The idea of "spiritual awakening"
Discuss and compare how we see the idea of "spiritual awakening" portrayed in the specific primary texts included in our course materials by John Eliot, the "Praying Indians" agreement, Jonathan Edwards, Phillis Wheatley, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott, Sojourner Truth, and/or Harriet Beecher Stowe (choose only 3 authors from this list). What contextual factors led to this awakening, and what did it mean for those who experienced it? What elements of a "spiritual awakening" do these authors/texts share in common, and how/why do other elements differ? How is their depiction of spiritual awakening significant to our study of American literature? Be specific with your evidence and your insight.
The idea of "spiritual awakening" is portrayed in a variety of ways in the primary texts included in our course materials. In this essay, I will discuss and compare how this idea is portrayed in the works of John Eliot, Jonathan Edwards, and Phillis Wheatley.
John Eliot
John Eliot was a Puritan missionary who worked with the Native Americans of Massachusetts Bay Colony. He believed that the Native Americans could be saved through conversion to Christianity. In his writings, Eliot describes the spiritual awakenings that he witnessed among the Native Americans. He writes that these awakenings were characterized by a sense of conviction of sin, a desire for forgiveness, and a new commitment to following Jesus Christ.
Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards was a Calvinist theologian who preached a fiery sermon known as "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." In this sermon, Edwards describes the terrors of hell and the need for people to be saved from their sins. He argues that only through a conversion experience can people be saved. Edwards's sermon was a powerful call to spiritual awakening, and it had a profound impact on many people.
Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley was an African American slave who was brought to Boston in 1761. She was taught to read and write by her owners, and she began writing poetry at a young age. In her poetry, Wheatley often writes about her spiritual awakening. She describes how she came to believe in Jesus Christ, and how this belief gave her hope and strength. Wheatley's poetry is a powerful testimony to the power of spiritual awakening.
Contextual factors leading to spiritual awakening
The contextual factors that led to spiritual awakening in the 17th and 18th centuries were complex and varied. However, some of the most important factors include:
- The Protestant Reformation, which emphasized the importance of individual faith and experience.
- The Great Awakening, a religious revival that swept through the American colonies in the early 18th century.
- The growth of the transatlantic slave trade, which brought Africans with different religious beliefs to the Americas.
- A sense of conviction of sin
- A desire for forgiveness
- A new commitment to following Jesus Christ
- A sense of peace and joy