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Most influential religious figures in US history
- One of America’s undeniable facts is how influenced its history has been by Christianity. Some of the country’s most influential leaders have been guided by faith. In this gallery, here are some of America’s most important religious figures.
© Getty Images
0 / 29 Fotos
Billy Graham (1918-2018) - Widely regarded as the most influential preacher of the 20th century, the ordained Southern Baptist minister was a Christian evangelist known for encouraging evangelical Protestants to regain the social influence they had once had.
© Getty Image
1 / 29 Fotos
Billy Sunday (1862-1935) - A popular outfielder in baseball's National League in the 1880s, Sunday went on to become one of the most celebrated evangelists in the early 20th century.
© Getty Image
2 / 29 Fotos
Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) - The influential American author is best known for establishing the Church of Christ, Scientist.
© Getty Image
3 / 29 Fotos
Brigham Young (1801-1877) - The leader in the Latter Day Saint movement, he founded Salt Lake City and served as the first governor of the Utah Territory.
© Getty Image
4 / 29 Fotos
Carrie Nation (1846-1911) - A radical member of the temperance movement, she is best known for attacking alcohol-serving establishments with a hatchet.
© Getty Image
5 / 29 Fotos
Frances Willard (1839-1898) - An educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist, Willard served as the president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, whose work influenced the 18th and 19th Amendments to the United States Constitution.
© Getty Image
6 / 29 Fotos
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) - The famed Civil Rights activist and Baptist minister is best known for his tactics of nonviolence and civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs.
© Getty Image
7 / 29 Fotos
Cotton Mather (1663-1728) - The influential New England Puritan minister was also a prolific author and pamphleteer, but is most notoriously remembered today for his vigorous support for the Salem witch trials.
© Getty Image
8 / 29 Fotos
Dorothy Day (1897-1980)
- The journalist and Catholic convert gained fame as a social worker following her conversion, and became a leading figure in the Catholic Worker Movement.
© Getty Images
9 / 29 Fotos
Richard John Neuhaus (1936-2009) - The Canadian-born Christian cleric was a longtime editor of the Lutheran Forum magazine newsletter, and was later the founder and editor of the monthly journal First Things.
© Getty Image
10 / 29 Fotos
Madalyn Murray O’Hair (1919-1995)
- The activist founded the American Atheists in the 1960s. She is the behind the Murray v. Curlett lawsuit, which led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling that ended official Bible-reading in public schools. She was murdered in Texas in 1995.
© Getty Images
11 / 29 Fotos
Roger Williams (1603-1683)
- The Puritan minister, English Reformed theologian, and Reformed Baptist founded the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. He's known for his advocacy for religious freedom, separation of church and state, and fair dealings with Native Americans. He is also known for being one of the first American abolitionists.
© Getty Images
12 / 29 Fotos
Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975) - The leader of the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975, he is known for mentoring Malcolm X, Louis Farrakhan, and Muhammad Ali.
© Getty Image
13 / 29 Fotos
Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821)
- The founder of the first American congregation of religious sisters, the Sisters of Charity, Seton was the first native-born American to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.
© Getty Images
14 / 29 Fotos
Joseph Smith (1805-1844) - The religious leader is best known for founding Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement.
© Getty Image
15 / 29 Fotos
Jerry Falwell (1933-2007) - The Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and conservative activist was the founding pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lynchburg, VA.
© Getty Image
16 / 29 Fotos
L. Ron Hubbard (1911 - 1986) - The science fiction and fantasy author is best known for founding the Church of Scientology.
© Getty Image
17 / 29 Fotos
Richard Allen (1760-1831)
- The minister, educator, and writer is one of America’s most influential black leaders.
© Getty Images
18 / 29 Fotos
Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993) - The minister and author (fourth from the left) is best known for popularizing the idea of positive thinking, particularly through his best-selling book ‘The Power of Positive Thinking.’
© Getty Image
19 / 29 Fotos
Anne Hutchinson (1591-1643)
- A Puritan leader, Hutchinson is known for her participation in the Antinomian Controversy, which was a religious and political controversy that shook the Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1636 to 1638.
© Getty Images
20 / 29 Fotos
Avery Dulles (1918-2008) - The Jesuit priest, theologian, and cardinal of the Catholic Church was internationally renowned as an author and lecturer.
© Getty Image
21 / 29 Fotos
Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979)
- The Catholic Church archbishop is best known for his work on television and radio.
© Getty Images
22 / 29 Fotos
Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) - The religious leader and author served as the 15th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
© Getty Image
23 / 29 Fotos
James Gibbons (1834-1921)
- The prelate of the Catholic Church is known for his work in defense of labor rights and helping convince Pope Leo XIII to give his consent to labor unions.
© Getty Images
24 / 29 Fotos
John Carroll (1735-1815)
- A prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, he served as the first bishop and archbishop in the United States.
© Getty Images
25 / 29 Fotos
Charles Finney (1792-1875)
- The Presbyterian minister led the Second Great Awakening in the United States, and is widely regarded as the Father of Modern Revivalism.
© Getty Images
26 / 29 Fotos
Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916)
- The restorationist minister founded what is now known as the Bible Student movement.
© Getty Images
27 / 29 Fotos
Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)
- The theologian, ethicist, and commentator is known for his work surrounding the intersection of religion, politics, and public policy. See also: Interesting religious sites around the world.
© Getty Images
28 / 29 Fotos
Most influential religious figures in US history
- One of America’s undeniable facts is how influenced its history has been by Christianity. Some of the country’s most influential leaders have been guided by faith. In this gallery, here are some of America’s most important religious figures.
