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The Spirit of Early Evangelicalism: True Religion in a Modern World
Evangelicalism appeared as a new pattern of Christian devotion at a moment when the foundations of Anglo-American society were shifting. The Spirit of Early Evangelicalism locates the rise of evangelical religion in relation to movements that we now routinely acknowledge with capital Modernity, the Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment. The book examines the evangelical awakening in connection with the history of science, law, art, and literature. The eighteenth century saw a profound turn toward nature and the authority of natural knowledge in each of these discourses. As a more democratic public sphere became available for debating contemporary concerns, evangelicals forcefully pressed their agenda for "true religion," believing it was still possible to experience "the life of God in the soul of man." The results were dramatic and disruptive.
Bruce Hindmarsh provides a fresh perspective, and presents new research, on the thought of leading figures such as John and Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, and Jonathan Edwards. He also traces the significance of evangelical spirituality for elites and non-elites across multiple genres. This book traces the meaning of evangelical devotion in a rich variety of contexts, from the scribbled marginalia of lay Methodists and the poetry of an African-American laywoman to the visual culture of grand manner portraits and satirical prints. Viewing devotion, culture, and ideas together, it is possible to see the advent of evangelicalism as a significant new episode in the history of Christian spirituality.
Bruce Hindmarsh provides a fresh perspective, and presents new research, on the thought of leading figures such as John and Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, and Jonathan Edwards. He also traces the significance of evangelical spirituality for elites and non-elites across multiple genres. This book traces the meaning of evangelical devotion in a rich variety of contexts, from the scribbled marginalia of lay Methodists and the poetry of an African-American laywoman to the visual culture of grand manner portraits and satirical prints. Viewing devotion, culture, and ideas together, it is possible to see the advent of evangelicalism as a significant new episode in the history of Christian spirituality.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 17, 2019
In this fascinating and original study historian Bruce Hindmarsh chronicles the quest of early evangelicals in their search for “true religion” in a radically changing word. This book builds off of the pioneering work of W. R Ward but brings the conversation into previously unchartered waters. The author establishes Evangelicalism as a unique expression of Christian thought and spirituality that emerges coincident with the major innovations in the 18th century: the emergence of Modernity, Enlightenment, and the Scientific Revolution. Hindmarsh does not come right out with an organizing thesis statement that the study will go on to support. Rather, the conversation is driven by a question: what does spirit, or spirituality, mean for these Christians in a world that is newly preoccupied with “nature?” In the course of the book, Hindmarsh demonstrates how in all their involvements with natural philosophy, science, ethics, and art, evangelicals constantly uphold true religion as “the one thing needful.” Highly recommended!
April 18, 2023
Great examination of the spirit of evangelicalism as it began with figures like George Whitefield, the Wesleys, and Jonathan Edwards. Hindmarsh looks not only at the spirituality, theology and missionary thrust of the early evangelicals, but discusses their place in the battle between the ancients and the moderns. For this he looks at the various range of perspectives evangelicals had on art, science, law, and particular points of theology, as well as other aspects of 18th century life, and where they fit in their contemporary context. In the end, early evangelicalism was a combination of carrying on a tradition of Christian piety and belief which can be traced back through the centuries as well as an embrace and employment of many (but not all) aspects of an emerging and growing modernism (with cautionary criticisms as well). It was a Christian renewal movement that happened in the midst of a rapidly changing society. While it was not monolithic, it spanned denominational and affiliation boundaries, uniting Protestants of many stripes around key convictions about the need for true religion; real lived faith which reflected the genuine activity of the Holy Spirit in a person's life. It was urgent, vital and real, and beneath disagreements over particular theological points (such as predestination) and degree of acceptance of changing scientific, legal and aesthetic paradigms, there was an underlying commonality around the importance of and need for a personal experience of the saving work of Christ through his Spirit in every individual's life.
March 30, 2020
Hindmarsh gives brushstroke archival detail to explain how the evangelical message persuaded millions in its first manifestation in the middle 1700s. It turns out that the modern scientific shift to a law-ordered universe matched its message of right order within human beings. The persuasiveness of the preaching stemmed from a basic connection and basic distinction from the society in which the message was received. Message and dominant worldview need a tension. (No surprise in a sense, and if so, to which aspects of the faith should a gospel to the affluent society be attuned?)
August 8, 2023
A unique study that looks at the usual suspects of early evangelicalism: Edwards, the Wesley’s, and Whitefield. Yet, Hindmarsh shows how evangelicalism was positioned between the ancient and modern in cultural categories, in science, and in art.
