Unidentified photographersRiver Baptisms, c. 1880-1930.These outdoor communal rites were public disp
Unidentified photographersRiver Baptisms, c. 1880-1930.These outdoor communal rites were public displays of faith, practiced by thousands of Protestants, and witnessed by whole communities. A combination of economic depression and industrialization spurred religious fundamentalism in rural areas, and media-savvy preachers promoted mass revivals and encouraged a dialogue about religion in popular culture and media. Photographs of river baptisms were often disseminated as postcards, both by worshippers documenting their personal life-affirming experiences and by tourists noting exotic practices and vanishing folk traditions.International Center of Photography -- source link
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