A Short History of Evangelicalism: Live Recording

In this episode, we’re sharing a live recording from one of our Tasting Room Theology gatherings—informal, in-person evenings where we pair something tasty (in this case, doughnuts from Lucky’s Doughnuts) with thoughtful theological reflection.

We welcome you into a conversation exploring a short history of evangelicalism—where it came from, what shaped it, and why it continues to matter today. As we trace its early roots, defining ideas, and cultural influence, we reflect on how themes like conversion, biblical interpretation, activism, and separation have shaped both personal faith and the wider world.

Along the way, we share some of our own experiences within evangelical spaces—what formed us, what challenged us, and what continues to stay with us. Ultimately, we’re asking what kind of faith is being carried forward, and what it might look like to move toward something more hopeful, grounded in beauty, goodness, and truth.

Note: This episode references a visual presentation used during the live event. You can find this presentation if you scroll down a bit .

Materials Referenced in this episode:

There are a lot of video and audio clips you can find in the presentation below but here are some of the other things Todd mentioned if you want to do some extra credit work.

Goodbye, Babylon – CD Set

Minds Wide Shut: How the New Fundamentalisms Divide Us, Gary Saul Morson and Morton Schaprio, 2021

American Apocalypse: A History of Modern Evangelicalism, Matthew Avery Sutton, 2014

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, Kristin Kobes Du Mez, 2020

We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland, Fintan O’Toole, 2023

Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free, Linda Kay Klein, 2018