April 20, 2020
This is an exceptionally well-researched, original and wide-ranging book that places the Evangelical revival of the early and mid Eighteenth century firmly in the context of scientific, legal and artistic changes in the period. By doing so, faith is no longer seen as an outlier to culture but clearly part of it. Despite having read reasonably widely on the rise of Evangelicalism, this book opened up new avenues to explore and new insights and angles on the subject. The famous Calvinist/Arminian split is intriguingly placed alongside the differences between Gainsborough and Reynolds on the purpose of portraiture and expression as well as the sublime and heroic in art and literature. The Eighteenth Century debate between ancient and modern sources of knowledge is demonstrated to be present in Wesley and the other leaders as they simultaneously look to the old sources of Christian devotion whilst recognising that they are part of a new movement.
It is well known, but restated here, that many of the marks of the modern evangelical movement - the emphasis on personal testimony, small group meetings and the importance of personal experience of God were well established in the pietist movement even before Edwards and Wesley adopted them. Evangelical Christians today continue to find themselves torn between ancient and modern as they look back (often unwittingly) to an early Eighteenth Century movement and its precursors whilst throwing themselves into the culture and technology of the Twenty First Century.
It is well known, but restated here, that many of the marks of the modern evangelical movement - the emphasis on personal testimony, small group meetings and the importance of personal experience of God were well established in the pietist movement even before Edwards and Wesley adopted them. Evangelical Christians today continue to find themselves torn between ancient and modern as they look back (often unwittingly) to an early Eighteenth Century movement and its precursors whilst throwing themselves into the culture and technology of the Twenty First Century.
November 17, 2022
It's hard to give a rating to a book like this.
It is so masterfully done, so thorough and eloquent - how do you evaluate it? In this context, I suppose it's based on one's subjective experience of it.
Hindmarsh attempts something that I have not seen in a history book before: he offers a detailed account of a specific historical movement while placing it in the broader context of societal trends. Or, more concretely, he dissects the journals and letters of early Evangelical leaders while drawing parallels to what was happening in the broader culture of their time. By doing so, Hindmarsh creates a sort of dialogue between a particular history of English revivals and the more general history of 18th century modernity. With great thoroughness, he demonstrates how the Evangelical message of experiencing God, forgiveness of sin, and attaining virtue found it's parallels in contemporary developments in science, law, and art.
This is not to say that the Evangelical message was completely a product of its time. Rather, its growth and success may be partially due to its ability to remain conversant with the culture around it. Has the English middle class grew and public forums became more common, Evangelical preachers entered the fray with relevant messages.
Overall, I can't think of a better book on this topic. It is academic, and a little tough to get through, but I'm sure it will form the basis for many more books that can process and apply what has been said in this one.
It is so masterfully done, so thorough and eloquent - how do you evaluate it? In this context, I suppose it's based on one's subjective experience of it.
Hindmarsh attempts something that I have not seen in a history book before: he offers a detailed account of a specific historical movement while placing it in the broader context of societal trends. Or, more concretely, he dissects the journals and letters of early Evangelical leaders while drawing parallels to what was happening in the broader culture of their time. By doing so, Hindmarsh creates a sort of dialogue between a particular history of English revivals and the more general history of 18th century modernity. With great thoroughness, he demonstrates how the Evangelical message of experiencing God, forgiveness of sin, and attaining virtue found it's parallels in contemporary developments in science, law, and art.
This is not to say that the Evangelical message was completely a product of its time. Rather, its growth and success may be partially due to its ability to remain conversant with the culture around it. Has the English middle class grew and public forums became more common, Evangelical preachers entered the fray with relevant messages.
Overall, I can't think of a better book on this topic. It is academic, and a little tough to get through, but I'm sure it will form the basis for many more books that can process and apply what has been said in this one.
February 22, 2019
Bruce Hindmarsh here focuses on the bright, burning heart of evangelicalism in the eighteenth century, its spirituality. With an amazing ability to telescope up and down from private letters to international trends, and to connect with great expository power central evangelical concerns with the general cultural trends in science, law, and art, Hindmarsh illuminates everything from Wesleyan hymnody to the Calvinist-Arminian doctrinal controversy. It is the most erudite and eloquent historical book I've read in years.
Want to read
February 27, 2018I went to the book release lecture of this book by a professor of mine. Now I want to read it even more!!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews