Our continued explanation of the truth about what and why Americans believe how America was made and by who:
The American scholar, Albert C. Outler points out that the new religion of the heart and the rationalism of the enlightenment was both anti-establishment. They both mistrusted external authority.
Rationalism and the enlightenment both allied themselves with the modernists against the ancients. They both shared a hatred of inhumanity, and an enthusiasm for philanthropy.
It seems that a radical religious devotion actually paved the way for the ideals of the enlightenment to take root among Jews as well as Christians. Many of these sects seemed to respond to the immense changes of the period by violating religious taboos. Some even appeared blasphemous.
Of course some were dubbed atheistic. Puritans had left England and settled in New England during the 1620s. This as we know, was to pursue their religion in peace. This time also brought about the first Quakers. Quakers preached that all men and women could approach God directly.
There was an inner light within every person that only has to be discovered and nurtured. Once it had been discovered and nurtured everybody, regardless of class or stature, could achieve salvation here on earth. They also preached pacifism and non-violence. *********
The new born again Christianity that was beginning to appear in the west during the 17th and 18th centuries was frequently unhealthy. It was often characterized by violent and dangerous emotions and reversals.
We can see this in the wave of religious fervour known as the Great Awakening that swept through New England during the 1730s.
*This is what America was developed and created under. In this context only can you say God created America.
This was inspired by the evangelical preaching of George Whitfield a colleague of the Wesley’s and the sermons of Jonathan Edwards(1703-1758). Edwards held his sermons in Northampton Connecticut.
He described his parishioners there as being nothing out of the ordinary; they were sober, orderly, and good, but lacking in religious fervour.
They were no better or worse than the men and women living in the other colonies. That was until in 1734 when two young people died shockingly sudden deaths. This all changed suddenly as the people were real nervous and concerned. This was reinforced by Edwards himself who was known for his hell fire and brimstone sermons.
Edwards plunged the town into a frenzy of religious fervour. People could talk of nothing but religion; they even stopped working in order to spend the entire day reading the Bible.
James M Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com
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