Religious Change

After reading Chapter 10 on Revival and Religious Change my views on religion in America has expanded greatly. A spark was ignited when The Second Great Awakening began. Religious groups were effected tremendously. They grew from the excitement created by the Second Great Awakening.The Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians grew the most out of all the religious groups. This revival of religion caused people to abandon what was considered "normal" in church and try to worship in more exciting ways. This led to new denominations. However, the largest and most successful denomination was Methodism. It grew nearly thirty-three percent during the Awakening. The Second Great Awakening also brought about more "fiery" preachers. For example, Lyman Beecher attempted to appeal to younger generations of Americans by adopting a less orthodox approach to the Calvinist doctrine. Another preacher, Charles Grandison Finney, put theological issues aside and spread his word by appealing to worshippers’ hearts and emotions. While they didn't agree on everything, the idea that all people can be saved by surrendering to God is one thing they did agree on. Spiritual Egalitarianism, as it as now known, became one of the most important transformations to emerge out of the Second Great Awakening. In conclusion, The Second Great Awakening was a HUGE part of American history. Religion became and still is one of the most important things in the lives of American citizens. The spark has now turned into a flame that is burning bright throughout America.