Second Great Awakening: The Issue Of Racism In The 19th Century

Not only did he state that his abolitionism was identical to God’s law, but he defied all social norms and directly went after churches, repeating that the ones who advocate for slavery are atheistical, and Christians who believe that one man may be enslaved by another are believers of the devil. I was awed. We all were. I quickly renounced all my previous personal connection to the possibility of atheism and my faith was fast renewed. It was as if I was a child again, learning about the Bible from my parents in secrecy.

Miller’s main argument for this document is essentially that, despite what may have been thought, majority of Protestant churches did not support the Klan. For a matter of fact, Miller’s entire document is completely discounting this theory. Explicitly, Miller presents multitudes of influential Protestant journal articles and primary sources throughout this document that completely discount the Klan. One particular popular Protestant journal titled “Christian Century” continuously warned those of the United States, particularly their own followers, of the growing influence of the Klan, and to not be tempted by their evil workings. Miller states that readers of the “Christian Century” journal “were reminded that the spirit of the Klan was against the very genius of

This modern Bible- as researched by British historian David Reynolds- introduced a new religion of equality, acceptance, and love for everyone no matter skin color, age, or economic status (1). Uncle Tom’s Cabin reformed the meaning of Christian religion during a period when most modern and corrupt churches weren’t standing against slavery, and sometimes encouraged it (Reynolds 1). As revealed in avid Civil War historian, Lyle Cullen Sizer’s work, Stowe’s animosity towards slavery emerged from her belief that it was un- Christian and her duty to end it (35). Stowe grew increasingly upset with the religious’ response to the strengthening of the fugitive slave law (Sizer 35). Previously, she thought that engaging in arguments of slavery was unnecessary, however, after seeing the minister’s response she said, “‘The time is come” when all must speak, “Even a woman or child’” (qtd.

Abolitionism had been quite a popular idea after the Revolution, but started to fade in the early 1800s. It wasn’t until white abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison resurged the movement with release of his newspaper, The Liberator. He and many others, including Frederick Douglass, demanded equal rights for African Americans, and condemned slavery as a sinful practice. They sought immediate emancipation, but many were opposed to their cause (mostly the South). Garrison founded a couple organizations to expand the movement, but his efforts were futile.

The Mormons somewhat practice complex marriage, but their practice only prohibits men to acquire multiple wives. I also noticed that with each one of the new denominations emerging throughout the time period, that slavery was something the majority of these differing religious sects were opposed to. It seems to me that as new religion came about, the ideals of abolition of slavery were more supported and more talked about. Most of the members of these new belief systems wanted nothing to do with the act of slavery, because they felt that it went directly against Christian teachings, and I agree with

It is my belief that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination was unjustified; he was a nonviolent civil rights leader, who simply desired peace amongst all human-beings. Unfortunately, on most issues a lot of people didn't agree with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Martin Luth er King Jr was an amazing civil rights leader who helped many African Americans; he strived to teach and demonstrate peace with one another. He was a minister who often preached about his hopes of there being peace amongst all people no matter your race creed or religious background. In his eyes, we were all brothers and sisters. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was more than an activist, he was a minister, a civil rights leader; he was a loving

In addition to establishing himself as a credible narrator and using anecdotes with repetitive diction and imagery, Douglass also highlights how religion was enforced in slavery. Every slave owner that Douglass belonged to was hypocritical and deceival towards their faith. This is frequently used through all his anecdotes to persuade the reader that slavery is full of non-sense and that the “devoted, peaceful, just, and kind owners” were full of lies. “He seemed to think himself equal to deceiving the Almighty. He would make a short prayer in the morning, and a long prayer at night; and, strange as it may seem, few men would at times appear more devotional than he…My non-compliance would almost always produce much confusion.

He states in his speech “Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other.” By saying this, he establishes that both whites and blacks are equal and the only difference between them is the color of their skin. This creates a very valid point and establishes his morals and ethics. This also shows his ability as a leader to put aside racial, ethical, and religious differences in the ability to treat everyone fairly and just. In this day and time, blacks, as well as women, were treated not as citizens of the united states, but as just residents will less than acceptable rights for human beings. This led to the rebellion of blacks as well as women, pushing for equal rights and fair treatment from not only the people around the but the government as well.

