This book has two primary purposes: (1) to provide a thorough narrative describing the various revivals of religion in the American colonies between 1730 and 1800, and (2) to show that these revivals constitute the beginnings of evangelicalism in America. There is no question that the book accomplishes its first purpose superbly. Whether the book accomplishes its second purpose is more questionable. I will start with the second purpose.
Kidd begins the introduction to his book in this way, "Everywhere in early twenty-first century America, signs point to the influence of evangelical Christianity." He then asks, "How did ...
