Enlightenment vs. Great Awakening — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on November 20, 2023
Enlightenment emphasized reason & individualism; Great Awakening focused on religious revival & emotional experience.
Difference Between Enlightenment and Great Awakening
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Enlightenment was a cultural and intellectual movement that emerged in Europe during the late 17th and 18th centuries, emphasizing reason, science, and individualism. Great Awakening, on the other hand, was a series of religious revivals in colonial America, stressing a deep emotional connection with God.
While Enlightenment thinkers like Locke and Voltaire championed human rights and democracy, relying on human reason to solve problems, Great Awakening preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield emphasized personal salvation, repentance, and the need for a direct, emotional experience of God.
Enlightenment led to significant advancements in arts, sciences, politics, and philosophy, whereas the Great Awakening had profound effects on American religious life, planting seeds for the future American Revolution and promoting denominational splintering.
The Enlightenment brought about a shift from religious authority to individual reason, laying the groundwork for secular societies. The Great Awakening, contrastingly, revitalized religious fervor and led many to question established church authority.
As Enlightenment ideas spread, they played crucial roles in revolutions, including the American and French, advocating for rational governance. The Great Awakening, conversely, galvanized colonists, uniting them under shared religious experiences, which inadvertently fostered a sense of collective identity.
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Comparison Chart
Origin
Originated in Europe
Originated in Colonial America
Primary Focus
Reason, science, and individualism
Religious revival and emotional connection with God
Influential Figures
Locke, Voltaire, Rousseau
Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield
Impact on Society
Led to democratic revolutions & scientific advances
Led to religious diversification & colonial unity
Relationship to Authority
Challenged traditional authority using reason
Challenged church authority through personal faith
Compare with Definitions
Enlightenment
The state of gaining spiritual insight or clarity.
Meditation led her to a profound Enlightenment experience.
Great Awakening
A challenge to established church authority in favor of personal faith.
The Great Awakening saw many break away from traditional denominations.
Enlightenment
A European intellectual movement emphasizing reason and individualism.
The Enlightenment era brought forward thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau.
Great Awakening
A period of renewed religious fervor in the colonies.
The Great Awakening played a key role in shaping American religious identity.
Enlightenment
The act of receiving knowledge or understanding.
His trip to Africa was an Enlightenment about cultural diversity.
Great Awakening
A movement emphasizing personal repentance and faith.
The Great Awakening saw many colonists turn to fervent prayer and piety.
Enlightenment
A release from ignorance or misinformation.
The documentary provided an Enlightenment on the topic.
Great Awakening
A series of religious revivals in colonial America.
The Great Awakening led to an increased emphasis on personal religious experience.
Enlightenment
The act or a means of enlightening.
Great Awakening
An emotional and spiritual revival that reshaped colonial religious landscape.
The effects of the Great Awakening can still be seen in American religious diversity today.
Enlightenment
The state of being enlightened.
Enlightenment
Enlightenment A philosophical movement of the 1700s that emphasized the use of reason to scrutinize previously accepted doctrines and traditions and that brought about many humanitarian reforms. Used with the.
Enlightenment
Buddhism & Hinduism A state in which the individual transcends desire and suffering and attains nirvana.
Enlightenment
An act of enlightening, or the state of being enlightened or instructed.
Enlightenment
A concept in spirituality, philosophy and psychology related to achieving clarity of perception, reason and knowledge.
Enlightenment
Act of enlightening, or the state of being enlightened or instructed.
Enlightenment
Same as AufklÄrung.
Enlightenment
Education that results in understanding and the spread of knowledge
Enlightenment
(Hinduism and Buddhism) the beatitude that transcends the cycle of reincarnation; characterized by the extinction of desire and suffering and individual consciousness
Enlightenment
A movement in the 18th century that advocated the use of reason in the reappraisal of accepted ideas and social institutions
Enlightenment
The period in history when reason was advocated as the primary basis of authority.
The Enlightenment played a pivotal role in shaping modern democracies.
Common Curiosities
How did Enlightenment ideas shape political movements?
Enlightenment ideas contributed to revolutions advocating for rational governance, like the American and French Revolutions.
Why was the Great Awakening significant for American religious life?
The Great Awakening led to religious diversification and fostered a sense of collective identity among colonists.
How did the Great Awakening influence colonial America?
The Great Awakening emphasized personal salvation and led many to question established church authority.
Were the Enlightenment and Great Awakening concurrent movements?
They overlapped in time but had distinct focuses: Enlightenment on reason and Great Awakening on religious fervor.
What was the main focus of the Enlightenment?
The Enlightenment emphasized reason, science, and individualism.
Can one be influenced by both Enlightenment and Great Awakening ideas?
Yes, some individuals might appreciate Enlightenment's emphasis on reason while also valuing the personal faith focus of the Great Awakening.
How did Enlightenment thinkers view traditional authority?
Many Enlightenment thinkers challenged traditional authority, advocating reason as a superior guide.
Which famous figures are associated with the Enlightenment?
Figures like Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau are notable Enlightenment thinkers.
Who were prominent preachers during the Great Awakening?
Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield were influential figures in the Great Awakening.
How did the Great Awakening challenge the status quo?
The Great Awakening led people to question church authority, emphasizing personal religious experiences.
Is the Enlightenment solely a historical period?
While often referred to historically, the term "Enlightenment" can also mean gaining insight or understanding in various contexts.
Was the Great Awakening only a religious movement?
Primarily religious, the Great Awakening also had social and political implications for the American colonies.
Did the Enlightenment only occur in Europe?
While it originated in Europe, Enlightenment ideas spread globally, influencing various regions.
How did the Great Awakening impact the American Revolution?
The Great Awakening fostered a sense of colonial unity and identity that indirectly contributed to revolutionary sentiments.
How do Enlightenment and Great Awakening compare in terms of legacy?
The Enlightenment shaped democratic and scientific principles globally, while the Great Awakening influenced American religious and social dynamics.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
