Life magazine from 1955

When Tonia and I were celebrating our anniversary, we biked and hung out in Columbus, stayed in Nashville, and had dinner at the Story Inn. The next day, we had planned to hit the huge flea market in Bargersville, but we were surprised by rain. So, we stayed in the area and hit some local "antiques" stores and semi-flea markets. I bought a few small things, including a 1955 issue of Life on Christianity, with a lot of good stuff in it...

The issue opens with a good article on Ike's (vibrant Christian) faith, including excerpts from his speeches. Ike is difficult to figure, but the best I can figure: he had a strong but relatively private Christian faith, while presiding over the public expansion of "Christianity" as part of American Civil Religion. 

The interpretation of "separation of church and state", at that time, was completely on the side of keeping government out of religion (p. 56-57). This is consistent with the most reasonable interpretation of the Founders' thoughts, the history of government messing with religion, and court cases through WWII. 

A brief article and a handful of pictures of Harry and Bertha Holt-- an "average" couple who greatly expanded international adoption to the U.S. and started Holt International, the first agency to strongly promote the practice... 

An article on Cane Ridge camp meetings, describing them as a combination of spiritual revival, big ol' party, and county fair...

A long article on Billy Graham, at that early juncture in his life and ministry...

An article on revival at the Harvard Divinity School...

A bunch of pictures on church architecture...

And it was a smile to look through all of the pictures (for which Life is famous) and the old advertisements!