Great Awakening revived and reformed religion by creating a new intensely-emotional approach to Church teachings. New Light preachers added a much needed Jolt to this religious slump of boring and uninspiring sermons. They rivaled, and served as serious competition for the traditional ” Old Light” teachers. However, was the Great Awakening a key contribution to theAmerican Revolution? I can agree, but, the true answer Is Indecisive. Whether the ” Awakening” did or did not influence independence in America, this new wave of religious freedom is with no doubt an important landmark in history.
Despite disagreeing to this next opinion, the ” supposedly” ineffective relationship between the Great Awakening and the revolution is supported with heavy content. According to some, this religious involvement was merely, as Jon Butler puts it, an ” interpretative fiction”. This states that the Great Awakening was a meaningful symbol with no valid reference; it had ” more talk, and less substance”. Butler also argues that historians took ” revivals having little connection” and unified them Into one big affair.
When merging with the world of politics, Church leaders failed to spread religion because offailureto defend It. They never supported the Awakening with ” factional alignments” (historical evidence) and even failed to show strong ” discontent with the Imperial relationship”. Some rebellious factions like Samuel Ward’s and Stephen Hopkins in Rhode Island, and several New York resistance parties, were never linked to the Great Awakening. Defiance groups against Britain were already established without the help of a religious influence.
The arguments that supported this ” enlightenment” weren’t convincing enough to influence such a revolt. Nevertheless, the Great Awakening inspired a new freely independent way of elisions and political thinking in British-America either way. Ezra Stiles was an American clergyman who worried about an imminent forthcoming of religious freedom In the colonies. This fear was an example of how such a religious movement could easily become a threat to the British. This freedom also institutes and Inspires an Ideology of liberty.
Led by Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield, and the Tenets, these ” New Light” preachers emotionally Impacted the view of parishioners. Their explosive innovative interpretations of faith to God and their fiery sermons changed religion forever. James Davenport was known for preaching in the streets; gathering listeners to learn about a different approach to receive God’s favor. Davenport ” encouraged his followers to cast away their fine clothes” and other valuables to live their life based on God and not by material things.
Because of the New Light’s favor foreducation, many famous ivy-league colleges were created from it too. Their inspiration on social, political, and educational subjects marks the power of religious influence. It was a significant event that united the Americans to share something together as a group. This newly and largely formed congregation shaped how Americans viewed society and religion to what It Is today. Even with well supported Information, negative views towards the Great Awakening aren’t as convincing as the power of God.
Cods presence of higher authority gave Americans hope that the British aren’t strong enough to rule over them forever. Traditional teachings of the now respected as a fair, merciful, powerful, and fair leader whom the people could look up to. What was also learned under God was that all men were created are equal. America uses this term as inspiration for their separation considering that it was mentioned in the ” Declaration of Independence”. Theequalityof man and the justice of the Lord gave an opportunity for them to be free; free from English rule.
As harmless as the ” building of stronger faith” sounds, religion has the ability to inspire a revolution. The newfound feeling of pride for God and country was a strong impact to America. They couldn’t let that go. They were starting to feel more like a country and ” united” nation. It was impossible to Juggle between their newfound religious and social beliefs with Britain’s already established religious and social beliefs. With the accomplishments of the Great Awakening, came the start of a separation that will change history.
