(1) This discussion posting does a good job of explaining the coherence and significance of the Great Awakening. It is indeed agreeable that Whitefield, through his “well-timed admonition to the leading of the Holy Ghost” (Kidd 109) helped in initiating the Great Awakening”. It is certainly agreeable that if it was not for George Whitefield, the British Atlantic would have never experienced Calvinist evangelical theology during the 18th century that began in the 1730s. Moreover, it must also be noted that Kidd believes that the greatest thing about the Great Awakening is that “it produced the evangelical movement” in America that has stayed back with Americans today. Kidd shifts the focus of the Great Awakening entirely towards religious life, rather than acknowledging the impact it made on cultural norms, politics, and social class (Kidd). Nonetheless, this discussion post does a good job of highlighting the core of Whitefield’s evangelism that Kidd uses to support the existence of the Great Awakening.
(2) This discussion post again cleverly emphasizes on George Whitefield, a seminal figure, who played a significant role in the early American evangelical Christianity. This post also focuses on the mid-eighteenth century revivals, which had not only been discussed in terms of the “First” Great Awakening but also in terms of the “Second” Great Awakening too. In fact, Kidd agrees that “there were important, widespread revivals that happened before First, and between the First and Second, Great Awakenings” (Kidd 102). By quoting from page 102 from Kidd’s book, this post also does a good job of pointing out Whitefield’s brilliance as a preacher and his influence. The mention of Eric Foner’s statement strengthens this discussion post’s support of Kidd’s thesis. Even in his book, The Story of American Freedom, Foner supports the fact that an understanding of freedom was reinforced by the religious revivalism that was taking place in the late colonial era, which he also refers to as the Great Awakening, thus supporting its existence.
Works Cited
Kidd, Thomas S. "The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America." Madaras, Larry , and James M. SoRelle. Taking Sides: Clashing Views in United States History, The Colonial Period to Reconstruction. 15th ed. 1. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013. Print.
