Held throughout the summer of 1893, the World's Columbian Exposition solidified Chicago's prominence as one of America's great cities. Organized to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of Columbus' arrival upon North America, the Exposition included one of the first attempts to encourage an interfaith dialogue in the World's Parliament of Religions.
Read the opening address of the Parliament. What were the intents of its organizers? How do they comprehend and engage the religious diversity? Read pages 62-82.
Of course, the Parliament did not, and could never, speak for all of the city's religious traditions. Chicago's preeminent revival preacher Dwight L. Moody--the Billy Graham of his day--and a number of conservative evangelical Protestants protested the entire Exposition for its refusal to close on Sundays. You can read accounts of Moody's revival/protest below. What does Moody's efforts say about his view of the city's religious diversity. How does it differ from the World's Parliament? In particular, read pages 15-18, 126-133, 184-202.
And just for kicks, you can listen to a rare recording of Moody's voice, taken late in the 1890s, to get a sense of his personality and the character of late nineteenth century revivalism.
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