'Culture of the soul': fundamentalism and evangelism in Canada, 1921-1940

Abstract

The emergence of fundamentalism in Canada following World War I represented more than the divisive controversies often associated with the movement's struggle against "modernism". Com batting theological liberalism went beyond political battles as fundamentalists worked to establish their own informal network of organizations and institutions. At the heart of these efforts was the prevailing belief that by maintaining and proselytizing the 'fundamental' tenets of faith, fundamentalists could inaugurate a religious revival of Great Awakening proportions. In practice, however, spiritual revitalization proved to be more difficult than expected, and fundamentalists found themselves making select cultural accommodations in order to promote a broader sense of revival. By examining the techniques of evangelism adapted and developed within this emerging sub-culture, this thesis will explore how fundamentalists struggled to re-define their role within a secularizing society.