The Second Great Awakening in America

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Questions and Answers

The second great awakening was primarily led by unusually gifted preachers.

False (B)

What two means were primarily used during the revivals?

Preaching and prayer

What was the general atmosphere of the meetings described?

  • Joyful and celebratory
  • Chaotic and loud
  • Silent and solemn (correct)
  • Indifferent and disengaged

Match the following regions with their associated accounts of revivals:

<p>Maine = Reports of revivals Tennessee = Universal awakening Georgia = Regional accounts Connecticut = Early magazine reports</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the nature of the second great awakening?

<p>A universal but not simultaneous revival movement (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The meetings during the second great awakening were marked by emotional wildness and disorder.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which state did the Rev. John Preston observe the crowded and solemn Prayer-meetings?

<p>Vermont</p> Signup and view all the answers

Edward Dorr Griffin believed that emotional appeals were a primary means in the revivals.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the forty-page magazine compiled by Congregational pastors in Connecticut contain?

<p>News of the revivals and reports from various regions</p> Signup and view all the answers

Poor sinners began to see that everything in the Bible was true, that they were wholly sinful and in the hand of a _____ God.

<p>sovereign</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match each influence with its description:

<p>Kentucky influences = Creeping doubts and changes in revival meeting practices The New Divinity = A theological movement that altered revival perspectives Charles Finney = A prominent religious figure with significant teaching impact</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was an early indication of persons undergoing awakening?

<p>Attendance at religious meetings with silent, eager attention (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Second Great Awakening was marked by a loud and boisterous atmosphere.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which theological movement began to emerge during the Second Great Awakening?

<p>Arminianism (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What emotion was commonly observed among attendees during the revivals?

<p>Shedding of tears</p> Signup and view all the answers

Charles Finney's theology can be accurately described as Pelagian.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between revival and revivalism?

<p>Revival is a sovereign work of God's Spirit, while revivalism is an attempt to artificially produce revival.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The three main Protestant groups during the First Great Awakening were Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and ________.

<p>Baptists</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following figures or concepts with their descriptions:

<p>Charles Finney = Prominent figure associated with revivalism Revival = Sovereign work of God's Spirit Arminianism = Theological perspective emphasizing free will Revivalism = Attempt to produce revival artificially</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of the Second Great Awakening has been described as complicated?

<p>The mixture of good and bad elements (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Revival is considered a normative event in the Christian experience.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what century did the Second Great Awakening primarily occur?

<p>19th century</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Second Great Awakening

A period of religious revivalism in the United States that began in the late 18th century. It emphasized emotional experiences, personal conversion, and social reform.

Arminianism

A theological system emphasizing the freedom of human will and the ability of humans to choose salvation without divine grace.

Pelagianism

A theological system that emphasizes human ability to achieve salvation without divine grace. It denies the need for God's intervention.

Revival

A divinely ordained and extraordinary outpouring of the Holy Spirit, marking a period of intense spiritual renewal.

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Revivalism

The emphasis on efforts to create or reproduce revival, rather than relying on the sovereign work of God.

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Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Baptists

The three main Protestant groups that dominated religious life in America during the First Great Awakening. They shared a Reformed theological perspective.

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Calvinism

The belief that God is sovereign and determines all events, including salvation.

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Doctrinal Deviation

Theological ideas that deviate from traditional doctrines, often emphasizing human agency and diminishing the role of divine grace.

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Characteristics of the Second Great Awakening

The Second Great Awakening was known for its solemn and orderly meetings, with participants demonstrating deep emotion through silent tears and attentive listening.

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Awakening and Sin

The Second Great Awakening brought about a sense of awakening among individuals, leading them to recognize their sins and their need for salvation.

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Impact of the Second Great Awakening

The Second Great Awakening was a time of significant growth in evangelical Christianity, highlighting the power of God's grace and the importance of personal conversion.

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Rise of Revivalism

The Second Great Awakening went through a period of transformation, marked by the emergence of revivalism, which focused on emotional and experiential aspects of faith.

