Enlightenment vs. Great Awakening

Attribute	Enlightenment	Great Awakening
Time Period	17th to 18th century	18th century
Origin	Europe	Colonial America
Focus	Rationality, reason, and science	Religious revival and emotional experience
Intellectual Movement	Philosophical and cultural movement	Religious revival movement
Key Figures	Voltaire, Rousseau, Locke	Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield
Impact	Influenced political and social reforms	Strengthened religious fervor and led to new denominations
Views on Authority	Challenged traditional authority and advocated for individual rights	Emphasized personal relationship with God and challenged established religious institutions
Geographical Spread	Europe, North America	Primarily in the American colonies

Introduction

The Enlightenment and the Great Awakening were two significant movements that emerged in the 18th century, shaping the intellectual and religious landscape of colonial America. While they differed in their focus and goals, both movements had a profound impact on society, politics, and culture. This article aims to compare the attributes of the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening, highlighting their key characteristics and exploring their lasting legacies.

The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was a philosophical and intellectual movement that swept across Europe and eventually reached the American colonies. It emphasized reason, logic, and scientific inquiry as the primary means of understanding the world. Enlightenment thinkers sought to challenge traditional authority, superstition, and religious dogma, advocating for individual freedom, secularism, and the pursuit of knowledge.

One of the central tenets of the Enlightenment was the belief in the power of human reason. Thinkers such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Immanuel Kant argued that individuals possessed the capacity to reason and make informed decisions, challenging the notion of divine authority and absolute monarchy. This emphasis on reason led to the development of scientific advancements, including Isaac Newton's laws of motion and the scientific method, which revolutionized the understanding of the natural world.

Furthermore, the Enlightenment promoted the idea of natural rights and social contract theory. Influenced by John Locke's writings, Enlightenment thinkers argued that individuals possessed inherent rights, such as life, liberty, and property, which should be protected by the government. They believed that governments derived their legitimacy from the consent of the governed, and if rulers failed to protect these rights, the people had the right to rebel and establish a new government.

The Enlightenment also had a profound impact on religious thought. Many Enlightenment thinkers were critical of organized religion and sought to separate religious beliefs from the realm of politics and governance. They advocated for religious tolerance and the freedom of thought, challenging the authority of the Church and promoting the idea of a more secular society.

In summary, the Enlightenment was characterized by its emphasis on reason, scientific inquiry, individual freedom, and the separation of church and state. It challenged traditional authority, promoted the idea of natural rights, and laid the foundation for the development of modern democratic societies.

The Great Awakening

The Great Awakening was a religious revival movement that swept through the American colonies in the 1730s and 1740s. It was characterized by a renewed interest in spirituality, emotional preaching, and a focus on personal salvation. The movement was led by influential preachers such as George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards, who sought to revitalize religious fervor and bring individuals closer to God.

Unlike the Enlightenment, which emphasized reason and scientific inquiry, the Great Awakening focused on the power of religious experience and emotional connection with God. Preachers during the Great Awakening delivered passionate sermons, often invoking fear and guilt to elicit a response from their audiences. They emphasized the need for personal conversion and the importance of a direct relationship with God, challenging the authority of established churches and religious hierarchies.

The Great Awakening also had a significant impact on society and culture. It led to the formation of new religious denominations, such as the Methodist and Baptist churches, which emphasized personal piety and individual interpretation of scripture. The movement also fostered a sense of unity among colonists, as people from different social classes and backgrounds came together in religious gatherings and shared a common spiritual experience.

Moreover, the Great Awakening had political implications. It challenged the authority of established religious and political institutions, paving the way for increased religious freedom and the separation of church and state. The movement also played a role in shaping the American Revolution, as the ideas of individual liberty and the right to challenge authority resonated with the colonists' desire for independence.

In summary, the Great Awakening was characterized by its emphasis on religious experience, emotional preaching, and personal salvation. It challenged established religious hierarchies, fostered religious diversity, and had significant political implications.

Comparing the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening

While the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening differed in their focus and goals, they shared some common attributes and had overlapping effects on colonial America.

• Both movements challenged traditional authority: The Enlightenment challenged the authority of the Church and absolute monarchies, advocating for individual freedom and the separation of church and state. The Great Awakening challenged the authority of established religious institutions, emphasizing personal piety and individual interpretation of scripture.
• Both movements had a profound impact on society and culture: The Enlightenment laid the foundation for modern democratic societies, promoting the idea of natural rights, reason, and scientific inquiry. The Great Awakening fostered religious diversity, brought people together in shared spiritual experiences, and played a role in shaping the American Revolution.
• Both movements influenced the development of American identity: The Enlightenment's emphasis on individual freedom and the pursuit of knowledge contributed to the ideals of liberty and independence that shaped the American Revolution. The Great Awakening's focus on personal salvation and the right to challenge authority resonated with the colonists' desire for religious and political freedom.

Conclusion

The Enlightenment and the Great Awakening were two influential movements that emerged in colonial America, shaping the intellectual, religious, and political landscape of the time. While the Enlightenment emphasized reason, scientific inquiry, and individual freedom, the Great Awakening focused on religious experience, emotional preaching, and personal salvation. Despite their differences, both movements challenged traditional authority, had a profound impact on society and culture, and influenced the development of American identity. The legacies of the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening can still be seen in the principles and values that underpin modern democratic societies.