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Edwards Enlightenment and Deism: Rationalism in 18 th Century America

Edwards Enlightenment and Deism: Rationalism in 18 th Century America. “From the Reformation to the Constitution” Bill Petro your friendly neighborhood historian. billpetro.com/v7pc. Objectives By the end of this session you should be able to. Effects of the Great Awakening

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Edwards Enlightenment and Deism: Rationalism in 18 th Century America

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  1. EdwardsEnlightenment and Deism:Rationalism in 18th Century America “From the Reformation to the Constitution” Bill Petro your friendly neighborhood historian billpetro.com/v7pc

  2. ObjectivesBy the end of this session you should be able to • Effects of the Great Awakening • Trace the rise of the Enlightenment • Identify the key players in the Enlightenment • Discuss Deism and Unitarianism • Identify the political theory of John Locke and its influence on the Founding Fathers

  3. American Church History 1787 1865 Calvinism Arminianism Biblistic Rationalism Liberalism Subjectivism Existentialism Theocentrism Anthropocentrism Liberalism

  4. Effects of the Great Awakening • 80% of Americans unified in common understanding of Christian life and faith • Dissent/dissenters enjoyed greater respect: Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians • Emphasis on education: Univ. of Penn, UNC

  5. Effects of the Great Awakening, cont • Preaching to Indians and Slaves • Reinterpreted Covenant: man’s response • Dissolution of Theocracy: disestablishment in VA & NC, democratization • Breakdown in theological consensus: New/Old Lights

  6. Summary of the Great Awakening • Increase of new members: 30-40,000 • Increase of new churches: 1740-60: 150 congs. • Increase in students to prepare for the ministry • Increase in new denominations: Bapt. & Methodists • New stress on Missions • Aided in beginning the American Revolution

  7. Colleges • 1636: Harvard – Puritans, to train clergy • 1701: Yale – “to train men to preach the Gospel • 1749: College of Phila – U. of Penn (revival hall) • 1762: Queens – became Rutgers • 1726: College of New Jersey – Princeton • Moore’s Indian Charity Training College – to train Indians, moved to Dartmouth • College of R.I. (Baptist) – Brown • Kings College of N.Y. – Colombia, to train Indians All Ivy League Colleges (except Cornell) were to train men for the ministry

  8. “Denominationalism” • Primary expression of American Christianity, post 1740’s • Based, in part, on freedom to differ • Denomination vs. Sect • Inclusive vs. Exclusive • The true church cannot be identified with any single ecclesiastical structure • Seed planted by Reformers: not of bishops but of believers • Architected by Congregationalists at Westminster Assembly

  9. 1-Word Summary • Pilgrims Separatists • Puritans Saints • Denominations Inclusive • Whitefield Dramatic • Wesley Methodism • Edwards Glory • Great Awakening Fire

  10. Emotional - Intellectual

  11. Enlightenment • Post-Reformation • Rebellion against it in the guise of intellectualism, empiricism that really denied the faith of the Reformation • “Reality is what I observe with my own senses”

  12. Immanuel Kant • Professor of Logic,Koniegsburg, Prussia • Critique of Pure Reason • Critique of Practical Reason • Religion reduced to moral acts,revising the Reformation • God no longer active • Man must reach out to God

  13. Holy Church Authoritarianism Pope and Councils Holy Bible Creeds (Secondary) Human Reason Philosophical Systems God Church Man God Christ Man God Man Approaches to Authority and the Enlightenment Reformation 16 & 17th century Enlightenment 18th century Roman Catholicism Protestantism Rationalism Authority Salvation

  14. From Revelation to Reason Present: Adulthood Past: Infancy Reason Rational Religion Irrationality (Myth Makers) Traditional Religion (superstition) Progression Rejected In Reformation Rejected In Enlightenment Sole Authority Reason Tradition Revelation External Authority Innate Authority

  15. 19th Century features • Moralism • Optimism: logical positivism • Pelagianism • Closed System Universe

  16. Isaac Newton • Principia Mathematica • Implicit: man has ability to discover secrets of the universe, control destiny • Narrowing gulf between God and man • Effect: corrosive effect on Calvinistic orthodoxy, more rational, less emotional

  17. Deism • A system of belief that a transcendent God left his creation to be governed by Natural Laws discernable by reason. • “God is absentee” • No miracles, no revelation, no God-man • Jesus as Moral Teacher • Bible as guidebook for ethical life, virtue, piety

  18. Deism: Origin • Science: universe operated on fixed principles,hence, is a machine operating by fixed natural laws • Copernicus, Galileo (helio-centricism), Newton (gravity) • Philosophy: if universe runs on fixed laws,then the universe can be known by Reason, without Revelation • Francis Bacon – Inductive method (observe vs. authority) • Theology: man can start with himself and find truth apart from any help • Descartes: “I think, therefore I am” (mathematical laws)

  19. Deism: Results • Contributed to the concept that: if a ruler failed in responsibility, the people could revolt • Root of American Revolution • Developed the concept of man’s goodness • Developed theory on destructive criticism of Bible

  20. Unitarianism • Strict monotheism (not Trinitarianism) • Deny Christ’s two natures (deity) • Christ’s death was only to be an example of true devotion to God • Deny election and future punishment • Key to Life: love toward God’s fellow man

  21. Unitarianism: Origin 1755-1805 • Rose out of practical experience of the peopleWealthy wanted autonomy • Moneyed classes tended to Nationalism • Anti-revivalistic attitude • King’s Church – 1st church to go Unitarian 1782

  22. Orthodoxy, Unitarianism, and Deism Orthodoxy Unitarianism Deism Source of Truth God Medium of Revelation Person of Christ Nature of Sin Atonement Reformation Empiricism Rationalism Theistic; Plural, personal Supernatural, Natural God/Man Derived & Personal depravity; Moral inability Penal Empiricism Rationalism Reformation Theistic; Single, personal Natural, Supernatural Archetypal Man Personal depravity Moral ability Exemplary Empiricism Rationalism Theistic; Single, transcendent Natural Exemplary Man Personal depravity Moral ability (none)

  23. John Locke • 1632-1704 • Political philosopher • Argued for the “reasonableness” of Christianity

  24. Letter Concerning Toleration • Became a “Bible” in the 18th Century • “Reasonableness” of Christianity

  25. 1-Word Summary • Pilgrims Separatists • Puritans Saints • Denominations Inclusive • Whitefield Dramatic • Wesley Methodism • Edwards Glory • Great Awakening Fire • Enlightenment Rationalism • Deism Mechanistic

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