People of Faith: Christianity in America

Presented in six parts, this comprehensive production surveys the 400-plus years of Christianity in America, covering pivotal figures such as Jonathan Edwards, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Martin Luther King Jr., Billy Graham, and others, while also describing key movements including the Great Awakening, abolitionism, Catholic immigration in the 1800s, fundamentalism, Vatican II, and the civil rights struggles of the mid-20th century. Scholars and historians representing evangelical, mainline Protestant, and Catholic perspectives—including Martin Marty of the University of Chicago, Mark Noll of the University of Notre Dame, and Kathryn Long of Wheaton College, among others—offer insights and commentary, exploring issues such as the separation of church and state, the challenges of religion in a pluralistic society, the emergence of modern “megachurches” that seem to follow a consumerist approach to faith, and the evangelical role of popular music and the Internet. DVD extras include bonus interviews, study and discussion questions, and transcripts. Offering a balanced and informative look at an important aspect of American history and culture over the centuries, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: H, C, P. (C. Block)