In 1884, a denominational magazine for the Disciples of Christ by the name of The Christian Oracle was founded in Des Moines, Iowa. A small publication at its founding, it continued under this name until the turn of the 20th century. At this time, there was a widespread belief among many Christians that in the coming century, the Church could merge harmoniously with the new culture of the age and its scientific advancements, industrial expansion, and the growing diversity of the American population brought about by increased immigration. They believed that the coming century could be a “Christian century” in which a modern utopia is brought about by the Christianization of the world. In response to this movement, the editorial board changed the name of The Christian Oracle to The Christian Century (TCC) in 1900 and moved its production to Chicago around the same time.
The journal did not have widespread support within the Disciples of Christ denomination, and in 1908, it was sold to Charles Clayton Morrison, who made the magazine nondenominational. While the turmoil of two world wars and an increasingly dim view worldwide of imperialism in their aftermath may have put an end to the idea of a “Christian century,” the magazine itself prospered to become the premier voice of mainline Protestantism in the United States, and its sterling reputation for top quality reporting on religious and theological news, thoughtful commentary on moral and cultural issues, and insightful art and media reviews continues to this day. Atla has proudly included The Christian Century in its research tools for over 20 years, including its full text in Atlas® and Atlas PLUS®. Atla Product Specialist Todd Aiello and Content Acquisitions and Development Manager Burke Gerstenschlager (who earned his first job in publishing by answering an ad in TCC) spoke to Associate Editor Jessica Mesman and Community Engagement Editor Jon Mathieu about TCC’s history and its impact in the world of religion and theology in the 20th century and beyond.
Following the purchase of TCC by Charles Clayton Morrison, the journal began something of a “golden era” according to its editors. Mainline Protestantism was a dominant culture in America in the first half of the 20th century, and TCC was its voice. It became known as both a chronicler of the everyday lives and practices of Christians and as a host to all sorts of perspectives on the issues of the day. While firmly in the mainstream of mainline Protestant thinking of its day, it also included Biblical criticism and advocacy for the so-called Social Gospel, investigating issues of child labor, women’s suffrage, Civil Rights, environmentalism, and other vital topics of its time. As the fundamentalist movement within Christianity grew in popularity and political power, TCC found itself on the opposing side by presenting a more progressive and inclusive form of the religion, and in 1956, Billy Graham founded Christianity Today (also available in Atla’s research tools) explicitly to provide an evangelical contrast to the form of Protestantism presented in The Christian Century.
Its contributors over the years include famous names such as Jane Addams, Albert Schweitzer, W. E. B. DuBois, C.S. Lewis, W.H. Auden, T.S. Eliot, John F. Kennedy, Dwight Eisenhower, Paul Tillich, Rosemary Rutherford, and Marilynne Robinson. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as an Editor-at-Large with TCC for a time, and his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” was first published in full in its pages, along with six more of his original essays. The letter, one of the most important documents of the Civil Rights movement, discussed the moral responsibility of people to practice civil disobedience and break unjust laws rather than waiting for the legal system to provide justice. It was written in part to address the moderates who read TCC who may have supported the goals of the Civil Rights movement but not the actions of the activists working to make it happen. This epitomizes TCC’s willingness to look inward and be self-critical, something very rare among its contemporary Christian publications in the 1960s and a tradition it continues to this day.
Presently, The Christian Century’s reputation can be described, in the words of Associate Editor Jessica Mesman, as “The New Yorker for religion nerds.” It continues to provide chronicles of everyday life for both Church members and lay people and serves as a bridge between the academy and the pulpit. It is known for its high level of craft in writing and thought and is widely cited in mainstream media sources like The New York Times and in the sermons of churches throughout the United States. In its recent issues, readers can find in-depth stories and critical responses to the events of today, thoughtful theological reflections, Biblical study, poetry, lectionary columns for sermon preparation, reviews of movies, music, and other popular culture, and an extensive section of the journal is devoted to in-depth book reviews covering the full scope of literature in the religion and theology space. Their contributors include academics, clergy, and other well-known figures in the world of theology, but they accept submissions from contributors such as laypeople and first-year divinity students who meet the standards of the journal as well.
Perhaps most importantly, in a world of reactionary hot takes, the journal provides a place for intentional reflection on the issues of the day. Reading through its archives, one can chronicle the entire modern mainline Protestant movement and the ways it has interacted with history, and to this day, it remains a touchstone of wisdom and independent thought in American Christianity.
The Christian Century is indexed in Atla Religion Database, and its full text is available in Atlas and Atlas PLUS.
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