Who Is an Evangelical?: The History of a Movement in Crisis

“This book, written by one of the most respected historians of our time, examines evangelicalism with clarity and insight, through the telling of a riveting story. Reading this book makes me remember why I loved the word ‘evangelical’ in the first place, and why I think our movement is worth saving.”

“Kidd makes a persuasive case for returning the term ‘evangelical’ to the religious convictions that once loomed as more important for ‘evangelicals’ than political adherence. This book is as important as it is timely.”

“Guiding readers through the historical diversity and permutations of evangelicalism, Kidd explores the movement’s central complexities, tensions, and contradictions. In doing so, he strikes a hopeful balance between what it has become and what it could reclaim.”

“Well researched and beautifully written, this book will be a conversation starter.”

“Thomas S. Kidd says more in 175 pages of text than most historians of this capacious topic have said in books twice that long. Though . . . written for a popular audience, specialists will immediately see that it represents the distillation of years of careful research and critical reflection.”

“How 81 percent of evangelicals could have voted for Donald Trump, given his flouting of their ‘traditional values,’ has been a question for many Americans since 2016. . . . Kidd, a professor of history at Baylor University, finds an explanation in the history of the relationship between evangelicals and political power”

“Mr. Kidd’s brief history is invaluable as a primer, especially for political observers who find American evangelicalism mysterious and alien . . . Mr. Kidd’s arguments are fair and his scholarship is superb.”

“Learned but highly accessible, this is an excellent introduction to US evangelical history and politics. Sweeping across two hundred years, multiple faith commitments, and covering a broad range of racial and political identities, this is an important book.”

“Thomas Kidd, an accomplished U.S. historian and practicing evangelical Christian, reminds us that evangelicalism has always been primarily a religious and spiritual movement that, when at its best, has transcended race, class, ethnicity, and politics.”