© Getty Images
0 / 29 Fotos
Billy Graham (1918-2018) - Widely regarded as the most influential preacher of the 20th century, the ordained Southern Baptist minister was a Christian evangelist known for encouraging evangelical Protestants to regain the social influence they had once had.
© Getty Image
1 / 29 Fotos
Billy Sunday (1862-1935) - A popular outfielder in baseball's National League in the 1880s, Sunday went on to become one of the most celebrated evangelists in the early 20th century.
© Getty Image
2 / 29 Fotos
Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) - The influential American author is best known for establishing the Church of Christ, Scientist.
© Getty Image
3 / 29 Fotos
Brigham Young (1801-1877) - The leader in the Latter Day Saint movement, he founded Salt Lake City and served as the first governor of the Utah Territory.
© Getty Image
4 / 29 Fotos
Carrie Nation (1846-1911) - A radical member of the temperance movement, she is best known for attacking alcohol-serving establishments with a hatchet.
© Getty Image
5 / 29 Fotos
Frances Willard (1839-1898) - An educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist, Willard served as the president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, whose work influenced the 18th and 19th Amendments to the United States Constitution.
© Getty Image
6 / 29 Fotos
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) - The famed Civil Rights activist and Baptist minister is best known for his tactics of nonviolence and civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs.
© Getty Image
7 / 29 Fotos
Cotton Mather (1663-1728) - The influential New England Puritan minister was also a prolific author and pamphleteer, but is most notoriously remembered today for his vigorous support for the Salem witch trials.
© Getty Image
8 / 29 Fotos
Dorothy Day (1897-1980)
- The journalist and Catholic convert gained fame as a social worker following her conversion, and became a leading figure in the Catholic Worker Movement.
© Getty Images
9 / 29 Fotos
Richard John Neuhaus (1936-2009) - The Canadian-born Christian cleric was a longtime editor of the Lutheran Forum magazine newsletter, and was later the founder and editor of the monthly journal First Things.
© Getty Image
10 / 29 Fotos
Madalyn Murray O’Hair (1919-1995)
- The activist founded the American Atheists in the 1960s. She is the behind the Murray v. Curlett lawsuit, which led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling that ended official Bible-reading in public schools. She was murdered in Texas in 1995.
© Getty Images
11 / 29 Fotos
Roger Williams (1603-1683)
- The Puritan minister, English Reformed theologian, and Reformed Baptist founded the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. He's known for his advocacy for religious freedom, separation of church and state, and fair dealings with Native Americans. He is also known for being one of the first American abolitionists.
© Getty Images
12 / 29 Fotos
Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975) - The leader of the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975, he is known for mentoring Malcolm X, Louis Farrakhan, and Muhammad Ali.
© Getty Image
13 / 29 Fotos
Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821)
- The founder of the first American congregation of religious sisters, the Sisters of Charity, Seton was the first native-born American to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.
© Getty Images
14 / 29 Fotos
Joseph Smith (1805-1844) - The religious leader is best known for founding Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement.
© Getty Image
15 / 29 Fotos
Jerry Falwell (1933-2007) - The Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and conservative activist was the founding pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lynchburg, VA.
© Getty Image
16 / 29 Fotos
L. Ron Hubbard (1911 - 1986) - The science fiction and fantasy author is best known for founding the Church of Scientology.
© Getty Image
17 / 29 Fotos
Richard Allen (1760-1831)
- The minister, educator, and writer is one of America’s most influential black leaders.
© Getty Images
18 / 29 Fotos
Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993) - The minister and author (fourth from the left) is best known for popularizing the idea of positive thinking, particularly through his best-selling book ‘The Power of Positive Thinking.’
© Getty Image
19 / 29 Fotos
Anne Hutchinson (1591-1643)
- A Puritan leader, Hutchinson is known for her participation in the Antinomian Controversy, which was a religious and political controversy that shook the Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1636 to 1638.
© Getty Images
20 / 29 Fotos
Avery Dulles (1918-2008) - The Jesuit priest, theologian, and cardinal of the Catholic Church was internationally renowned as an author and lecturer.
© Getty Image
21 / 29 Fotos
Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979)
- The Catholic Church archbishop is best known for his work on television and radio.
© Getty Images
22 / 29 Fotos
Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) - The religious leader and author served as the 15th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
© Getty Image
23 / 29 Fotos
James Gibbons (1834-1921)
- The prelate of the Catholic Church is known for his work in defense of labor rights and helping convince Pope Leo XIII to give his consent to labor unions.
© Getty Images
24 / 29 Fotos
John Carroll (1735-1815)
- A prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, he served as the first bishop and archbishop in the United States.
© Getty Images
25 / 29 Fotos
Charles Finney (1792-1875)
- The Presbyterian minister led the Second Great Awakening in the United States, and is widely regarded as the Father of Modern Revivalism.
© Getty Images
26 / 29 Fotos
Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916)
- The restorationist minister founded what is now known as the Bible Student movement.
© Getty Images
27 / 29 Fotos
Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)
- The theologian, ethicist, and commentator is known for his work surrounding the intersection of religion, politics, and public policy. See also: Interesting religious sites around the world.
© Getty Images
28 / 29 Fotos
Most influential religious figures in US history
L. Ron Hubbard founded Scientology in December, 1953
© Getty Images
One of America’s undeniable facts is how influenced its history has been by Christianity. Some of the country’s most influential leaders have been guided by faith. In this gallery, here are some of America’s most important religious figures.
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