In response to his own question, “What is America?”, G.K. Chesterton replied, “a nation with the soul of a church.”

Throughout the nation’s history millions of believers of various faiths have shaped that soul. But which religious figures have had the most influence?

I’ve selected fifty native-born Americans who, for better or worse, have had a significant influence on our nation’s religious conscience. Such a list could never be definitive, of course, but this one is likely to be particularly flawed. Any appearance of bias is unintentional and based on the limits of my knowledge. My list is dominated by Protestants both because they have had a significant impact and because that tradition is the one I know best. Suggestions for who should have been included are welcome.

The 50 most influential religious figures in American history are (partial list):

· Benjamin Warfield – defender of Biblical inerrancy
· Billy Graham – evangelist and chaplain to late-twentieth century presidents
· C.I. Scofield – creator of the best-selling annotated Bible that popularized dispensationalism
· Carl F.H. Henry – theologian and leader of neo-evangelicalism; founder of Christianity Today
· Charles Hodge – chief defender of historical Calvinism in America during the nineteenth century
· Cotton Mather – New England Puritan minister and godfather of American evangelicalism
· Francis Schaeffer – Christian apologist and intellectual leader of evangelical pro-life and political movements
· Jonathan Edwards – evangelical theologian and philosopher

Read More: http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2010/08/20/50-most-influential-religious-figures-in-american-history/