Another key factor Nathaniel Hawthorne uses to criticize the human nature and hypocrisy of all people is the community of Salem, as a whole. At the meeting that the entirety of Salem seemed to be attending, the Devil says to the holy group, “Ye deemed them holier than yourselves, and shrank from your own sin” (38). Growing up Hawthorne feels like a sinner as he doubts his ancestors for their so called ‘holy’ actions during the Salem Witch Trials. He feels like a hypocrite himself for thinking they went against god, while he, in judging them is doing essentially the same. LIkewise, in the story Goodman Brown feels like a sinner for leaving his wife and betraying his faith only to find out that so has the rest of the town, and he is not as

He ignores the fact that for many slaves, like Raboteau and others have argued, religion was a form of rebelliousness, a source of moral high ground, and a means to be socially recognized. For example, Raboteau brings to light instances in which, “in the fervor of religious worship, master and slave, white and black, could be found sharing a common event, profession a common faith and experiencing a common ecstasy.” The slaves under the faith of god were socially recognized by the wider system that was the Christian faith. But even more pressing is the example of black preachers being able to conduct religious services in which they would sway and inspire religious experiences inside black and white bodies alike. Raboteau provides us with an overwhelming number of examples that prove that slaves gained social standing using the symbols that their masters enacted to control them. My personal favorite is from a white lady named Parthenia Hague who after a service led by a black preacher said that

All slaves there were treated badly. They were beaten if their work didn’t satisfy the master. Although the master Legree believed in Christianity, he had the bad understanding of it. In the novel, some plantation master use specific doctrine to regulate the slaves and make slavery legal and comply with Christianity. Legree was one of them.

This awakening rejected the Calvinist concepts that had once been popular, and instead emphasized that anyone could be saved if they turned away from their sins and worked to live a Christ-centered life (OpenStax, 2016). The Second Great Awakening had a deep impact on many Americans who were struggling with the changes of the day, and continued to have an impact through 1865 and beyond (OpenStax, 2016). Many slave owners began encouraging the slaves towards Christianity, and some African Americans began churches (OpenStax, 2016). Though many were swept up in the Second Great Awakening and found their Christian faith, the animosity towards other religions (particularly Catholicism) persisted. Christianity had huge social effects, as many began striving for a healthier lifestyle for all Americans.

During the twentieth century and throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, there are several instances that support the idea of differing views when it came to the black and white churches’ participation in gaining equality for those of the black race. This is seen most prevalent with the segregation of churches in the South and the blatant disregard the white congregations displayed for the progression of the black rights movement. Both the black and white churches of the South shared the same religion, however the white congregation was hesitant to seek unity with their black brethren; ultimately leading to an assumed difference in values and religious morals. In To Kill a Mockingbird, there are many obvious differences that arise when comparing the black church to the white church, however the most telling difference is a need for segregation from the members of the white church. While there is a need for segregation shown by the white church goers, a majority of the blacks are very accepting of a church with mixed races.

Thus, being close minded was truly a dishonor to oneself and to God. With this in mind, both writers who were true Christian didn’t appreciate when people would consider themselves Christians, however, they supported slavery. They couldn’t grasp the ideology of slavery, if those slave owners were real Christians. Being a real Christian meant that he or she respected the Bible and followed God’s moral guidance. By having this moral guidance, it gave blacks empowerment to have their voices heard without criticism, for they “may be refin’d and join th’ angelic train” (On Being | Wheatley).

An indispensiable event in Christian history is Martin Luther King, Jr. enlightening society that there were civil laws that did not appropriately reflect the laws of equality, which were consistently addressed throughout the Christian Bible; therefore, if there was such as abundance of followers of Christianity, during that time, then the dominate class [upper and middle class, Caucasians] were typically not living by the word of God considering the fact that they were denying natural human rights as well as promoting hatred toward someone of different background. One major event that calls into question the entire faith, whether or not it did in fact happen, is Jesus’s resurrection in consideration that he was persecuted by the Roman soldiers,