Evangelical Ideology and Group Formation

Abstract

Evangelicals have generated significant social movement development in Britain and America during the past two hundred years. Abolition, Prohibition and numerous broad-based movements designed to promote public education, health and ‘morals’ developed with the intellectual, political and financial support of evangelical organizations. More recently, abortion, pornography and related ‘family’ issues have mobilized evangelicals into political organizations. In each instance, an evangelical religious ideology structured believers’ views on a specific issue, encouraged their involvement in a social and political campaign, and defined group goals.