Overview

This sweeping history of popular religion in eighteenth-century NewEngland examines the experiences of ordinary people living throughextraordinary times. Drawing on an unprecedented quantity of letters, diaries,and testimonies, Douglas Winiarski recovers the pervasive and vigorouslay piety of the early eighteenth century. George Whitefield’s preaching tourof 1740 called into question the fundamental assumptions of this thrivingreligious culture. Incited by Whitefield and fascinated by miraculous giftsof the Holy Spirit—visions, bodily fits, and sudden conversions—countlessNew Englanders broke ranks with family, neighbours, and ministers whodismissed their religious experiences as delusive enthusiasm. These new converts,the progenitors of today’s evangelical movement, bitterly assaulted theCongregational establishment. The 1740s and 1750s were the dark night of the New England soul, asmen and women groped toward a restructured religious order. Conflicttransformed inclusive parishes into exclusive networks of combative spiritualseekers. Then as now, evangelicalism emboldened ordinary people to questiontraditional authorities. Their challenge shattered whole communities.

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9781469628264

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The scope of Winiarski's research is remarkable, far surpassing the work of other historians before him.--Southeastern Theological Review Winiarski brings new life to eighteenth-century religion. Perhaps as significantly, he sets a high bar for the use of compelling narrative and imaginative prose in the writing of early American history . . . [T]hrough his expert presentation of lived experience, he has at last made the stories of the awakened as compelling as those of the awakeners.--Peter Manseau, in Journal of the American Academy of Religion By parsing the distinctive vocabularies and rich tropes that ordinary New Englanders devised to describe their tumult within, [Winiarski] lends freshness and immediacy to the familiar narrative of the Awakening.--Christine Heyrman, in Reviews in American History [T]he most compelling history of the Awakening in New England we have. . . . Nowhere else in studies of religious practice in early America is social behavior so thoroughly mapped. And nowhere else have vernacular descriptions of religious experience been so acutely analyzed.--David D. Hall, in Church History: Studies in Christianity and Culture Admirably models how the methods and gaze of lived religion can expand and humanize well established narratives.--Reading Religion [Winiarski] weaves together biographies of believers seeking spiritual refreshment and by turns finding in New England's established religion a font of joy or an empty, arid, and spiritless desert. Essential.--Choice An absolute must-read for students, scholars, pastors, and laypeople who care about the legacy of the Great Awakening.--The Gospel Coalition This finely researched project is a gold mine for students of New England church history. . . . One of the best compendia of New England social history to appear in many years. . . . Students of the region will be building on its findings for decades to come.--Douglas Sweeney, Jonathan Edwards Center at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Essential reading for students of early American 'evangelicalism.'--John Turner, Patheos

Drawing on letters, diaries, and testimonies, Winiarski recovers the pervasive and vigorous lay piety of the early 18th century.--Cushwa Center

[Winiarski] weaves together biographies of believers seeking spiritual refreshment and by turns finding in New England's established religion a font of joy or an empty, arid, and spiritless desert. Essential.--Choice An absolute must-read for students, scholars, pastors, and laypeople who care about the legacy of the Great Awakening.--The Gospel Coalition Drawing on letters, diaries, and testimonies, Winiarski recovers the pervasive and vigorous lay piety of the early 18th century.--Cushwa Center Essential reading for students of early American 'evangelicalism.'--John Turner, Patheos This finely researched project is a gold mine for students of New England church history. . . . One of the best compendia of New England social history to appear in many years. . . . Students of the region will be building on its findings for decades to come.--Douglas Sweeney, Jonathan Edwards Center at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Author Information

Douglas L. Winiarski is associate professor of religious studies at the University of Richmond, USA.

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