The Age of Reason and Revival

The Age ofReason and Revival

RISE OF THE MODERN WESTERN WORLD

Age of “Enlightenment” Delimitations:

Began: 1687 Newton’s 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

Enlightenment Motifs

1. Reason

2. Autonomy

3. Nature

4. Tolerance

5. Optimism

6. Humanism

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

Post-Reformation Transitions in European Governance

Expanding power/influence of middle class

Period of political polarizationTrends 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


CHANGING PHILOSOPHIESin the

MODERN WORLD

Rise of Rationalism:The 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 ChristianityLeibniz: truth uncovered by reason aloneRationalism as means of reconciliation

The Risk of Rationalism/Reason in the Court of Religion

1. 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

The Risk of Rationalism/Reason in the Court of Religion2. 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


Famous English advocates of Deism

John Toland: Christianity Not Mysterious

Matthew Tindal: Christianity as Old as Creation


3. 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


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


4. 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, religious

persecution, unwarranted optimism

Philosophical Dictionary: humorously pointed

out inconsistencies in Bible narratives and

immoral acts of biblical heroes

Cultural influences of philosophes1. The Encyclopedia

2. Attack on established religion

3. The focus on human relationships / social laws Beccaria: “On Crimes and Punishments”

4. Physiocrats: philosophes on economic policy Adam Smith

Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations laissez-faire economics

5. Political opinions Jean-Jacques Rousseau: “Social Contract”

6. Enlightened absolutism Prussia: Frederick II Austria: Joseph II Russia: Catherine II Portugal: Pombal


ENLIGHTENMENT IDEALS SPREAD BEYOND EUROPE

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

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)

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


ROOTS OF RELIGIOUS RENEWAL AND VITALITY

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

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

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

German Pietism Reaction to scholastic Lutheranism

German tradition of mysticism Luther’s German Theology Johann Arndt’s 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

German Pietism Impact of German Pietism

1. Negative reaction among some who

felt it was too subjective, emotional

2. Birth of Protestant Missions Danish-Halle Mission

3. Infiltrated German Reformed Churches

4. Spiritual legacy of fostering vital piety New hymn-writing (Tersteegen)

The Moravians

Origins: Legacy of Unitas Fratrum

Refugees led by Christian David at Berthelsdorf

Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf

Pietist upbringing at Francke’s Halle school

Conversion via Ecce Homo (by Domenico Feti)

Johann Rothe as pastor in Berthelsdorf

Hutberg (Watch Hill) or Herrnhut (“The Lord’s Watch”)

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


THE GREAT AWAKENING IN AMERICA

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

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

The Awakening Takes Hold:Whitefield 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 dead…

is because dead men preach to them.”

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


BRITISH REVIVALSof the

18TH CENTURY

Scotland:Ebenezer & 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

Wales:Simultaneous 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

England:Multiple 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 strands1. Anglican Evangelicals

Operating within parish setting

2. Calvinist Methodists Whitfield / Countess of Huntingdon

3. Methodist Societies John and Charles Wesley

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

George Whitfield:Calvinistic 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

Charles Wesley (1709-1788)

Sweet Singer of Methodism

Always in shadow of John’s 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”

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

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”


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



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

Key Contributions of English Methodist Revival1. Spiritual enrichment

2. Christian agencies multiplied

3. Passion for social justice

4. 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

5. Concept of evangelical holiness as a social holiness

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 Christ’s 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 Scribner’s

Sons, 1985.

Photo Sources Christian History & Biography Magazine

http://www.christianitytoday.com/history

Wikipedia

http://www.wikipedia.org/

Documents

The Age of Reason and Revival