One thing that seemed apparent from our readings on the 2nd Great Awakening is the critical role women played in revitalizing Christianity in America. Of course, when I think of American Christian women, our old friend Anne Hutchinson immediately comes to mind. The Noll reading claimed that women were so prominent in this movement because of their "virtues of sacrifice, devotion, and trust." I think these values, particularly devotion and sacrifice, also played a role in the appeal of Anne Hutchinson as a popular preacher. Anyway, if nothing else, it is nice to learn that women followed her tradition. I would not have suspected that women were so active in religion at this point in American history, and I'm glad that they did.
And that's coming from a Catholic...
(I have a few bones to pick with my church's perspectives on gender and sexuality.)
I agree!
ReplyDeleteI'm probably going to post a similar kind of post.