History of the History-Less
Despite the fact that there is zero historical evidence of its existence before the Cane Ridge, Kentucky, revival of 1801, the church of Christ teaches that it is the one true church, founded by Jesus in 33 AD. Usually, the narrative goes something like this: "The true church was founded by Jesus and then hopelessly corrupted and apostasized by the Council of Nicea in the fourth century, when the Roman Catholic church was founded. The true church went underground until 1801 when it was restored to its pure form by Alexander Campbell." Of course, this is all rubbish.
The truth is that the COC is just one of many American churches, including the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Mormon church, founded during the Second Great Awakening at the beginning of the 19th century. Its true history can be found in this marvelous book by Richard T. Hughes, Reviving the Ancient Faith: The Story of Churches of Christ in America. Hughes draws on the writings of Campbell himself, as well as the COC bishop-editors who followed him, in delineating the story of this peculiar people.
I grew up in a COC and never knew most of the information contained in this book, in part because the COC actively suppresses its own history and, in fact, denies that it has one. People really believe that it has ever been thus and don't realize the changes the church has undergone in the last 200 years. For example, I remember being taught that premilennialism was a sin, but the COC was premilennial until Word War I. A few influential bishop-editors took it upon themselves to change that and did so through their tracts, pamphlets, and newsletters. I also never understood why there are all-black and all-white COCs but very few integrated ones; the book has a lengthy chapter explaining how this happened.
If you've ever wondered where the COC came from and where it's going, Hughes's book is for you. It can be a bit dry at times, but I still found it fascinating and came away with a much deeper understanding of my religious heritage and the true history of this odd little sect.
The truth is that the COC is just one of many American churches, including the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Mormon church, founded during the Second Great Awakening at the beginning of the 19th century. Its true history can be found in this marvelous book by Richard T. Hughes, Reviving the Ancient Faith: The Story of Churches of Christ in America. Hughes draws on the writings of Campbell himself, as well as the COC bishop-editors who followed him, in delineating the story of this peculiar people.
I grew up in a COC and never knew most of the information contained in this book, in part because the COC actively suppresses its own history and, in fact, denies that it has one. People really believe that it has ever been thus and don't realize the changes the church has undergone in the last 200 years. For example, I remember being taught that premilennialism was a sin, but the COC was premilennial until Word War I. A few influential bishop-editors took it upon themselves to change that and did so through their tracts, pamphlets, and newsletters. I also never understood why there are all-black and all-white COCs but very few integrated ones; the book has a lengthy chapter explaining how this happened.
If you've ever wondered where the COC came from and where it's going, Hughes's book is for you. It can be a bit dry at times, but I still found it fascinating and came away with a much deeper understanding of my religious heritage and the true history of this odd little sect.
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