Identify and state the historical significance of the following:
-old and new lights

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer is The terms "Old Lights" and "New Lights" refer to two distinct groups that emerged within the American colonial religious landscape during the First Great Awakening, which was a period of religious revival that swept through the British American colonies from the 1730s to the 1740s. This movement marked a pivotal moment in American religious history and had lasting effects on the development of American Protestantism.

**Old Lights**: The Old Lights were the traditionalists who were skeptical of the emotionalism and the theatrical preaching methods that characterized the Great Awakening. They preferred a more conservative approach to worship and religious practice, emphasizing order, tradition, and established doctrine. Old Lights were often associated with the established Congregationalist and Anglican churches. They were wary of the revivalist techniques, which they felt undermined the authority of the clergy and the importance of a learned ministry. The Old Lights were concerned that the revivals led to divisions within congregations, emotional excesses, and a lack of control over religious experiences.

**Historical Significance**: The Old Lights played a significant role in resisting changes to the established religious order. Their opposition to the Great Awakening's fervor helped to maintain a degree of continuity in religious practice and doctrine among the established churches. However, their resistance also highlighted the growing tensions between different approaches to religion in the colonies and set the stage for future religious pluralism in America.

**New Lights**: In contrast, the New Lights were the supporters of the Great Awakening. They embraced the revivalist movement and its emphasis on a personal and emotional connection to religion. New Lights favored a more individualistic approach to faith and salvation, and they supported itinerant preachers like George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards, who traveled from town to town delivering impassioned sermons. The New Lights believed that these revivals were a sign of a genuine outpouring of the Holy Spirit and that they revitalized Christianity in the colonies.

**Historical Significance**: The New Lights had a profound impact on the development of American religion. They contributed to the democratization of religion by challenging the authority of established clergy and promoting the idea that individuals could have a direct and personal relationship with God. This emphasis on personal experience and the questioning of traditional authority would become hallmarks of American evangelicalism. The New Lights also fostered the growth of new denominations, such as Baptists and Methodists, which would become significant forces in American religion. Furthermore, the movement encouraged a spirit of questioning and independence that would later influence the political realm, contributing to the development of American identity and the push for independence from Great Britain.

In summary, the Old Lights and New Lights represent the clash between traditional religious practices and the new fervent, revivalist approach that emerged during the First Great Awakening. Their conflict and coexistence were significant in shaping the religious, cultural, and social landscape of colonial America, leading to greater religious diversity and setting the stage for the American emphasis on individualism and freedom of worship.

Identify and State the Historical Significance of the Following