The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening
Religion had begun to decline in the New World colonies. This was especially evident in the pioneers, who had no ministers to teach sermons or perform religious ceremonies. Many felt they were descending into a “primal” or “sinful” life much like that of the Native Americans. These feelings are what led to the beginning of the Great Awakening.
There were a few key “players” in the Great Awakening. Jonathan Edwards, a minister in Massachusetts, was one of these men. He took it upon himself to restore spirituality among the colonies. He felt that colonists were becoming too concerned with worldly goods and riches. They were straying away from the religious beliefs that the colonies were founded on.
William Tennent, a Presbyterian Revivalist from Pennsylvania, challenged local ministers because he felt they were “cold and sapless” and unwilling to be forceful and convincing in their teachings. Tennent and his sons were traveling evangelists who often ministered to the congregations of other settled parish preachers.
George Whitefield is seen as the great catalyst of the awakening. He was an English minister who began preaching to crowds in Philadelphia in 1739. He worked his way up the coast to New England, ministering along the way. He encouraged his congregations to experience a new birth, or emotional conversion.
In 1741, Edwards delivered his most famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. In this sermon, he reminded the congregation that God held their fate as sinners in his hands, and that they needed to repent or be cast into the fiery pits of Hell.
While the Great Awakening caused a religious resurgence in the colonies, and led many back to the religious foundations of the colonies, it also caused a split among the churches. The traveling evangelists encouraged believers to follow their own beliefs instead of going blindly with what the state supported churches and established clergy taught. The Awakening showed the
Religion had begun to decline in the New World colonies. This was especially evident in the pioneers, who had no ministers to teach sermons or perform religious ceremonies. Many felt they were descending into a “primal” or “sinful” life much like that of the Native Americans. These feelings are what led to the beginning of the Great Awakening.
There were a few key “players” in the Great Awakening. Jonathan Edwards, a minister in Massachusetts, was one of these men. He took it upon himself to restore spirituality among the colonies. He felt that colonists were becoming too concerned with worldly goods and riches. They were straying away from the religious beliefs that the colonies were founded on.
William Tennent, a Presbyterian Revivalist from Pennsylvania, challenged local ministers because he felt they were “cold and sapless” and unwilling to be forceful and convincing in their teachings. Tennent and his sons were traveling evangelists who often ministered to the congregations of other settled parish preachers.
George Whitefield is seen as the great catalyst of the awakening. He was an English minister who began preaching to crowds in Philadelphia in 1739. He worked his way up the coast to New England, ministering along the way. He encouraged his congregations to experience a new birth, or emotional conversion.
In 1741, Edwards delivered his most famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. In this sermon, he reminded the congregation that God held their fate as sinners in his hands, and that they needed to repent or be cast into the fiery pits of Hell.
While the Great Awakening caused a religious resurgence in the colonies, and led many back to the religious foundations of the colonies, it also caused a split among the churches. The traveling evangelists encouraged believers to follow their own beliefs instead of going blindly with what the state supported churches and established clergy taught. The Awakening showed the