The Age of Reason and Revival

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The Age ofReason and Revival

• RISE OF THE MODERN WESTERN WORLD

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Age of Enlightenment

• Delimitations
• Began 1687 Newtons Mathematical Principles of
  Natural Philosophy
• Ended 1789 French Revolution
• Descriptions
• Less a set of ideas than it was a set of
  attitudes
• A critical questioning of traditional
  institutions, customs, and morals
• Intellectual movement advocating reason as
  primary basis of authority
• Keynotes of Enlightenment Era
• Governmental consolidation, nation-creation,
  greater rights for common people
• Decline in influence of authoritarian
  institutions such as nobility / church
• Focus on science natural philosophy was making
  astounding advances

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Enlightenment Motifs

1. Reason
2. Autonomy
3. Nature
4. Tolerance
5. Optimism
6. Humanism

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Post-Reformation Transitions in European
Governance

• Devastation from religious wars
• France inherited bulk of political power on
  continent
• Austria the new political power in Eastern Europe
  
• Ottoman empire repressed at Battle of Vienna
• England leading hub of liberalism
• Guy Fawkes Rebellion and Catholic intolerance
• Netherlands leading hub of tolerance/commerce

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Post-Reformation Transitions in European
Governance

• Expanding power/influence of middle class
• Period of political polarization
• Trends toward democracy vs. trends toward
  centralization of power
• England monarchs appealed to divine right
  theory
• Consensus politics prevailed(Glorious Revolution
  of William Mary in 1688)
• France Louis XIV (Sun King)
• Held supreme power
• Revoked Edict of Nantes

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The Age ofReason and Revival

• CHANGING PHILOSOPHIESin theMODERN WORLD

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Rise of RationalismThe Veneration of Reason

• Genesis of new ideology
• Exhaustion from Medieval approaches to religion
• Cartesian Philosophy René Descartes
• Cogito, ergo sum
• Cartesian philosophy as ally of Christianity
• Leibniz truth uncovered by reason alone
• Rationalism as means of reconciliation

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The Risk of Rationalism/Reason in the Court of
Religion

• Socinianism / Unitarianism Reasonable denial of
  Trinity
• Held to authority of Scripture, but felt some
  non-rational doctrines were unbiblical
• Faustus Socinus Father of Unitarianism
• Racovian Catechism of Polish Brethren
• Intellectual rationalists in England
• John Biddle, Isaac Newton, Joseph Priestly
• Theophilus Lindsey first Unitarian Church

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The Risk of Rationalism/Reason in the Court of
Religion

• Deism Elite English/French version of
  rationalistic religion
• True religion was more basic/fundamental than
  squabbles over orthodoxy
• All men given reason, and true/common religion
  afforded to all and reasonable
• Reject teachings of Bible if unreasonable
• A watchmaker God William Paley
• Opposed religious dogmatism and the opposite,
  apathetic religious skepticism
• Empirical, tolerant and reasonable

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The Risk of Rationalism/Reason in the Court of
Religion

• Famous English advocates of Deism
• John Toland Christianity Not Mysterious
• Matthew Tindal Christianity as Old as Creation

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The Risk of Rationalism/Reason in the Court of
Religion

• Latitudinarianism 17th c. Anglicans who were
  gentlemen of a wide swallow
• High regard for authority of reason and tolerant,
  anti-dogmatic temper
• Reacted against the Calvinism of the Puritans and
  were broadly Arminian in outlook
• Supported scientific developments
• John Locke (d. 1704) British empiricist
• Essay Concerning Human Understanding
• The Reasonableness of Christianity

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The Risk of Rationalism/Reason in the Court of
Religion

• Allowed only a narrow core of fundamentals in
  religion
• Held "true philosophy can never hurt sound
  divinity
• Theologically vague / spiritually insubstantial /
  strongly moralistic
• Foreshadowed skepticism of Hume
• Precursors of the Broad Churchmen of the 19th
  century

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The Risk of Rationalism/Reason in the Court of
Religion

