All kinds Quote by Ross Douthat
“It's clearly the case that there's not some moment in American history when every evangelical is holding hands with every Catholic who is holding hands with every mainline Methodist, or what have you. Obviously, American Christianity was deeply divided in all kinds of ways at mid-century too. But there was a kind of convergence going on. Even though Reinhold Niebuhr, the great mainline Protestant theologian, didn't think highly of Billy Graham, he and Graham still, clearly, had more in common, both theologically and in their attitudes toward religion in public life.”
About This Quote
Source Article: The Atlantic, “The Evangelical Convergence”, 2015
American Christianity, historically fragmented, showed a mid‑century trend where evangelical and mainline leaders began sharing theological and public‑policy views despite personal disagreements.
In simple terms: Evangelicals and mainlines started aligning in beliefs and politics.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that ideological bridges can form even among rivals.
Themes
religion
politics
division
convergence
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- mid‑century church conferences
- interfaith dialogues
- political lobbying
- media commentary
Key Concepts
theology
public life
ecumenism
Questions to Reflect On
- What factors enable religious groups to find common ground?
- How do personal biases affect public alliances?
A Different Perspective
Not all groups converged; many remained polarized.
![“[M]ost Americans are still drawing some water from the Christian well. But a growing number are inventing their own versions of what Christianity means, abandoning the nuances of traditional theology in favor of religions that stroke their egos and indulge or even celebrate their worst impulses…” quote by Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fd7/ross-douthat-2949_american-life_m-ost-americans-are-still-drawing-some-w_743522.jpg)
