Between the Times

During the first six decades of the last century, the so-called mainline Protestant denominations in America were compelled to accommodate to the growing influences of diverse religions and growing secularization. In this book, twelve historians examine the nature of the American Protestant establishment and its response to the growing pluralism of the times. The goals of the establishment are first examined from the inside, as they were voiced from the pulpit, expressed in education and through the media, and applied in ecumenical and social-reforming ventures. The establishment is then viewed through the eyes of outsiders - Jews and Catholics - and those at the periphery of the establishment's core - and women. The authors conclude that the period surveyed forms a distinct epoch in the evolution of American Protestantism. The days when Protestant cultural authority could be taken for granted were certainly over, but a new era in which religious pluralism would be widely accepted had not yet arrived.

'William Hutchison and his collaborators offer a rich and stimulating series of essays. Well-crafted chapters with ample footnotes (and references to major secondary studies) serve the reader well. The individual elements of the book are sensitively situated by Hutchison's deft introductions and conclusions. Between the Times will stimulate serious students as well as seasoned scholars … It also goes without saying that the book should promote reflection within religious communities. Between the Times not only defines an era; it also explores a central transformation in twentieth-century American culture.' John F. Wilson, Princeton University, 'Between the Times is a splendid book! … Hutchison and his colleagues fill a hole that has existed for decades but been noticed only in recent years.' Phillip E. Hammond, University of California at Santa Barbara, 'The central themes are critical to understanding what happened to American mainstream Protestant churches in the 20th century … The essays offer a fascinating kaleidoscope of perspectives on aspects of this Protestant establishment and its 'travail' in maintaining authority … Facile generalizations about the importance of the 1960s will have to be modified by these thoughtful reassessments of the Protestant establishment at its zenith.' John N. Muldar, The Presbyterian Outlook, 'I consider this a pioneering and already landmark achievement.' Martin Marty, The Christian Century