19th c. Foundations

Europe Rejecting the Enlightenment

Europe and America took different routes away from the Enlightenment
American theologians emphasized "awakening", "conversion", a new way of seeing things
On the one hand an appeal to romanticism
On the other an effort to articulate universal truths

::: {.NOTES} Note: How did America move past the Enlightenment?

Locke etc. – Deism Great Awakening – embracing "enthusiasm", conversion over "natural theology" Unitarians, Emerson, Slavery? :::

Placement along various continua

This led to divisions along several themes that continue to the present day.

Theme
Open to Change	Traditional	Progressive
Reflecting religious division	Catholic	Protestant
Science	Open	Reactive or rejecting
Interpretation	Religious language as literal	Figurative

Definitions

Romanticism: p.233 change is not always for the best, appreciate national traditions, value feeling over scientific analysis
Not "natural theology": p. 205 the basic truths about the existence of God and human morality known to good people in all societies

New awareness of History

Rise of historical criticism since Renaissance
Skepticism of knowing anything with certainty
(Spinoza, Hume, Kant, rise of scientific method)

::: {.NOTES} Note: From my youth I would reflect that no one in all of human history could think the thoughts I do, imagine what I imagine. I somehow looked toward Africa, reflecting that my vantage point was toward Africa not the other way round. That I had learned the things I learned in school – from my ancestors – that I thought in an English way, not French or Albanian or whatever.

Moreover, the experience of History class in High School. Historical knowledge is never knowledge with certainty. :::

19th c. Foundations

Comment

Spring 2021

Table of Contents

Triumphant sense of history presentations

Europe Rejecting the Enlightenment

Placement along various continua

Definitions

New awareness of History