that, in the thirty years of its existence, radical evangelicalism has become a significant factor within the worldwide evangelical movement. The third section presents the fundamental characteristics of radical theology within a selection of themes. It demonstrates that the radicals have confronted the evangelical movement with a transforming theory of mission, which shows itself to be relevant for today's pressing problems. The fourth section describes the social action of radical evangelicalism and demonstrates that the energetic theology of the radicals is in fact based on a compelling spirituality. The fifth section records the results of the investigation and presents conclusions for praxis and further theological study. / Die voriiegende Dissertation erfasst die geschichtlichen und theologischen Grundlinien des radikalen Evangelikalismus und stellt ihn in den Kontext ahnlicher und ihn beeinflussender Theologien. Es wird aufgezeigt, dass der radikale Evangelikalismus eine evangelikale Grundkonzeption mit Elementen des Anabaptismus, des Social Gospel, der Befreiungstheologie und der Theologien im Umfeld des Okumenischen Rates der Kirchen bereichert Dabei wird deutlich, dass die radikale Theologie genuin evangelikal ist, die Einseitigkeiten der westlichen evangelikalen Theologie aber zu uberwinden vermag. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit ist den Beitragen radikaler Nord- und Lateinamerikaner gewidmet, da diese den radikalen Evangelikalismus wesentlich gepragt haben. Ziel ist es, den radikalen Evangelikalismus darzustellen, kritisch zu wiirdigen und fur die europaische evangelikale Szene fruchtbar zu machen. Der erste Teil nennt die Quellen, aus denen sich die radikale Theologie speist. Der zweite Teil zeichnet den geschichtlichen Werdegang des radikalen Evangelikalismus nach. Es wird nachgewiesen, dass der radikale Evangelikalismus in den dreissig Jahren seines Bestehens zu einem bestimmenden Faktor in der weltweiten evangelikalen Bewegung geworden ist. Der dritte Teil stellt die Grundzuge der radikalen Theologie mittels ausgewahlter Themen dar. Er zeigt auf, dass die Radikalen die evangelikale Bewegung mit einer transformatorischen Missionstheorie konfrontiert haben, die relevant fur die drangenden Probleme der Gegenwart ist. Der vierte Teil stellt die soziale Aktion des radikalen Evangelikalismus dar und zeigt auf, dass die energische Theologie der Radikalen im Grande genommen zur Tat driingende Spirituality ist. Der funfte Teil halt die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung fest und zieht Folgerungen fur die Praxis und das weitere theologische Arbeiten. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)

Text in German / The present dissertation considers the historical and theological foundations of radical evangelicalism and puts it in the context of theologies which influenced it and are similar to it. It will be demonstrated that the evangelicals are enriched by radical evangelicalism - an evangelical basic concept with elements of anabaptism, the social gospel, liberation theology and the ecumencial theologies. Thus it will be demonstrated that radical theology is genuinely evangelical, yet is capable of overcoming the one sidedness of western evangelical theology. Special attention is given to the contributions of radicals from North America as well as from Latin America since they are of considerable importance to radical evangelicalism. The aim of the dissertation is to present radical evangelicalism, to critically evaluate it, and to make it profitable to the European evangelical scene. The first section names the sources from which radical theology flowed. The second section reviews the historical development of radical evangelicalism. It will be demonstrated that, in the thirty years of its existence, radical evangelicalism has become a significant factor within the worldwide evangelical movement. The third section presents the fundamental characteristics of radical theology within a selection of themes. It demonstrates that the radicals have confronted the evangelical movement with a transforming theory of mission, which shows itself to be relevant for today's pressing problems. The fourth section describes the social action of radical evangelicalism and demonstrates that the energetic theology of the radicals is in fact based on a compelling spirituality. The fifth section records the results of the investigation and presents conclusions for praxis and further theological study. / Die voriiegende Dissertation erfasst die geschichtlichen und theologischen Grundlinien des radikalen Evangelikalismus und stellt ihn in den Kontext ahnlicher und ihn beeinflussender Theologien. Es wird aufgezeigt, dass der radikale Evangelikalismus eine evangelikale Grundkonzeption mit Elementen des Anabaptismus, des Social Gospel, der Befreiungstheologie und der Theologien im Umfeld des Okumenischen Rates der Kirchen bereichert Dabei wird deutlich, dass die radikale Theologie genuin evangelikal ist, die Einseitigkeiten der westlichen evangelikalen Theologie aber zu uberwinden vermag. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit ist den Beitragen radikaler Nord- und Lateinamerikaner gewidmet, da diese den radikalen Evangelikalismus wesentlich gepragt haben. Ziel ist es, den radikalen Evangelikalismus darzustellen, kritisch zu wiirdigen und fur die europaische evangelikale Szene fruchtbar zu machen. Der erste Teil nennt die Quellen, aus denen sich die radikale Theologie speist. Der zweite Teil zeichnet den geschichtlichen Werdegang des radikalen Evangelikalismus nach. Es wird nachgewiesen, dass der radikale Evangelikalismus in den dreissig Jahren seines Bestehens zu einem bestimmenden Faktor in der weltweiten evangelikalen Bewegung geworden ist. Der dritte Teil stellt die Grundzuge der radikalen Theologie mittels ausgewahlter Themen dar. Er zeigt auf, dass die Radikalen die evangelikale Bewegung mit einer transformatorischen Missionstheorie konfrontiert haben, die relevant fur die drangenden Probleme der Gegenwart ist. Der vierte Teil stellt die soziale Aktion des radikalen Evangelikalismus dar und zeigt auf, dass die energische Theologie der Radikalen im Grande genommen zur Tat driingende Spirituality ist. Der funfte Teil halt die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung fest und zieht Folgerungen fur die Praxis und das weitere theologische Arbeiten. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)

