Taking Heaven By Storm Summary

Mya Morris
HIS201
Professor Sarah M.L. Jones
31 JAN 2014

Wigger, John H. Taking Heaven by Storm. New York ,New York of publication: Oxford University Press, 1998.

In the book Taking Heaven by Storm, John Wigger explains the rise of Methodism to the principal religious movements of colonies until the Civil War, spreading on a scale unknown to man at that time. Methodism shaped not only religion in the colonies but social stucture and the way of life of thousands, spread by traveling or itinerant preachers and sustained by local preachers (p. vii). Methodism thrived after the American Revolution sherking off the Hierachy English foothold and allowing the common folk to feel equal to others (p. 7). Both America and Methodism were starting
off new after the revolution, ideas and methods of the past could not go forward with them, they had to change. Wigger takes quarterly meeting records and journals of preachers and itinerants to tell the story of the rise of Christianity and Methodism. The center of the rise was the life of the Itinerant. It is best described as hard, and the pay was at best barely sestaining $64 a year if they were even paid, unlike a Congrigationalist preacher which was $400 (p.49). They were responsible for 200 to 500 square miles of country preaching nearly everyday and sleeping along the way in congregational homes that took them in for the night (p. 35). They preached in barns, Taverns, homes, and fields, basically anywhere that a group could be gathered to hear the word. The life took its tole on some of the men who took this charge, many died and some left the church but a majority settled (p. 38). Once a Itinerant married or the road and lifestyle made his health bad, he usually settled and became a local preacher (p. 31). The itinernat was the method by which Methodism was spread bringing the church where there was none. Local Preachers were a mainstay in the Methodist Church. Once an area was established a local preacher would preach but was only sanctioned by the church if they were licensed at the quarterly meetings. Technically, you were not supposed to quote scripture if you were not licensed. Preaching without quoting scripture was called exhoration and prayer. You could not marry, give last rights or give the sacrements without this license. Local preachers were mostly unpaid and made their wages just as their parishioners to support their families all the while tending to the members of the congregation and checking in on them. Just as women were the heart and soul of the family so were they to Methodism.
The Methodism was the first religious right to equal out both men and women as much as possible and depended on both working in unison. Some were followed because of their elequant echortation and others were teachers and lay leaders most were unlicensed (p.153). Many widow women were like mothers, confidants and counselors molding intinants along their paths therefore molding the church from within (p. 161). In the turn of the centrury women were not as accepted as being vocal in the church so many just worked withing the cutoms and traditions that they had developed throught the years (p. 154,156). Methodist women used nurtured and protected the church that they helped develop many times in spirit and sometimes literally. Women were not the only minority that would gain more independence through Methodism, Christian black freedment and slaves were also touched by this
movement. Though getting off to a rough start interacial sermon’s were happening more often. Slaves and Freedment were no longer African’s but now after generations were African American’s and with that allot of the traditions of past that they brought with them. Methodist intinants spoke in plain language and didn’t speak above the congration to who they were preaching, this was central in bringing both freedmen and slaves to Christianity. They could finally understand the word. At first most preachers could not get a license to preach but after internant preachers could not get into preach to many large plantations because there was already a preacher there spreading the word, they finally were able to be affiliated and license by the Methodist Church. Many slave owners were hesitant at first knowing that Methodists opposed slavery but after finding that the issues they were having with drunkeness and bad bahavior were declining after the preaching started they conceded. Methodism was growing and educating and settling all over. By the mid 1800’s the Methodist Church were building schools and by the end of the 1800’s almost all churches were in actual church buidings now (p.
177-178). American Methodists had a strong hold in government and the church was growing wealthy creating ornate churches with organs and bells. As the church grew and moved from the homes to the beautiful churches, so did it lose its fire. Many of the croaker’s thought that the church was falling on it’s own sword basically declining because of success (p. 181). The church that had rose from nothing had now reached a pinacle and was compromising their core values in order to attain wealth and social status. The building blocks to which this subcoulture was built were being compromised (p. 187, 195). It was a rise and a fall in the same
breath. This book brought the Methodist movement to light for me. I think that at the heart of both the antislavery movement and women’s liberation you can find Methodist influence. If only the larger scale church could have kept to it’s roots. This happens allot in many individual churches as they grow and get larger you see the older parisioners leave because although they helped to build the church it was not the same at the core anymore. This book is not one that I would have picked off the shelf at the book store but I am glad that I read it. It changed my perception of the spread of churches throughout the colonies and how they got there. God was working making America a Christian based God fearing country and allot of that is due to the spread of Methodism through men and women, black and white.

