What American has had the greatest influence on religious thought?

Question

This could be on religion in America or the whole world.

Please, only Americans. And I'm looking for historical effects too.

Answer 1

That's a hard question, because so many of the people that have shaped "American" religion were not Americans. Examples are St. Augustine, John Calvin, John Wesley (and his underrated brother Charles) and Karl Barth. Even Gerald Gardner, the founder of modern Wicca, was British!

I can think of a few Americans, however, who impacted American, and ultimately world religion. Charles Finney, an American attorney turned fireball evangelist, was active in the mid 19th century. He invented (yes, really invented) the practice of holding big tent revivals where you manipulate people into coming down the aisle and getting saved. American religion would never be the same.

Someone else mentioned Jonathan Edwards. Edwards was perhaps one of only two people who were able to pick up Calvin's theology and restate it with an eye towards a new context and come out with something as powerful as the original (The other being Barth). Edwards took seriously the idea of a person having a personal experience with God through Christ, but was skeptical about whether mere emotionalism should be equated with a salvation experience. Many evangelicals look to Edwards to ply the waters of salvation without falling either into emotionalism or rationalism.

Rabbi Isaac Wise was an American Jewish leader who took the lead in founding Reform Judaism. Under Wise, women were included in forming quorums in synagogues for the first time. He might be the most influential American Jew in the history of American Jewry.

Theologian Paul Tillich has had a lasting influence upon American liberal theological thought. For Tillich, who participated in WWI as a German combat chaplain, emigrating to the US before WWII to escape the Nazi regime, God was simply the "ground of all being." as I understand him, this simply means that God is the fact that something, rather than nothing, exists. Not only was Tillich influential in mainline Protestant circles in his own right, but his theology influenced later theological liberals, such as feminist theologians (like Ruether).

Finally, I don't want to overlook Francis Asbury. Asbury was the leader and later self-styled bishop of the Methodist church that was founded here at the so-called Christmas Conference in 1784. The break from Britain forced American Methodists to form their own organization, and Asbury emerged as a leading figure. That Methodists still employ an Episcopal organization is largely due to his tireless influence.

I hope this has been helpful, whether you are just curious or are working on a project.

Answer 2

Going back in Church History, among those that have had the greatest influence on religious thought were: Martin Luther in defying the Catholic Church over "works" rather than grace and paying indulgences to pay their way into heaven. The Martyrs of Scotland, among them were Henry Forest, who was deemed a heretic, without just cause, was killed.

Those who have greatly influenced christian religious thought in modern times are Billy Graham, C.S. Lewis, D.L.Moody, Juanita Bynum, T.D. Jakes, John Hagee, Dr. Horace E. Smith, Noel Jones, Dr Arthur M. Brazier, Dr. Charles F. Potter and Ray Comfort..The list of influences are far too many to post here!

Answer 3

None. If anything, all efforts expended since the official start of the American Revolution have invariably led in the opposite direction with the thin semblance of religiosity. Sorry Mr. Graham, Falwell, Robertson, Roberts, Wilkerson, Camping, ad infinitum.

Answer 4

Billy Graham

Answer 5

D L Moody. C C Ryrie, C I Scofield, Norm Geisler, John Walvoord, John Martin, Gene Merrill,

Answer 6

I guess that would depend on your religious affiliation.

For me I would say Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. I would put him in the "religion in America" category, but he did have some influence in Canada and Europe.

Answer 7

Billy Graham.

Answer 8

Billy Graham reaches millions with his tv specials, and James Dobson has a huge ministry in many different mediums. Both are highly respected in the Christian community.

Answer 9

Mickey Mouse

Answer 10

I would say some Evangelical Christian writer like Max Lucado (but not for the whole world). Or mayby C.S. Lewis.