How did the Great Awakening contribute to the development of separation of church and state...?

Question

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Answer 1

Here are FOUR ways the Great Awakening contributed to the view that there should NOT be one established state-church (which is the origin and basic meaning of this whole "separation of church and state" idea). Most discussion of this question focus on #1 and/or 4, but all of these factors seem to have been at work and to have worked together:

1) The Great Awakening involved and fostered co-operation across denominational lines. For example, note the different affiliations of these three prominent preachers of the movement

* Jonathan Edwards (New England -- Congregationalist)
* Theodore Frelinghuysen (NJ, Raritan Valley -- Dutch Reformed)
* George Whitfield (visiting from England, preached throughout the colonies --Anglican [part of the new "Methodist" movement])

2) Insofar as the Awakening fostered co-operation between COLONIES, and different churches dominated in the various colonies, it implied co-operation that accepted these differences... thus, it undermined at least the notion that there could/should be ONE common (federally endorsed) church among all the colonies/states

3) The Awakening was not accepted equally by all WITHIN the various denominations. Some warned against it, responding to or fearing its"excesses", including tendencies of some affected by the revival to make much of emotional responses and to downplay the intellect. (Edwards, himself a great and careful intellect, and not one to appeal to emotions [he spoke very simply, almost a monotone, contrary to the caricature some now have of him] wrote and warned about the types of excesses, but did not regard these as grounds for dismissing all that was genuine and fruitful.)

Result -- along with more co-operation ACROSS denominations, there was some division WITHIN them. This increased the stronger 'sense of community' ACROSS these lines (sometimes having more in common with "evangelicals" in ANOTHER type of church) and so the tendency not to exalt one church above another.

4) By focusing more on the "conversion" experience and individual response, the Awakening also contributed to the emergence and growth of NEW churches which were SEPARATIST, that is, NOT state-sponsored and having no desire to be. This included a great many Baptist churches.

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I must disagree with the suggestion that the Awakening did not contribute because the time of revival didn't last long. The point was NOT that the time of revival ITSELF should last -- in general, preachers only looked for people to be converted ONCE! -- but that, afterward, should bear good FRUIT in all sorts of ways that benefited society. Such things as enduring co-operation and efforts at social reform that grew out of the Awakening are evidence that it DID last, whatever its shortcomings.


A few links that reflect on some of the effects of the Awakening on co-operation, etc:

http://www.christianchronicler.com/history1/great_awakening.html
http://www.longmeadow.org/hist_soc/awakening.htm
http://home.earthlink.net/~gfeldmeth/lec.ga.html
http://www.graceonlinelibrary.org/etc/printer-friendly.asp?ID=112
http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/publications/papers/vol1/501117-An_Appraisal_of_the_Great_Awakening.htm

Answer 2

It could be argued that the Great Awakening helped to encourage the spread of knowledge and with knowledge came awareness that there were varying creeds in the US of A and therefore no single religion could or should rule over the population. The other answer has many good points especially the greater tolerance during colonial times and increasing intolerance as time moved along. What truly has an impact on history was that The Great Awakening spurred the growth of Colleges and many future leaders including James Abram Garfield owe their careers tio the seeds planted by the Great Awakening.

Peace----------------------

Answer 3

American religion in the Colonial period is complex. My state of Georgia, had a surprising amount of toleration, Jews, Catholics, Salzburgers, etc. There was a move toward religious freedom in the late 1600s spurned on by the European Enlightenment.

I really do not accept your premise that the Great Awakening contributed to a separation of church and state. Jonathan Edwards (1734) had a powerful initial impact, and then faded out. That was somewhat the case of George Whitefield. Their impact was short lived.

The Founding Fathers belief in a separation in church and state stemmed more from not wanting to a The Church of England (Anglican Church here) as a state church. The irony of that was that the Anglican Church was really weak in America. The Anglican ministers had to be ordained in Great Britain, which meant that generally our country got the weaker ministers.

As far as other religious beliefs of the founders of the United States they were grounded in the Enlightenment and Deism. The Great Awakening faded away surprisingly quickly.

Answer 4

More common citizens were becoming 'middle class' due to trade, [they were merchants], thus they became more educated. They, as well as some priests, realized that the 'church' was becoming too wealthy and corrupt, as well as selling fake reliquaries to make money. There were many other facets contributing to 'the awakening', including the beginnings of 're-finding' science and scientific thinking, the beginnings of printed materials, [after many centuries of only the church controlling both printing (illuminations), as well as education], and also the start of the common people wishing their opinions to be heard, instead of being treated like so many cattle or sheep.
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