"The revivals encouraged women to play a more active part not only in narrowly spiritual matters but also in the larger arenas of social reform. Often in the context of revival, women strove mightily against slavery, for better treatment of the mentally ill, and later in the temperance crusade and social work in the cities."I've never perceived religion as a driving source for social change. It was only after class on Friday that I was able to gain an understanding of why the Second Great Awakening was important to American history. In keeping with Abraham Lincoln's definition of democracy, government "by the people for the people", because religion shapes the views of the people, it thus shapes the nation. What makes the United States unique is that there is a seperation of church and state, that the government does not support or authorize religion and allows for a free market of religions all competing against one another.
When people like Charles Finney set up revivals in the woods, they were advocating political change as they knew how. I'd like to continue to examine the contrast between social movements from the past and present.
Paige,
ReplyDeleteHere you hint at the distinction between religious institutions, e.g. churches, and religion. That is important, though we might also find examples of churches being a force for social change. Think of the civil rights movement.
You will indeed be examining social movements, or at least some associations.
LDL