• Philosophes French rationalist / materialist
  intellectuals
• Hostile deists replacing Christianity with more
  reasonable religion
• The great name of Deist, which is not
  sufficiently revered, is the only name one ought
  to take. The only gospel one ought to read is the
  great book of Nature, written by the hand of God
  and sealed with his seal. The only religion that
  ought to be professed is the religion of
  worshiping God and being a good man. Voltaire
• Voltaire Leading voice denouncing RC church
• Candide satire attacking war, religiouspersecuti
  on, unwarranted optimism
• Philosophical Dictionary humorously pointedout
  inconsistencies in Bible narratives andimmoral
  acts of biblical heroes

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Cultural influences of philosophes

• The Encyclopedia
• Attack on established religion
• The focus on human relationships / social laws
• Beccaria On Crimes and Punishments
• Physiocrats philosophes on economic policy
• Adam Smith
• Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth
  of Nations
• laissez-faire economics
• Political opinions
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau Social Contract
• Enlightened absolutism
• Prussia Frederick II
• Austria Joseph II
• Russia Catherine II
• Portugal Pombal

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The Age ofReason and Revival

• ENLIGHTENMENT IDEALS SPREAD BEYOND EUROPE

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The Tolerant Church in Canada

• Product of political necessity rather than
  Enlightenment ideals
• British crown forced (pragmatism not idealism) to
  provide level of religious liberty to large
  Catholic population
• Roots of tolerance in Canadian churches

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Enlightenment Ideals in America

• Deism embraced by revolutionary figures
• Jefferson / Franklin / Allen / Palmer / Paine
• Pamphlets/books rocked American orthodox religion
• Political leaders influenced by French deists
• Thomas Jefferson
• Religious tolerance for VA / Jefferson Bible
• Thomas Paine
• Common Sense / The Age of Reason
• Enlightenment thought Catalyst for education
• Harvard (1636) Yale (1701)

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Russian Enlightenment

• Tsar Alexis assistance to Ukraine draws Russian
  church into western influence
• Ukrainian Catholic Church imports Enlightenment
  ideals into Russian Orthodox Church
• Patriarch Nikon and the Old Believers
• Attempted reform of church to restore Greek (not
  western) ways
• Peter the Great Russia pressed into modern age
• Built St. Petersburg on Baltic Sea
• Replaced patriarch with holy synod
• Catherine the Great
• Model of enlightened absolutism
• System of schools for enlightened religious
  teachings

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The Age ofReason and Revival

• ROOTS OF RELIGIOUS RENEWAL AND VITALITY

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A Unique Marriage ofFaith Reason

• Reason as viable route to vital piety
• Where head and heart go hand in hand
• The studious vital piety of the 17th-18th century
  Philosophers, Spiritualists, Pietists and
  Revivalists

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Emergence of New Theologies in Line With Reason

• The Cambridge Platonists
• Informal group of moralistic Cambridge dons
• Non-extreme (moderating) theology
• Reason as the proper judge of all disagreements
• Mystical understanding of reason as imprint of
  God
• The Neologians
• Liberal theologians of Germany
• Aim of religion reduced to production of human
  virtue
• Targeted elimination of medieval Lutheran
  doctrines

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New Catholic Spirituality- Quietism in France

• Total passivity before God
• All activism of body or soul to be set aside
• Visible signs of church as well
• Madame Guyon
• Emphasizing contemplation and visions
• A Short and Simple Means of Prayer
• Francois Fénelon
• Main advocate of Quietism
• Became social model of compassion

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German Pietism

• Reaction to scholastic Lutheranism
• German tradition of mysticism
• Luthers German Theology
• Johann Arndts True Christianity
• Philipp Jakob Spener (1635-1705)
• The Father of Pietism
• Conventicles (collegia pietatis / ecclesiolae in
  ecclesia)
• Pia desideria (Holy Desires)
• August Hermann Francke (1663-1727)
• Educational reformist at Halle
• Pietistic social action type of ministry

