Previous discussions of changes in Alexander Campbell's ideology have focused on an increasing ecumenism in Campbell's thought. Many scholars have argued that as Campbell aged he became more open to denominationalism. By conceiving of Alexander Campbell through the lens of Max Weber's categories of "prophet" and "priest," a different picture emerges. Alexander Campbell was a prophet of primitive Christianity in the early nineteenth century. Campbell attacked the denominational structures of the time and offered a new vision of Christianity should look like in the modern age. In the 1830s, however, Campbell began to become more priestly in his character. His major concern was no longer his vision of restoration. Instead Campbell became concerned with the institution his movement was becoming. Campbell's battles with Sidney Rigdon and John Thomas, the controversy in the movement over a hymnbook, and the death of Campbell's son, Wickliffe, demonstrate a priestly change in Campbell's identity. This shift was the product of Campbell's self-reflection on the role he was taking as well as the role his followers asked of him. Campbell's shift from prophet to priest represents a larger trend in American history. The examples of John Brown and William Lloyd Garrison suggest that many American prophets, like Campbell, have priestly tendencies. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Religion in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts. / Fall Semester, 2005. / October 21, 2005. / Max Weber, Stone-Campbell Movement, Alexander Campbell, Prophet, Priest / Includes bibliographical references. / John Corrigan, Professor Directing Thesis; Amanda Porterfield, Committee Member; Amy Koehlinger, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_181250 |
| Contributors | Brenneman, Todd M. (authoraut), Corrigan, John (professor directing thesis), Porterfield, Amanda (committee member), Koehlinger, Amy (committee member), Department of Religion (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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