Thomas Kidd on The Great Awakening

tonygill — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 08:00:15 +0000

The Great Awakening was a period of great evangelical fervor in the British American colonies that is typically dated from 1740-43, yet had its roots back in the 17th century and which also lingered into the 1760s. Prof. Thomas Kidd — associate professor of history at Baylor University, senior fellow at Baylor’s Institute for Studies of Religion, and co director of Baylor’s Program on Historical Studies of Religion — discusses his book The Great Awakening (Yale University Press). We learn how this evangelical revival varied regionally in the colonies and how it was defined by a more heartfelt and charismatic spirituality. Our conversation covers several of the most colorful characters of this movement including George Whitefield, James Davenport and Gilbert Tennent, and how established clergy pushed back at their emotionally-fueled evangelism. Whitefield is discussed in particular detail. We conclude our podcast with how The Great Awakening influenced the anti-slavery movement and the American Revolution. Recorded: August 6, 2010.

Research On Religion » James Davenport

Thomas Kidd on The Great Awakening