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German Pietism

• Impact of German Pietism
• Negative reaction among some whofelt it was too
  subjective, emotional
• Birth of Protestant Missions
• Danish-Halle Mission
• Infiltrated German Reformed Churches
• Spiritual legacy of fostering vital piety
• New hymn-writing (Tersteegen)

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The Moravians

• Origins Legacy of Unitas Fratrum
• Refugees led by Christian David at Berthelsdorf
• Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf
• Pietist upbringing at Franckes Halle school
• Conversion via Ecce Homo (by Domenico Feti)
• Johann Rothe as pastor in Berthelsdorf
• Hutberg (Watch Hill) or Herrnhut (The Lords
  Watch)

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Ministry of Herrnhut Community

• Holy Spirit Revival of 1727
• Missionary vision as body of soldiers for Christ
• Community emphases as form of Protestant
  monasticism
• Missionary emphasis leavened European
  Protestantism
• Strong links to British evangelical revival
• Circle of Hussite/Moravian influence completed by
  Wesley
• Moravians 3-fold influence on Wesley
• Visit to Herrnhut for ideas

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The Age ofReason and Revival

• THE GREAT AWAKENING IN AMERICA

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Nation Ripe for Religious Revival

• Reasons for the decline in vital religion
• Development of commerce
• Puritan ideal society ruled by God collapsed
• Spreading rationalism and cultural confusion
• Clerical concern for situation was mounting
• Increase in the use of jeremiad
• Earthquake in 1727

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Early Indications of Awakening

• Dutch Reformed Frelinghuysen
• Raritan Valley, NJ revival
• Presbyterian Tennents
• William Tennent Sr. Log College
• Gilbert Tennent On the Dangers of an
  Unconverted Ministry
• Old Lights vs. New Lights
• Congregationalism Jonathan Edwards
• Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
• Old Light resistance led by Charles Chauncy
• Rise of Arminianism and Unitarianism

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The Awakening Takes HoldWhitefield Colonial
Tour (1739-40)

• Came on wave of popularity in English Revivals
• Gilbert Tennent retains Whitefield
• Six week tour of revival
• Reason congregations are so deadis because
  dead men preach to them.

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Consequences of Awakening

• New emphasis on evangelism
• Denominational barriers diminished
• Mission enterprises expanded (e.g. Brainerd)
• Church growth / expansion
• Higher Education expanded
• Dartmouth / Univ. of PA / Princeton / Rutgers /
  Brown Univ.
• Enlarged appreciation of religious / political
  liberty
• United colonies along entire seaboard

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The Age ofReason and Revival

• BRITISH REVIVALSof the18TH CENTURY

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ScotlandEbenezer Ralph Erskine

• Ebenezer preached in fields outside his church to
  accommodate crowds
• The Marrow of Modern Divinity
• Formed independent presbytery (Seceders)
• Whitefield tours promoted revival fires

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WalesSimultaneous Revivals

• Griffith Jones
• Morning Star of the Methodist Revival
• Howell Harris
• Lay minister
• Evangelized north Wales
• New House at Trevecca (Welsh Calvinist
  Methodists)
• Daniel Rowland
• The Welsh John Wesley
• Worked with Howell Harris in Welsh Revival

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EnglandMultiple Awakening Forces

• Launching Point Fetter Lane Society
• Love feast with Holy Spirit outpouring
• John Wesley emerges as key leader
• Methodism was to Anglicanism what Pietism was to
  Lutheranism
• Three distinct but related strands
• Anglican Evangelicals
• Operating within parish setting
• Calvinist Methodists
• Whitfield / Countess of Huntingdon
• Methodist Societies
• John and Charles Wesley

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Evangelical RevivalWithin Church of England

• Cradled in Cornwall area
• Moderate Calvinistic form of Methodism
• Significant figures
• William Grimshaw Pioneer of loose-knit group
• Henry Venn Famous evangelical missiologist
  working in North
• John Newton
• Slave-trading shipmaster turned preacher and
  hymn-writer
• Curate of Olney (published Olney Hymns hymnbook)
• Friend William Cowper was great English poet
  contributor
• Augustus Toplady
• Famous evangelical hymn-writer