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Unhealthy Influences in the Second Great Awakening

Unhealthy influences like the New Divinity and the teachings of Charles Finney emerged during the later stages of the Second Great Awakening, leading to concerns about its direction.

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New Divinity

The New Divinity was a theological movement that emphasized the sovereignty of God and the importance of individual experience in salvation.

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Charles Finney

Charles Finney was a prominent preacher and revivalist during the Second Great Awakening, known for his influential sermons and his emphasis on personal conversion and social reform.

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Geographic Scope of the Second Great Awakening

The Second Great Awakening was widespread, affecting regions from Maine to Tennessee and Georgia to Canada.

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Complexity of Tracing the Second Great Awakening

The Second Great Awakening's widespread nature makes it difficult to track its precise origins and development.

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Means of the Second Great Awakening

The Second Great Awakening was characterized by a reliance on simple preaching and prayer as primary means of spreading its message.

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Divine Blessing in the Second Great Awakening

The effectiveness of the Second Great Awakening could not be attributed solely to the methods used but was seen as a result of God's divine blessing.

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Role of Ordinary Pastors in the Second Great Awakening

The Second Great Awakening saw the success of ordinary pastors who continued their ministries, but the results were significantly more impactful.

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Lack of Centralized Leadership in the Second Great Awakening

The Second Great Awakening was not driven by a single charismatic figure but rather by the collective efforts of numerous pastors across the country.

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Method of Preaching in the Second Great Awakening

The Second Great Awakening emphasized the clear presentation of biblical truth, emphasizing prayer and sober reflection, rather than emotional appeals.

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Study Notes

The Second Great Awakening in America

  • The Second Great Awakening in America was a period of repeated revivals, sometimes widespread, with varying ebbs and flows, extending from the turn of the century into the 1830s.
  • It was complicated by a mixture of good, bad, and not so good, evolving from a genuine, powerful movement grounded in Calvinistic and Reformed theology.
  • The three main Protestant groups in America during the first Great Awakening—Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Baptists—all held a Reformed and Calvinistic understanding of grace.
  • Doctrinal deviations, like Charles Finney's ministry, characterized the second Great Awakening, with influences from Wesleyan Methodism and creeping Arminianism.
  • Charles Finney, though originally ordained as a Presbyterian Minister, wasn't considered strictly Presbyterian in his theology and was more Pelagian in his theological approach.
  • The second Great Awakening saw a shift from revival to revivalism, with emphasis on manipulative methods and unconventional means, rather than relying solely on God's sovereignty.

Key Developments in the Late 19th and 20th Centuries

  • The lecture notes will address important developments of the late 19th and 20th centuries, building on the context of the Second Great Awakening.
  • The shift away from revival and toward revivalism, as well as the introduction of new methods and means to promote conversions, were significant changes in religious practice.
  • Regional revivals in places like Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Western Pennsylvania occurred during the Revolutionary War and the 1770s.
  • The early 1800s saw the emergence of Methodist churches and growth in their membership compared to other Protestant groups.

Impact of the Awakening

  • The Second Great Awakening period saw an explosion of Evangelical Christianity in the 19th century's early decades after years of religious decline following the Revolution.
  • This period saw the formation and growth of new religious groups, including the Methodists.
  • Revivals and awakenings in the 1770's had a significant impact, leading to an increase in religious activity.
  • The effects of the second Great Awakening extended beyond specific areas and impacted the religious landscape nationwide.
  • Important figures of the time influenced the awakening and its impact, both positively and negatively.
  • Increased membership in Methodist denominations was a notable outcome.

Unhealthy Influences during the Awakening

  • The rise of revivalism, with its emphasis on methods, altered the character of the Awakening.
  • The emphasis on emotional experiences and physical manifestations was a shift from the previous understanding of revival.
  • The emergence of camp meetings also contributed to the potential for excessive emotional responses.
  • The influence of figures like M'Gready and the rise of emotionally charged preaching and behaviors.
  • Taylor's theology challenged traditional Calvinistic beliefs about human depravity and the role of divine choice in salvation.

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Lectures 78-79: The Second Great Awakening PDF

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