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The Great Awakening. In the 1730s, a dramatic change occurred that swept through the colonies with the force of a hurricane. This was a movement characterized by fervent expressions of religious feeling among the masses. . The Decline of Puritanism.
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The Great Awakening In the 1730s, a dramatic change occurred that swept through the colonies with the force of a hurricane. This was a movement characterized by fervent expressions of religious feeling among the masses.
The Decline of Puritanism • Puritan leaders propose the Half-Way Covenant in 1662 which allowed grandchildren of the members of the church to be baptized – even though their parents were not both members • By 1700 there were intellectual forces at work against Puritanism and the concept of original sin: • The advent of Newtonian physics • Enhanced role of science and philosophy – John Locke • The arrival of Deism and Enlightenment in the colonies • If 17th century America had been characterized by Puritanism, then 18th century America would be characterized by deism
18th Century American Deism • Denied the scriptures as the only infallible rule of faith and practice • Taught the Bible to be binding only to the extent that it corresponded with reason – rationalism of Descartes • Influenced heavily by Locke’s natural law, Newton’s natural revelation, and the Enlightenment • Denied the following Calvinist doctrines: • doctrine of the Fall • total depravity • redemption through Christ alone • Predestination • Effectual calling
18th Century American Deism • Provided the philosophical basis for the American Revolution and the democracy that would develop • The Revolutionary could no more admit a sovereign God than he could a sovereign King • John Adams reminded his fellow patriots in 1775 that the revolution had been over before it ever began • Compare John Locke’s view of sovereignty and natural rights with those of the Puritans to see the transition or revolution that had taken place in America prior to the war
18th Century American Deism • The Enlightenment looked back to the Renaissance instead of the Reformation and was a protest against ecclesiastical authority • The Enlightenment developed in Europe and brought to American Deism three basic ideas: • The inherent goodness of human nature • The perfectibility of man • The inevitability of progress • Jonathan Edwards entered Yale in 1716 at the age of 13 and read Locke and studied Newton, which impacted the theology he would preach in the Great Awakening
Jonathan Edwards Initiated the Great Awakening in Northampton, Massachusetts– carefully enunciated and solemn style “Narrative of Surprising Conversions” – in awe of God’s work in the region Series of sermons entitled “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” in 1741 Argued that God was rightly angry with human sinfulness Each individual could be saved by God’s grace or face eternal damnation Preached against popular theological trends coming from Europe
George Whitefield Preacher from the Church of England – greatest evangelist of the 18th century Came from England in 1739 and traveled all of colonial America – crowds of 10,000 and more Felt called by God to General Oglethorpe’s colony He is credited with kicking off the Great Awakening Ben Franklin befriended and published him after hearing a sermon Preached that regular people could be saved by grace without assistance from or dependence on any church – emotional appeal to the masses Preached more than 18,000 sermons between 1736 and 1770
Whitefield standing with William Tennent in Philadelphia, “Father Abraham! Whom have you in Heaven? Any Episcopalians? No! Any Presbyterians? No!” • Ben Franklin said “It was wonderful to see the change soon made in the manner of our inhabitants. From being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, it seemed as if all the world were growing religious, so that one could not walk through the town in an evening without hearing psalms sung in different families of every street.” • Whitefield concerning the clergy… “I am persuaded that the generality of preachers talk of an unknown and unfelt Christ. The reason why congregations have been so dead is because they had dead men preaching to them. How can dead men beget living children?” Quotes of or concerning Whitefield
Religious and Political Impact of the Great Awakening Emotionalism becomes a common part of Protestant church services Ministers lost some of their formal authority Caused a major division between Old Lights and New Lights Baptists and Methodist denominations grow quickly as a result of the movement The movement was naturally egalitarian and had tremendous political influence in the colonies