This study examines archival materials, pertinent literary sources, and nine interviews, (identified in Chapter One), in order to understand the leadership spirituality of Multnomah Bible College and its impact on the organisation today. To accomplish this goal, a study of spirituality and, in particular Christian Spirituality was undertaken. Since Multnomah was established during the American Bible Institute Movement, the movement itself was researched to understand its theological and historical context. With this background in mind, the academy was researched to gain knowledge into its specific theological and historical context. The historical and theological trends in the Pacific Northwest were investigated first, along with influential individuals, to gain insight into what specifically motivated the inauguration of the academy in Portland, Oregon. After gaining insight into why the academy was established, the study was expanded further into a brief history of the development and expansion of the institution itself from 1936 to the present. This more extensive historical and theological background provides the necessary platform in understanding the present situation at Multnomah and its possible future. Subsequently, the individual spiritual journey of nine Multnomah leaders were explored through qualitative interviewing, the most effective means of obtaining such personal information. The findings shed light on their leadership spirituality and impact on the academy. The data from the research was subsequently evaluated in light of known theories of faith and leadership development. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Christian Spirituality)

Evangelicalism in western Canada was fuelled by fundamentalist theology and devotion which evolved in this region during the early twentieth century. Generally, Canadian evangelical theologians have focused on the historical and theological implications of evangelicalism within this area. Due to the nature of evangelical theology, which is governed by reason and the defense of truth and dogma, this Christian movement in the west ignored by default concepts connected to mystical theology. This thesis researches a question which has not had an adequate response within evangelical theological tradition, primarily as a result of its disregard for mystical theology. The issue of concern in this thesis is the nature of the process of sanctification of the soul, and particularly, the purpose of the silence of God during this time. Questions to be addressed are: `what is the nature of spiritual transformation?', `what transpires in the soul of the person?' and `what is the role of the `dark night' and the `silence of God' during this experience?' This research responds with an explanation to the underlying cause for the inability of evangelical spirituality in the Canadian west to respond to this issue. It also provides a plausible resolution to the problem which is embedded in the literature of John of the Cross, a sixteenth century Spanish mystic. / CHR SPIRIT, CHURCHIST, MISS / DTH (CHR SPIRIT)

This study examines archival materials, pertinent literary sources, and fifteen interviews (listed in the PREFACE) in order to understand the impact on the Africa Evangelical Church (AEC) by its founding body, the South Africa General Mission/ Africa Evangelical Fellowship (AEF). It also explores the possible contributions that both the Mission and the Church could make to their continued growth as they move together into the 21st century. CHAPTER 1 places the AEF within the historical context of the past two hundred years and clearly identifies it as an interdenominational faith mission. AEF's history is developed in CHAPTER 2 and the Mission is measured against Klaus Fiedler's "historical typology" of the Protestant missionary movement. While primarily typical when compared to other missions of the same type in the same period, the Mission falls below average in other areas. Since the years being discussed fall within the apartheid era, CHAPTER 3 portrays the political positioning of AEF missionaries. The biblical bases and pragmatic stances for such positioning are considered before the chapter ends with a general biblical evaluation of AEF' s position. Having discussed the Mission at length, CHAPTER 4 moves into the circumstances surrounding the beginnings and eventual autonomy of the Africa Evangelical Church (AEC). Its ministry relationships with the Mission, as well as its established constitution, are studied before the chapter concludes with a comparison of the AEF and AEC. Since they are more similar than dissimilar, the AEF's influence on the AEC is umnistakably clear. The political events which heavily impacted the context in which both the AEF and AEC ministered are briefly presented in CHAPTER 5. Four different documents, which record the theological reflections of evangelicals in terms of the apartheid's injustices, are mentioned along with the lack of both AEF and AEC response to them. Following the outlining of changes in political stance, CHAPTER 6 delves into possible contributions which both the Mission and the Church could make, separately and jointly, to move more proactively toward relevant change in South Africa. Neither wish to dwell on the past. Both intend to keep "God First" and always to "Go Forward." / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th. (Missiology)