Comparing/Contrasting the Enlightenment with the Great Awakening Cristo Rey High School

The Enlightenment Began in Europe in the early 1700’s An intellectual movement that promoted rational thought over religious beliefs A new way to explain the world

The Enlightenment

Before the Enlightenment, many scientists were considered “heretics” To try to explain the world scientifically was considered an insult to God. Why do you suppose the Church would have been opposed to a scientific understanding of the world?

Results of Enlightenment Important works of scientists like Galileo, Copernicus, and Newton established that the Earth revolved around the sun, not vice versa. The world is governed by fixed mathematical laws.

Results of the Enlightenment Suddenly, you couldn’t explain a difficult/confusing concept by saying “well that’s just how God created it” People now wanted to know WHY things worked the way they did. Is this, in fact, disrespectful to God?

Benjamin Franklin- Enlightened Thinker

Effects of Enlightenment “This new philosophy calls all into question” Led to much invention and experimentation Had a profound effect on political thought in the colonies

Effects of Enlightenment Thomas Jefferson: inspired by the works of Enlightenment thinkers like Locke and Hobbs Both Lock and Hobbes had ideas about “natural rights” that all humans were born with.

Enlightenment Philosophers Video Three Minute Philosophy - John Locke - YouTubeThree Minute Philosophy - John Locke - YouTube

Effects of Enlightenment Enlightenment ideas eventually led many colonists to question the authority of the British monarchy

The Great Awakening

Took place in early 1700’s Puritans in the colonies had gotten too “comfortable” in their wealth Leaders of the church wanted Puritans to return to an intense dedication to the church

The Great Awakening Jonathan Edwards: “Sinners in the hands of an angry God” It was not enough for people to just come to church. To be saved, they must feel their sinfulness and feel God’s love for them.

Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God IV. They are now the objects of that very same anger and wrath of God that is expressed in the torments of hell: and the reason why they don't go down to hell at each moment, is not because God, in whose power they are, is not then very angry with them; as angry as he is with many of those miserable creatures that he is now tormenting in hell, and do there feel and bear the fierceness of his wrath. Yea, God is a great deal more angry with great numbers that are now on earth, yea, doubtless with many that are now in this congregation, that it may be are at ease and quiet, than he is with many of those that are now in the flames of hell.

Effects of the Great Awakening Restored many colonists’ Christian religious faith. Challenged authority of established churches

Great Awakening/Enlightenment Great Awakening emphasized emotional religious conviction. Enlightenment emphasized reason. BOTH caused people to question authority. BOTH stressed importance of the individual. Enlightenment: by emphasizing human reason Great Awakening: by de-emphasizing role of church

IMPORTANT! Both the Great Awakening and the Enlightenment played an important role in inspiring the colonists to question British authority. Both movements created the social/intellectual atmosphere that led to the American Revolution.