ABSTRACT
The eighteenth century witnessed a major shift in the nature of Christianity. This new form of Christianity came to be known by two names: Pietism on the Continent and evangelicalism in North America and Britain. Pietism or evangelicalism is often known as a "religion of the heart, rather than a religion of the head". Contemporary evangelicalism emphasizes the personal relationship with Jesus. Pietism came to America and deeply impacted evangelicalism, placing personal experience over doctrine. Revivalism, especially during the Second Great Awakening, further encouraged individualism and the human element of salvation. The Holiness movement and other trends further encouraged human and societal perfection as the century progressed. The Gospel of Wealth, with a totally different emphasis, further accentuated human activity in religion. A number of Protestant groups grew dissatisfied with the direction of the nineteenth-century America: urbanism, consumerism, increased wealth, a tidal wave of migrations, and many intellectual challenges to the historic Christian faith.
