Enlightenment and Awakening in America

In the year the 1730s, religious revitalization swept through the British American

colonies. Yale minister, Jonathan Edwards declined to convert Church of England. He worried

that those New England followers were concerned with worldly matters. According to Jonathan

Edwards, people found strive for wealth more imperative than religious teachings of the John

Calvin.

The 18th century acted as the age of Enlightenment or Age of Reason in America. Acted

by Thomas Paine, it was published by World Union of Deists in 1794. Enlightenment principle

remained application of human intellect to make reasonable decisions. Through the rational

application of ideas, societies could be rationalized for the benefit of all citizens.

Enlightenment ideas changed how the colonists and founders of America formed a new

government. The Age of reason altered how people viewed religion. The Enlightenment

challenged old traditions and emphasized on reasons. Many figures engaged in enlightenment by

influencing how Americans thought. Roger Williams' writings showed how the roles of church

and the state occupied distinct jurisdictions. Efforts of enlightenment were to generate new

politics in America. The advocacy was on absolute freedom to practice religion. Enlightenment

supported as a system of government where its citizens remained sovereign.

The era provided Americans with a philosophical foundation for revolution.

Republicanism found fertile grounds to develop a nation of individualism, self-reliance, and

freedom. The philosophers of Enlightenment steered in innovative ways of thinking.

The Works of Jonathan Edwards (1957-2008) considered Jonathan Edwards prominent

Theologian. Published by Yale University Press, the publication noted that Edwards viewed
science incompatible with Christian theology. Edwards wrote many influential sermons and

works that provided a theological foundation for the revival. The teachings were against the

unwarranted belief in secular reason on matters theology.

Edward's sermons were made to educate and guide early American colonists on the Bible

teachings. The sermons are wide, but they root on reformed theology, theological determination

metaphysics, and Puritan heritage. The main effort put was to revive the British religion colonies

in America. Edwards's sinners in the hands of an angry God become one of the famous sermons

of the great awakening. The techniques used by Edwards were unimpressive where he read the

sermons in an even expression with great faith.

The Great Awakening led to split of various religious denominations within the American

colonies. Two groups of denominations developed one who held the traditional beliefs referred

to as the "old lights" and the "old light" who followed new ideas of awakening. Great Awakening

was credited for helping people and brought new revolutions. The new lights helped advocates

assisted many colonies to democratize their territories. According to the Great Awakening, the

word of God belonged to all but not the educated elites. A new thought of self-reliance and

freedoms for religion made colonists believe that they had the ability to determine their own

political purposes. The divine king's rights were thrown away thus people could change

administrations that never protected basic human rights.

The Sermons of George Whitefield published by Thomas Cooper shows the driving

forces of the evangelical revivals in America. Published in 1778, George Whitefield sermons

were made to inspire the people's enthusiasm. The preaching of series of revivals developed later
in what was referred to as the great Awakening. His techniques were divisive and different

clergy engaged with him in different debates.

George Whitefield sermons had a style of preaching that elicited emotional responses

from the listeners. Initially, people groaned and roared in enthusiastic emotions in First Great

Awakening. George Whitefield being a passionate preacher frequently shading tears underlined

his genuine conviction on religion. He observed that true religion involved the heart, not the

head. Through his teachings, people become awakened and enlightened in thinking, concepts,

and habits that would later act as a foundation for American Revolution.

Though ordained with Anglican Church, George Whitefield belief had no denominational

bone. Incessant travels assisted in making awakening as a national event. Scattered colonists

from different denominations would meet in a single event. The teachings broke the

denominational walls. People perception changed and they began viewing themselves as one

people with one divine destiny. His revival preaching helped in democratizing the inhabitants of

the colonies through placing everybody on the same level with only one purpose. More

importantly, the teachings made way for nationhood.

According to my interpretation of the information and reflection, George Whitefield

sermons correctly define enlightenment and awakening and awakening in America. George

Whitefield sermons were geared towards breaking the divisive denominational walls between the

colonists. Everybody was put in the same level with the only solution to their sins being faith in

Christ. Similarly, Thomas Paine and Jonathan Edwards sources were made in enlightening and

awakening the people to have a different way of thinking of their old ways. In other words, the
philosophers of Enlightenment steered in innovative ways of thinking. Therefore this acts as a

defense to my selected sources supporting enlightenment and awakening in America.

George Whitefield teachings towards enlightenment and awakening were able to put all

the denominational and theological persuasions together. He preached divine destiny which

entailed one nation under God and was able to break down denominational walls. He also helped

in democratizing the inhabitants through placing them under one level. Equally, Jonathan

Edwards's teachings too enlightened and awakened the people and condemned their followers

about concerns on worldly matters. Thomas Paine's Age of reason is depicted as an extraordinary

intellectual ferment. From my interpretation, these three sources are relevant in that they show

the effort put forward by different clergies to bring about religious revitalization which later led

to American Revolution. They acted as a foundation for setting up principles for nationhood and

the present day United States democracy. The three sources had a greater lasting impact that if

felt currently in the society. They change completely how people think and how they approach

politics. According to the sources, power should never be left in the hands of one person. More

people were inspired to engage in missionary work among the Indians and Africans enslaved by

colonialists.

Source

http://www.deism.com/theageofreason.htm

The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 16 Volume 16: Letters and Personal Writings.

https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300072952/works-jonathan-edwards-vol-16

https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1701-1800/1st-of-many-george-

whitefield-sermons-11630221.html