The Great Awakening in New
England
Religion in America
Recapturing the Spirit
•
Decline
in church membership & fervor
•
Deterioration
of community, discipline
•
Innovations
in preaching
•
“Harvests”
•
“Fire and Brimstone” sermons: scare tactic
Kindling the flames
•
Jonathan
Edwards in Northampton
•
1735-39: “Showers of grace”
•
“Sinners in the hands of an angry God”
•
George
Whitefield, 1741
•
Fiery effect in an American preaching tour
•
New England set ablaze
The Revivals Flame Out
•
The
problem of itinerant ministers
•
Gilbert Tennent, Presbyterian from New Jersey’s “Log College”
•
The Dangers of an Unconverted Ministry
•
Ministers
divided: New Light, Old Light
•
Division of churches: Enthusiasm vs. coldness
•
Triumph of ministers becomes final blow to Puritan vision