Bibliography

Wigger, John P. “Taking Heaven by Storm.” Oxford University Press, New York , NY, 1998.

Book Review
HIST 201
70%

Excellent
Points: 24-25
Good
Points: 21-23
Fair
Points: 18-20
Poor
Points: < 18
Points for Section
Thesis/Overall Theme

The review effectively and thoroughly identifies and clearly communicates the book’s central thesis (theses) and/or central themes. The review demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the subtleties and assumptions of the argument.
The review identifies and communicates the book’s central thesis (theses) and/or central themes. The review demonstrates a suitable understanding of author’s argument.
The review identifies and communicates the book’s central thesis (theses) and/or central themes but may leave out some essential themes/arguments. The review demonstrates an understanding of author’s argument but it may be limited or not clearly communicated.
The review fails to identify and communicate the book’s central thesis (theses) and/or central themes. The presentation of the author’s themes/arguments may be unclear or limited in scope.

Comments:
Interesting introduction and conclusion, with a clear organization, but the focus of the review is summative rather than analytical. The author’s argument is missing from the thesis, and there is no clear indication in the body of the paper of the central themes.
17
Organization, Development and Support
The review demonstrates exceptional ability to succinctly summarize the development of the book’s argument, evidence and supporting information as well as possible weaknesses and presuppositions. This exposition is organized and presented persuasively, coherently and logically, with one point leading smoothly to the next.
The review demonstrates strong ability to succinctly summarize the development of the book’s argument, evidence and supporting information as well as possible weaknesses and presuppositions. This exposition is organized and presented logically and coherently, within an appropriate plan of organization.
The review demonstrates some ability to summarize the development of the book’s argument, evidence and supporting information but may lack discussion of possible weaknesses and presuppositions. This exposition is organized and presented logically, within an observable plan for organization. There may be some logical fallacies, points left underdeveloped, or some ineffective development.
The review fails to demonstrate an adequate summary of the development of the book’s argument, evidence and supporting information. This exposition or development is presented haphazardly or illogically or ineffectively.

Comments:
The body of the paper included many good details and examples from the book, and laid out a clear summary of the narrative, but the focus was summative rather than analytical.
In the next review, focus on how the author develops his/her argument and the support he/she uses in the text to show the strength of that argument.
15
Critical Analysis
The review demonstrates an exceptional ability to provide a strong, balanced critique of the book’s argument, evidence and conclusions. The review effectively points out weaknesses, presuppositions, fallacies, or areas that needed further development.
The review demonstrates a strong ability to provide a strong, balanced critique of the book’s argument, evidence and conclusions. The review points out weaknesses, presuppositions, fallacies, or areas that needed further development.
The review demonstrates a suitable ability to provide a critique of the book’s argument, evidence and conclusions. The review may point out weaknesses, presuppositions, fallacies, or areas that needed further development in the book but the presentation is not as clear or compelling.
The review fails to provide a critique of the book’s argument, evidence and conclusions. Weaknesses, presuppositions, fallacies, or areas that needed further development in the book are not effectively communicated.

Comments:
The conclusion offers an interesting opinion of the book and shows clearly why you enjoyed reading it and what you learned, but it does not offer conclusive analysis of the author’s argument or the strengths and weaknesses of his support.
On the next review, push the analysis, consider how well you were convinced of the main argument, what the strengths and weaknesses of the book were, and where the argument needed further development.

15
Style and Mechanics

The essay is free of errors in the convention of the English language. The essay demonstrates a polished and effective writing style. The tone and vocabulary are most appropriate for the audience, topic, and purpose. The essay conveys an effective, distinct author’s voice.
The essay is mostly free of errors in the convention of the English language. The essay demonstrates an effective writing style. The tone and vocabulary are appropriate for the audience, topic, and purpose. The essay conveys an effective, author’s voice.
Although the essay may contain some errors in the convention of the English language, it will be free of egregious grammatical errors. The essay demonstrates a suitable writing style. The tone and vocabulary are appropriate for the audience, topic and purpose. The essay gives the reader some sense of the author’s voice.
The essay includes multiple errors in the convention of the English language, and some of these errors are egregious. The essay fails to demonstrate an effective writing style. The tone and vocabulary are inappropriate for the audience, topic, and purpose. The essay fails to give the reader some sense of the author’s voice.

Comments:
Excellent use of preferred heading. :o)
A few grammatical errors including usage, spelling, capitalization, punctuation and sentence structure.
23
Total Points:

Overall Comments:

70