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Difficulty: HardSocial and Political Controversies of the 1920s

"The question is whether that is compatible with the Christian spirit. The question is whether we shall go on, work together, and respect one another’s liberties, or whether we shall make a split in the church. If you had seen, as I have, the tragic effects of this fundamentalist movement in the foreign mission field, you would not think this a small matter. They are trying to shut out of the Christian ministry all who do not hold to their particular view of inspiration. They are trying to make a division, to cast out those who do not agree with them. They are trying to force a creedal test upon the churches. This is a time for tolerance, not intolerance; for charity, not bigotry; for cooperation, not division."

— Harry Emerson Fosdick, "Shall the Fundamentalists Win?", sermon delivered at First Presbyterian Church, New York City, 1922

The conflict discussed in the excerpt arose primarily from debates over which of the following?

  1. The degree to which traditional religious beliefs should be reconciled with modern scientific theories and social changes.Answer
  2. B
    The passage of constitutional amendments designed to enforce national moral reform.
  3. C
    The growth of rural-based political coalitions seeking federal regulation of corporate monopolies.
  4. D
    The federal enforcement of laws intended to restrict the civil liberties of political radicals.

Answer

The degree to which traditional religious beliefs should be reconciled with modern scientific theories and social changes.
The correct answer is correct because Fosdick's sermon directly addresses the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy of the 1920s. This theological conflict was driven by debates over how Protestantism should respond to modern developments, such as Darwinian evolution, scientific advancements, and modern biblical criticism, with Modernists seeking to integrate these ideas and Fundamentalists rejecting them in favor of a literal interpretation of scripture.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source citation and the historical context of the excerpt.
The source is Harry Emerson Fosdick's 1922 sermon 'Shall the Fundamentalists Win?', which places the excerpt in the context of the cultural and religious divisions of the 1920s.
Identifying the author, document, and date helps establish the historical backdrop of the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy.
2
Examine the text to identify the core argument and key terminology used by the author.
The author uses words like 'fundamentalist movement,' 'creedal test,' 'tolerance,' and 'division' to criticize efforts to exclude those who do not hold a strict view of biblical inspiration.
Textual analysis reveals that the primary debate is within Protestant churches over religious doctrine and modern interpretations of faith.
3
Relate the arguments in the text to the broader cultural debates of the 1920s.
The debate reflects the conflict between religious Modernists, who sought to adapt faith to modern science (such as Darwinian evolution) and biblical scholarship, and Fundamentalists, who insisted on a literal interpretation of scripture.
Connecting the specific text to the learning objective helps determine the correct historical development being tested.

Key Concept

The Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy of the 1920s reflected deep cultural divisions over the relationship between science, modern society, and traditional religious beliefs.
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Topics

Social and Political Controversies of the 1920s

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