Changes

The fundamentalists' failure to control most of the large evangelical denominations did not deter them from promoting their views. They established a variety of programs and organizations that focused on advancing the fundamentalist cause outside of the existing [[structure]] of Protestant denominations. An early example of these nondenominational efforts was the publication of a series of booklets, entitled ''The Fundamentals'', which described and justified various [[conservative]] theological positions. Distributed to religious leaders, students, and pastors throughout the [[English]]-speaking world, these booklets helped spread the fundamentalist message, and provided the source of the fundamentalist movement's name. Fundamentalists also established dozens of non-denominational Bible institutes and colleges during the early twentieth century, in part to provide clergy for the many independent fundamentalist churches organized during this period. And as the century progressed, fundamentalists became very active in religious broadcasting, which enabled them to disseminate their beliefs to much larger [[audiences]] than they could reach within the confines of their own congregations.

The fundamentalists' failure to control most of the large evangelical denominations did not deter them from promoting their views. They established a variety of programs and organizations that focused on advancing the fundamentalist cause outside of the existing [[structure]] of Protestant denominations. An early example of these nondenominational efforts was the publication of a series of booklets, entitled ''The Fundamentals'', which described and justified various [[conservative]] theological positions. Distributed to religious leaders, students, and pastors throughout the [[English]]-speaking world, these booklets helped spread the fundamentalist message, and provided the source of the fundamentalist movement's name. Fundamentalists also established dozens of non-denominational Bible institutes and colleges during the early twentieth century, in part to provide clergy for the many independent fundamentalist churches organized during this period. And as the century progressed, fundamentalists became very active in religious broadcasting, which enabled them to disseminate their beliefs to much larger [[audiences]] than they could reach within the confines of their own congregations.

While developing its own institutional structure, the fundamentalist [[movement]] adopted an increasingly oppositional stance with respect to contemporary [[culture]], and began to develop strategies to reform American [[society]]. The first major issue raised by the fundamentalists in this [[context]] was the teaching of scientific [[concepts]] that contradicted [[traditional]] [[interpretations]] of the [[Bible]]. They [[focused]] in particular on the teaching of [[evolution]] in public schools and universities, which they sought to ban either by legislation or through the regulations of local school districts. Anti-evolution laws were subsequently enacted in a number of states, primarily in the South where the influence of fundamentalism was greatest. The controversy surrounding these laws became widely publicized during a celebrated case in Tennessee, the so-called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scopes_Trial Scopes Monkey Trial], in which [[biology]] teacher John Scopes was tried in 1925 for violating the state ban on teaching [[Darwin]]'s [[theory]] of [[evolution]]. Although this [[event]] provided a forum for one of the most eloquent supporters of the fundamentalist position, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_jennings_bryan William Jennings Bryan], it also subjected fundamentalists to widespread criticism and ridicule in the national and international press, perhaps most notably by columnist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.L._Mencken H. L. Mencken]. As a result, the movement lost much of its credibility, and became increasingly alienated from the [[mainstream]] of American popular culture.

While developing its own institutional structure, the fundamentalist [[movement]] adopted an increasingly oppositional stance with respect to contemporary [[culture]], and began to develop strategies to reform American [[society]]. The first major issue raised by the fundamentalists in this [[context]] was the teaching of scientific [[concepts]] that contradicted [[traditional]] [[interpretations]] of the [[Bible]]. They [[focused]] in particular on the teaching of [[evolution]] in public schools and universities, which they sought to ban either by legislation or through the regulations of local school districts. Anti-evolution laws were subsequently enacted in a number of states, primarily in the South where the influence of fundamentalism was greatest. The controversy surrounding these laws became widely publicized during a celebrated case in Tennessee, the so-called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scopes_Trial Scopes Monkey Trial], in which [[biology]] teacher John Scopes was tried in 1925 for violating the state ban on teaching [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin Darwin]'s [[theory]] of [[evolution]]. Although this [[event]] provided a forum for one of the most eloquent supporters of the fundamentalist position, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_jennings_bryan William Jennings Bryan], it also subjected fundamentalists to widespread criticism and ridicule in the national and international press, perhaps most notably by columnist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.L._Mencken H. L. Mencken]. As a result, the movement lost much of its credibility, and became increasingly alienated from the [[mainstream]] of American popular culture.

Following their defeats within the mainstream denominations and in the public debate over the teaching of evolution, fundamental-ists entered a period of withdrawal and consolidation. Rather than attempting to reform [[society]] at large, they concentrated on building a separate [[structure]] of religious institutions consisting of Bible colleges and institutes, non-denominational fundamentalist churches, independent missionary organizations, revival meetings, and the like. They also became increasingly involved in religious broadcasting, first in radio and then television. Televangelism provided an especially effective outlet for the fundamentalists' efforts to expand their base of support. By enabling them to operate outside traditional institutional structures, it gave them a means of addressing new, untapped [[audiences]] as well as their existing followers. The broadcast media also suited the preaching style of many of the leading fundamentalist evangelists, who relied heavily on their [[personal]] [[charisma]]. Through such efforts, fundamentalism remained an active if unobtrusive [[force]] within American culture during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50%27s 1950s] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/60%27s 1960s].

Following their defeats within the mainstream denominations and in the public debate over the teaching of evolution, fundamental-ists entered a period of withdrawal and consolidation. Rather than attempting to reform [[society]] at large, they concentrated on building a separate [[structure]] of religious institutions consisting of Bible colleges and institutes, non-denominational fundamentalist churches, independent missionary organizations, revival meetings, and the like. They also became increasingly involved in religious broadcasting, first in radio and then television. Televangelism provided an especially effective outlet for the fundamentalists' efforts to expand their base of support. By enabling them to operate outside traditional institutional structures, it gave them a means of addressing new, untapped [[audiences]] as well as their existing followers. The broadcast media also suited the preaching style of many of the leading fundamentalist evangelists, who relied heavily on their [[personal]] [[charisma]]. Through such efforts, fundamentalism remained an active if unobtrusive [[force]] within American culture during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50%27s 1950s] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/60%27s 1960s].