Whitebread Protestants: The changing presence of wine in Communion

Drinking wine from a common cup has been an integral part of communion practices in Christianity from its earliest days. However, in the late 19th century, many Protestant churches reconsidered this tradition, with some replacing the wine with grape juice and swapping one cup for many individual ones. In this fascinating episode, Elizabeth interviews Daniel Sack, the author of Whitebread Protestants. They explore how influences of Prohibition, worries about sanitation and health, anxiety about immigration, and above all, a desire for authenticity in religious practice led to changes in this drinking ritual. Regardless of your religious beliefs, this episode provides a remarkable way of understanding forces that shaped  America over the last one hundred years.