Early National America

The early 1800's (especially the 30's and the 40's) revived a 300-year old lull in new religious movements that would not been seen again for another century following.

There were rapid social and economic changes facilitated; Transportation, urbanization, industrial development, increased democratization (self-government), immigration and church-state issues, westward expansion & "Manifest Destiny" (which envigorated everything from the Great Awakening, civil religion, racism & bigiotry)

There were various social and religious movements in early national Americia which shaped the religious innovations of the time.

Millennialism

Looking to the future of the human community, the counterpart of history. - The Second Coming

Postmillennialists (progressives or millennialists) - Make the world better and worthy for Christ's return ot establish the Kingdom of God on Earth --> Perfectionism (Methodists, Charles Finney)
Premillennialists (pessimists or millenarians) - Divine intervention will establish the divinely governed state - we are to seperate. Negative effects show end is near! --> Jehovah's Witnesses, Millerites, Shakers, Mormons.

Intellectualism

Romanticism: art, literature, religion, philosophy. In Europe, was a reaction against cold rationalism of the Enlightenment. In America, was a tramsoprt to express a new nationalism, and paralled revivalism. Find truth in inner convictions and feelings, put faith in the "moment of intense feeling." We are advancing to something better! This energized philosophy & religion (Evangelical, Transendentialism, idealism), social movements (prohibition, abolation, sufferage) and systems (Oneida, New Harmony, Brook Farm). Believed in economic, technological, education and government as signs of progress
Perfectionism: stress a post-conversion experience with God. (Found a home for Gnostic dulists, Montanists, Albigensians, Brethern of the Free Spirit and the English Ranters) Strongest later in the 1930's: Evangelicalism made social reform an imperative - create a perfec society through conversions.

Revialism

The dominant force in 1800's - paved roads for Shakers, Spiritualists, Mormonism.

Emphasis on sin and guilt to produce quick and consious conversion experience.

By 1860 infused every American protistant denomination. "A state of continuious awakening" was the goal of American Christian life. (from the Frontier Revivals to Dwight L. Moody) Calvinism was transformed into an evangelical Arminianism w/ emphasis on Free Will. Many fringe sects produced.

Religious Pluralism

Religion was competative, changing, and individualistic. Debates arose over doctrine, methods, and slavery.

With no established religion, and a volunteer laity, if positions could not find support in the mainstreams, they broke off, split, or reorganized churches.

Had a "Protestant Pluralism" in American culture, but cracks in Protestant Empire began to show pre-Civil War:

Millions of Irish and German Catholic immigrants (40's &50's)
Universalists & Unitarians gained visability
Many Founding Fathers were acknowledged Freemasons, and gave credance to American Rosicrucianism.
Communial Groups advocatated radical ideas

Sensationalism -> date setting for the Millennium, (roots of Seventh-day Aventists) Mormonism and several anti-denominational "restorationist" movements (Church of Christ) arose.

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