Evangelicals vs. Liberals in the Pacific Northwest

In a very fascinating review of James Wellman’s Evangelical vs. Liberal, Matthew Sutton describes the powerful influence of evangelicals in the Pacific Northwest. He even makes references to our good friends in Moscow, ID. He concludes his review with these words:

Evangelical vs. Liberal is a balanced and engaging exploration of religious difference in the most unchurched region of the country. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this study was Wellman’s reflection on how his research had influenced him as a Presbyterian minister and professor of religion. “I began by sharing some of the biases of liberals toward evangelicals,” he writes. “But through my research I have come not to agree with evangelicals but to respect the power of their convictions and the perseverance by which they serve one another, their communities, and their world. Evangelicals, in this study, put their feet and their resources where their mouth is.” This is not to say that liberals don’t. However, evangelicals have a far clearer sense of community and mission. And in Moscow, Idaho, they also serve good coffee and know how to make really tasty French food. For all of these reasons, evangelicals are winning the clash of Christian civilizations, not just across the nation, but even in the Pacific Northwest.