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George WhitfieldCalvinistic Methodists Revival

• Biography
• Oxford Holy Club
• Persuader, not administrator
• Peak Period Split time Britain America
• 14 visits to Scotland / Frequented Wales
• 7 trips to America (1739-40 Great Awakening Tour)
• Association with Wesleys
• Invited John to join in open air preaching at
  Bristol
• Parted over Calvinistic doctrines
• Association with Countess of Huntingdon
• Calvinist Methodist Connexion
• Polemics with John Wesley and John Fletcher
• Checks Against Antinomianism and Further Checks

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Charles Wesley (1709-1788)Sweet Singer of
Methodism

• Always in shadow of Johns efforts
• Lacked his iron constitution and even temperament
  for hard ministry
• Most gifted English hymn-writer
• Methodist Hymn Book of 1780
• A little body of experimental and practical
  divinity

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John Wesley A Burning Heart

• Itinerant Preacher / Teacher
• Adaptation of means to circumstances
• Unequaled Evangelist
• Popular effectiveness earnest, practical,
  biblical, fearless
• Remarkable responses to his bold expositions
• Appealed to working classes

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John Wesley A Burning Heart

• Writer Balance of scholarship piety
• Letters, books, notes on Bible, sermons
• Journal / 52 Standard Sermons / Plain Account
• Virtually invented the religious tract
• Edited the Christian Library
• Pioneered idea of a monthly magazine

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John Wesley A Burning Heart

• Social Activist
• Clinical Officer opened a medical dispensary and
  treated for free
• Loan Officer operating credit unions for poor
  urbanites
• Labor Supporter defended rights of coal miners
  and others in sweat shops
• Abolitionist pressed for an end to slave trade
• Prison reformer urged better conditions

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John Wesley A Burning Heart

• Tireless servant
• Active life for all 88 years
• Began every day at 4 AM
• Spent 2-4 hours in study every day
• Pastoral implementation of holiness message
• Traveled over 250,000 miles on horseback
• Preached 42,000 sermons
• Wrote over 200 books
• Organized most powerful movement in England

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Key Contributions of English Methodist Revival

• Spiritual enrichment
• Christian agencies multiplied
• Passion for social justice
• Evangelical Hymnody
• Isaac Watts inspired man-made hymns
• August Toplady / John Newton / William Cowper
• Wesley Brothers
• The Collection of Psalms and Hymns / The
  Collection
• Charles Wesley wrote over 6000 hymns
• Concept of evangelical holiness as a social
  holiness

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Resources Drawn From

• Cairns, Earle E. Christianity Through the
  Centuries A History of the Christian Church,
  Third Edition, Revised and Expanded. Grand
  Rapids Zondervan, 1996.
• Dowley, Tim, ed. The History of Christianity A
  Lion Handbook. Oxford Lion Publishing, 1990.
• Gonzalez, Justo. The Story of Christianity Vol.
  2 Reformation to the Present Day. San Francisco
  Harper, 1985.
• Hill, Jonathan. Zondervan Handbook to the History
  of Christianity. Grand Rapids Zondervan, 2006.
• Kagan, Donald, S. Ozment and F. Turner, eds. The
  Western Heritage. New York Macmillan Pub. Co.,
  1987.
• Miller, Glenn T. The Modern Church. Nashville
  Abingdon Press 1997.
• Needham, N.R. 2,000 Years of Christs Power Pt.
  3 Renaissance and Reformation. London Grace
  Publications Trust, 2004.
• Noll, Mark . Turning Points Decisive Moments in
  the History of Christianity. Leicester, England
  IVP, 1997.
• Walker, Williston A History of the Christian
  Church. New York Charles Scribners Sons, 1985.

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Photo Sources

• Christian History Biography Magazine
• http//www.christianitytoday.com/history
• Wikipedia
• http//www.wikipedia.org/