City on a Hill

City on a Hill presentations

Overview themes of Church in America

• the idea of denomination really developed in the US
• bewildering variety of developments in US (219)
• New England's covenant with God (219)
• Rational religion in the US (224)
• Revivals on the frontier (225)
• Romanticism in America (228)
• Slavery and black religion (230)

Key Figures

• Wesley & Whitefield
• John Winthrop
• Thomas Hooker
• John Cotton
• Solomon Stoddard
• Jonathan Edwards
• "Great Awakening"
• Grimke sisters

City on a Hill in Graphics

• the idea of denomination really developed in the US
• bewildering variety of developments in US (219)
• Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just. –Thomas Jefferson

City on a Hill

John Winthrop

Calvin's resolutions

Prepare for action

Jonathan Edwards

Resolved to live

Massachussetts Colony

A Covenant with God: The Great Awakening

Fire and Brimstone / Heroic Courage

Sinners in the hands of an angry God (J. Edwards)

Characteristics

• J. Edwards rejected the rationalism in the critique of Locke and Newton
• Edwards argued in defense of "Calvinism" in a new age
• George Whitefield inspired enthusiastic conversions from Massachusetts to George: The Great Awakening
• "perhaps the first national experience shared by all the colonies

American variations on a theme

Rational Religion

• Jefferson produced a New Testament consisting of teachings and no miracles
• Franklin sought to limit the impact of the established church on the developing political identity
• Rationalism was exemplified by Unitarianism
• William Ellery Channing: believing in miracles, but understanding them rationally

Revivals

• moving away from the predestination of Calvinism
• Lyman Beecher
• Charles Finney
• "We must have exciting, powerful preaching, or the devil will have the people"

Idealistic Movements

• Seeking a perfect community
  • Ann Lee & Shakers: seeking to capture the "female aspect of divinity"
  • Oneida Community: an Acts 3 community were all things were held in common and sexual roles were blurred
  • Seventh Day Adventists
• Joseph Smith & American covenant
  • Latter Day Saints
  • New sacred book