INTRODUCTION: CHRISTIAN HERITAGE GROUPS

From the arrival of the early pilgrims to the social and political upheavals of the 1960's and 1970's, the variety of expressions of the Christian religion in the United states has been extensive. To chronicle this development would be a monumental task. As of 1990, there are over 800 different, distinct groups or bodies ("denominations") identified as part of American Christianity. There have been periods in American history, however, which have seemed more conducive to the emergence of new Christian bodies than other periods.

The first variations in American Christianity, of course, were found in the pre-Revolutionary war colonies. While many of these early settlers were the forerunners of the larger and better known of the contemporary Catholic and Protestant churches, others were identified with groups or denominations which experienced less rapid growth, and, therefore, may be less widely known. Among these were the Mennonites, principally Dutch, German, and Swiss immigrants, the Quakers or "Friends," principally English immigrants. Both of these groups settled initially in Pennsylvania, and while their history has been strong and continuous, their growth has been less rapid than other groups.

The 19th century saw the emergence of several new groups, principally as a result of the religious unrest and revival of the 1830s, and the subsequent changes in American Christianity which grew out of that period. One of the key thrusts of this revival period was a renewed interest and belief in the Second Coming, or Second Advent, of Christ. This focus gave rise to many groups, not the least of which was the Adventist movement spearheaded by William Miller. Among the groups established by or emerging from Miller's followers were the Seventh-day Adventists, the Seventh Day Baptists, and the Church of God. From the Church of God later came the Worldwide Church of God.

The proliferation of Christian groups in the 1830s, together with the concern for the Second Coming, led to the religious quest and subsequent revelation experience proclaimed by Joseph Smith, Jr. Smith established what he termed the "restored" church in 1830. This church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, moved west under the leadership of Brigham Young. Some of Smith's followers remained, however, including his son, and around these individuals was established the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Predictably, the religious actions of the first half of the l9th century led to religious reactions in the last half of that century. Among these reactions, perhaps the strongest was the movement launched by Charles Taze Russell. Russell began to organize his followers, in 1872, teaching against what he termed the false teachings of the churches, the tyranny of government, and the oppressions of business. He declared that Jehovah alone was God (that Christ was not divine), and preached against one of the most basic doctrines of the revival period--the depravity of man. Russell announced that the second Coming had occurred in 1874. Upon Russell's death in 1916, Judge Joseph F. Rutherford became the leader of the movement which later began to designate themselves as "Jehovah's Witnesses."

Another, though less volatile reaction to the revivalists was in the form of what Sydney E. Ahlstrom has termed the "Harmonial Religions," concerned with spiritual composure and physical (and even financial) well being. Outgrowths of this movement later were seen in the "New Thought" movement and the "positive thinking" teachings of Norman Vincent Peale. The focus on physical health in this period is most prominent in the work of Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist. Later manifestations of New Thought on Christianity which began during this period include the United Church of Religious Science and the Unity School of Christianity.

While other periods have a great deal of significance in the evolution of the current American Christian scene, the social, education, and political upheavals of the 1960s seem to have had as great an impact as any other force in any other period. Certainly one of the most widely known and publicized of the 1960s movements was the "Jesus People." Initially finding expression in often radical ways, most of the groups produced by this movement have been absorbed into the larger denominations. Among the few remaining as independent bodies are the Family of Love (formerly known as the Children of God) and The Way International.

Perhaps unique in its expression, but indicative of the general climate of interest in the east and the Middle East which now exists, is the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, also known as the Unification Church, the "Family," and, in less complimentary terms, the "Moonies." This movement, initiated by Korean minister Sun Myung Moon, is one of many groups which think of themselves as Christian and use Christian symbols and language, but which are not acknowledged as Christian by the major Christian bodies in the U.S.