This lesson explores some of the historical and theological shifts in Western Christianity in the time since the Protestant Reformation to the contemporary era of American evangelicalism. It begins by examining the conditions that made the Reformation possible, including the decline in the Roman Catholic Church’s authority. We then see how the Enlightenment emphasized reason, science, and individualism, which was accompanied by a growing skepticism about traditional Christian beliefs. Many of these challenges are still with us today. We then explore the story of evangelicalism in these last three centuries, tracing its roots from key figures like John Wesley, George Whitefield, and Jonathan Edwards, through the Great Awakenings, to the rise of neo-evangelicalism in the twentieth century. We see the changing focus of evangelicalism over time, from evangelism to social justice to political activism. 

This lesson aims to equip you to:

1. Explain some of the core challenges to Christian faith that have arisen in the modern age.
2. Describe the story of evangelicalism in the last few centuries.