What were the causes and consequences of the Great Awakening? Discuss key people who influenced the Great Awakening and the differences between old and new lights.
What were the causes and consequences of the Great Awakening? Discuss key people who influenced the Great Awakening and the differences between old and new lights.
Info:
• The Great Awakening was a spiritual renewal that swept the American Colonies, particularly New England, during the first half of the 18th Century.
Causes:
• Glorious Revolution of 1688: fighting between religious and political groups came to a halt with the Church of England was made the reigning church of the country. o POV England: From a political perspective, this led to stability since everyone now practiced the same religion. o POV people: Other religions, such as Catholicism, Judaism, and Puritanism, were suppressed and people were complacent and spiritually “dry”. Religion became something of a pastime in which people would “go through the motions” during religious services without deeply-felt convictions of the heart and soul.
• Because of the dryness, Certain Christians began to disassociate themselves with the established approach to worship and instead adopted an approach which was characterized by great fervor and emotion in prayer.
Key people:
• Jonathan Edwards o Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God o Based on Puritan/Congregationalist ideals o Preached personal salvation o Discussed repentance for sins (why? Remember “declension”?)
• John and Charles Wesley o John Wesley is considered to be the father of Methodism. o His brother, Charles, became one of the most prolific English-speaking poets, composing more than 6,500 hymns. o the brothers were founding members of a small Oxford University reform group that eventually spawned the second-largest Protestant denomination in America.
• George Whitefield o Revivalist o travels through the colonies o More emotional, revival-like sermons and preaching o Influences the south (slaveholders participate; try to prevent slaves from attending) o “Let us, therefore, not be weary of well-doing; for we
Info:
• The Great Awakening was a spiritual renewal that swept the American Colonies, particularly New England, during the first half of the 18th Century.
Causes:
• Glorious Revolution of 1688: fighting between religious and political groups came to a halt with the Church of England was made the reigning church of the country. o POV England: From a political perspective, this led to stability since everyone now practiced the same religion. o POV people: Other religions, such as Catholicism, Judaism, and Puritanism, were suppressed and people were complacent and spiritually “dry”. Religion became something of a pastime in which people would “go through the motions” during religious services without deeply-felt convictions of the heart and soul.
• Because of the dryness, Certain Christians began to disassociate themselves with the established approach to worship and instead adopted an approach which was characterized by great fervor and emotion in prayer.
Key people:
• Jonathan Edwards o Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God o Based on Puritan/Congregationalist ideals o Preached personal salvation o Discussed repentance for sins (why? Remember “declension”?)
• John and Charles Wesley o John Wesley is considered to be the father of Methodism. o His brother, Charles, became one of the most prolific English-speaking poets, composing more than 6,500 hymns. o the brothers were founding members of a small Oxford University reform group that eventually spawned the second-largest Protestant denomination in America.
• George Whitefield o Revivalist o travels through the colonies o More emotional, revival-like sermons and preaching o Influences the south (slaveholders participate; try to prevent slaves from attending) o “Let us, therefore, not be weary of well-doing; for we