Chhi 302 Paper 2 Instructions ✓ Solved

CLEANED Chhi 302paper 2 Instructionspaper 2 Will Focus On American Church Hist

CLEANED: Chhi 302paper 2 Instructionspaper 2 Will Focus On American Church Hist

Write a 5-page research paper on American Church History, using 12-point Times New Roman font with 1-inch margins. Cite five scholarly sources outside of your textbook, including at least two scholarly articles or books, avoiding Wikipedia, blogs, and non-scholarly websites. Use current Turabian style for citations and include a bibliography as the last page. Submit the paper via the designated discussion forum and SafeAssign by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Week 5. Choose one of the following topics:

  • The First Great Awakening: Discuss the origins of Evangelicalism, Biographies of Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, their contributions, comparisons, other notable leaders, and how the awakening contributed to Evangelicalism's development.
  • The Second Great Awakening: Describe camp meetings such as Cane Ridge, discuss Charles Finney's contributions, analyze the growth of Baptists and Methodists, and explore the rise of Utopian Communities from the 1800s.
  • The Rise of Fundamentalism: Cover reactions to Darwinism, higher criticism, the Social Gospel, The Fundamentals, the Scopes Trial, and other significant aspects from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The First Great Awakening: Roots of Evangelicalism and Key Leaders

The First Great Awakening, occurring in the 1730s and 1740s, marked a significant spiritual revival in colonial America that laid the groundwork for modern Evangelicalism. Two prominent figures central to this movement were Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, whose leadership catalyzed widespread religious enthusiasm and brought about lasting changes in American Protestantism. This paper examines their biographies, contributions, similarities and differences, other influential leaders, and how the awakening fostered Evangelicalism.

Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) was a Congregational minister renowned for his passionate sermons and theological insights. Educated at Yale, Edwards emphasized the necessity of personal conversion and a heartfelt faith. His most famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” vividly conveyed the sense of personal salvation and divine wrath, inspiring many to renew their spiritual commitments. Edwards’ theological writings merged Puritan piety with Enlightenment rationalism, creating a compelling message that resonated across diverse audiences. His emphasis on experiential faith contributed immensely to American evangelical identity.

George Whitefield (1714–1770), an Anglican evangelist from England, brought a charismatic approach to revival preaching that energized large outdoor gatherings. Known for his booming voice and emotive delivery, Whitefield's sermons attracted thousands, transcending social and geographic boundaries. His itinerant ministry spread across colonies, emphasizing the importance of personal conversion and evangelical fervor. Whitefield’s dramatic style was instrumental in igniting revivalism among diverse populations, including enslaved Africans, thereby expanding the movement’s reach.

Both Edwards and Whitefield contributed significantly to the awakening; Edwards provided theological depth and intellectual rigor, emphasizing the necessity of personal conversion, while Whitefield's captivating oratory tailored to mass audiences, emphasizing emotional connection. Despite differences—Edwards being more doctrinal and Whitefield more charismatic—they shared core evangelical themes of salvation, repentance, and personal experience.

Other leaders, such as Gilbert Tennent and Samuel Hopkins, played secondary roles but contributed to spreading revivalism through preaching and writings, further entrenching evangelical ideas in American religious culture.

The First Great Awakening was unique because it democratized religion, breaking the clergy’s monopoly and encouraging individual religious experiences. It fostered a sense of personal relationship with God, undermining traditional hierarchical church authority, and laid foundations for subsequent evangelical movements. The revival’s emphasis on personal faith and emotional engagement contributed to the proliferation of independent churches and the eventual growth of Christian denominations in the United States.

In conclusion, the First Great Awakening decisively shaped American religious landscape. The charismatic leadership of Whitefield and the theological depth of Edwards created a dynamic and enduring evangelical ethos that continues to influence Christianity today. The movement’s emphasis on personal experience and direct engagement with faith democratized religious participation and fostered a culture of revivalism that persists in contemporary Christianity.

References

  • Bicentennial Edition of the Works of Jonathan Edwards. (1999). Yale University Press.
  • Griffiths, B. J. (1992). Whitefield: The Life and Times of George Whitefield. Lion Publishing.
  • Noll, M. (1992). A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada. William B. Eerdmans Publishing.
  • Stout, H. S. (2002). The Divine Dramatist: George Whitefield and the Tragedy of Religious Authority. William B. Eerdmans Publishing.
  • Wilson, R. J. (1990). The Great Awakening: Religious Revival in Colonial America. Harvard University Press.

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