The Great Awakening1.The problem

A. Wigglesworth, God’s Controversy with New EnglandB. Jeremiads in election sermonsC. Franklin’s comment

2.God’s punishmentA. No replacements for first plantersB. Half-Way Covenant 1662C. Natural disasters (1662 drought, 1676 and 1679 Boston burned, small

pox epidemics, 1727earthquake)D. King Philip’s War 1675E. Loss of charter 1676F. Salem witch trials 1692G. Anti-clericalism

3.God’s provisionA. Prayer

1696 Cotton Mather prays for revival B. People

1703 John Wesley and Jonathan Edwards bornC. Phenomenon

The Great Awakening1.The problem

A. Wigglesworth, God’s Controversy with New EnglandB. Jeremiads in election sermonsC. Franklin’s comment

2.God’s punishmentA. No replacements for first plantersB. Half-Way Covenant 1662C. Natural disasters (1662 drought, 1676 and 1679 Boston burned, small

pox epidemics, 1727earthquake)D. King Philip’s War 1675E. Loss of charter 1676F. Salem witch trials 1692G. Anti-clericalism

Pietism 1675

Methodism 1738

GA 1730Moravians

Muhlenberg

Whitefield

1) Stoddard in Northampton1672-1729a. Opens the communion tableb. Five harvests

1) Stoddard in Northampton1672-1729a. Opens the communion tableb. Five harvests

2) William Tennenta. Log collegeb. Gilbert Tennent

Pietism 1675

Methodism 1738

GA 1730Moravians

Muhlenberg

Whitefield

1) Stoddard in Northampton1672-1729a. Opens the communion tableb. Five harvests

2) William Tennenta. Log collegeb. Gilbert Tennent

3) Frelinghuysena. Conversion experienceb. Fenced the communion table

4) Edwardsa. House to house visitation of young peopleb. Sermons against “Arminianism”

c. Two sudden deathsd. Conversion of bad young womane. 300 convertedf. Spreads to other towns 9/34-9/35

5) George Whitefielda. 1739 preaching tour of NEb. 1740 preaching tour of coloniesc. Effect on Franklind. Effect on ordinary people

4. Effect of Great AwakeningA. Situation before GA

1) Established church2) Crowds uncommon3) Limited free speech4) Learned, dignified clergy5) Formalized religion

B. Whitefield’s innovations1)Large, voluntary crowds2) Popular, itinerant minister3) Criticism of established ministers4) Preaching for decision

C.Results of the Great Awakening1) Conversions

a. Number: 1,000,000 Americansbetween 3,000 and 500,000 convertedBest estimates 30,000-40,000

b. Timing: before GA in NE most conversions came within 4 years of marriage. In the GA allages were converted but mostwere adolescents

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C.Effects: 1] spikes in church growth but then valleys

Average NE town had 8 new members a year between 1730 and 1740In 1741 and 1742 it added 33 new members a yearbut over the decade the same number joined during the 1730s as the

1740s

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2]Growth of revival denominationsPresbyterians

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2]Growth of revival denominationsBaptists

2)Increased concern for higher educationAnti-GA control Harvard and YaleSo pro-GA found Princeton, Brown, Rutgers,and Dartmouth

3)Splitsa.Congregational and Presbyterian both split into pro- and anti-GA

factionsb.321 splits in NE congregations

c.Why were there so many splits?1]Seed of the serpent against the seed of the woman2]Break up of Puritan synthesis of gathered churches in geographical

areasA) Gathered: pure churches with converted ministers repudiated

half-way covenant because the concern of the church is personal salvation--God’s covenant is with the individual

B) Geographical: community churches with learned ministers kept half-way covenant or expanded it to include all who wanted to be part of the church because the concern of the church is

social control--God’s covenant is with the community3]Head vs. heart religion

James Davenport (crazy but for the revival) against Charles Chauncey, (from Harvard but a proto-Unitarian), Seasonable

Thoughts on the State of Religion in New England4)Ecumenism

Frelinghuysen (Lutheran) influences Tenant (Presbyterian) who invites Whitefield (Anglican)

Theological loyalties become more important than denominational5)Individualism6)Arminianism7)Voluntarism

8)Beginning of American Revolutiona.End of theocracy showed social change was possibleb.Elevated the importance of individual c.Leveled societyd.Brought the nation together

4.Causes of Great AwakeningA. SicknessB. Economic problemsC. Social factors

1)Shift from rural to urban2)Generational tensions

D. Moravian 100-year prayer meeting