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.

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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.

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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.

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Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) - The influential American author is best known for establishing the Church of Christ, Scientist.

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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.

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Carrie Nation (1846-1911) - A radical member of the temperance movement, she is best known for attacking alcohol-serving establishments with a hatchet.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Joseph Smith (1805-1844) - The religious leader is best known for founding Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement.

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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.

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L. Ron Hubbard (1911 - 1986) - The science fiction and fantasy author is best known for founding the Church of Scientology.

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Richard Allen (1760-1831) -

The minister, educator, and writer is one of America’s most influential black leaders.

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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.’

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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.

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Avery Dulles (1918-2008) - The Jesuit priest, theologian, and cardinal of the Catholic Church was internationally renowned as an author and lecturer.

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Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979) -

The Catholic Church archbishop is best known for his work on television and radio.

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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.

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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.

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John Carroll (1735-1815) -

A prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, he served as the first bishop and archbishop in the United States.

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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.

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Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916) -

The restorationist minister founded what is now known as the Bible Student movement.

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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.

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