Podcast: A History of American Christianity by Leonard Woolsey Bacon Part 1

📖 Catholic Book Review with Star Rating Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 Stars) Leonard Woolsey Bacon’s A History of American Christianity provides a sweeping overview of Protestant development in America, focusing heavily on Puritanism, revivalism, and denominational growth.  From a Catholic standpoint, the book reflects the biases of its time: it largely overlooks Catholic contributions, underplays the role of the Catholic Church in American history, and often frames Protestantism as the dominant Christian tradition in America. While the historical details on Puritan New England, the Great Awakenings, and denominational splits are valuable, Catholic listeners should read with discernment. The book does not give a balanced account of Catholic influence on American religious life—such as the work of missionaries, Catholic education, and immigrant parishes that shaped U.S. Catholic identity. Catholic Perspective: This work is useful for understanding how Protestant historians of the late 19th century interpreted America’s religious heritage, but it should not be mistaken for a complete picture. A Catholic reader will recognize the silences and omissions, which highlight the importance of supplementing with authentically Catholic histories of the Church in America.