A study of the development of organized religion in Jefferson County, Tennessee (1785-1950)

The present work is concerned with the organized expression of religious feeling in one Tennessee county. It attempts to trace the historical development of religious organization in its geographic setting and to discover some of the social, political, and economic factors which have influenced the direction of development. It also seeks evidence as to the influence which organized religion has exerted on development in directions not usually associated with religion.

Limitations of time and space prevented exploration in minute detail of many historical points of much interest. As points of reference for help in evaluation of materials and conclusions an effort was made to keep in mind the following phases of the subject:

1. The broad outline of the historical development of religious organization.
2. The relatice importance of religious organization in the total pattern of development.
3. Evidences of the place of religious motivation in social processes.
4. The way in which denominational configuration of the county has developed.
5. Significant interplay of forces within denominational groups.
6. The influence of geography on religious development, as to both general outline and denominational pattern.
7. Social factors affecting religious development
8. The place of religious history in the social studies.