Age of Progress IIIAge of Progress III

Slavery, Temperance and Slavery, Temperance and Liberal TheologyLiberal Theology

John NewtonJohn Newton• Born 1725 in London the son of a wealthy Born 1725 in London the son of a wealthy

shipmastershipmaster

• His mother influenced him towards His mother influenced him towards Christianity but died while he was youngChristianity but died while he was young

• His father died shortly after and he was His father died shortly after and he was pressed into naval servicepressed into naval service

• Became a low ranking officer but deserted, Became a low ranking officer but deserted, after being recaptured he was demoted after being recaptured he was demoted and harshly treatedand harshly treated

• Requested a transfer in Sierra Leon to a Requested a transfer in Sierra Leon to a slave shipslave ship

John NewtonJohn Newton• Was abused on the slave ship, but was Was abused on the slave ship, but was

rescued by a captain friend of his fathersrescued by a captain friend of his fathers

• Eventually became a captain himself and Eventually became a captain himself and dealt primarily in slavesdealt primarily in slaves

• May 10, 1748 Was caught in a large storm May 10, 1748 Was caught in a large storm and cried out to God for mercyand cried out to God for mercy

• He quit dealing in slaves, studied Latin, He quit dealing in slaves, studied Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, in 1755 he quit sailingGreek, and Hebrew, in 1755 he quit sailing

• Became an ordained Anglican minister, Became an ordained Anglican minister, taught many sermons and wrote many taught many sermons and wrote many songs including Amazing Grace. He died. songs including Amazing Grace. He died.

William WilberforceWilliam Wilberforce• Born 1759 in Hull, England Born 1759 in Hull, England • The son of a wealthy merchant who died The son of a wealthy merchant who died

when he was youngwhen he was young• Was sent to live with his uncle and began Was sent to live with his uncle and began

to be interested in Methodism, but after to be interested in Methodism, but after threats from his family backed offthreats from his family backed off

• Attended Anglican church meetings Attended Anglican church meetings particularly enjoying the teachings of John particularly enjoying the teachings of John NewtonNewton

• Went to St. Johns college in Cambridge Went to St. Johns college in Cambridge and was shocked by the licentious livingand was shocked by the licentious living

• Got over his shock and started taking partGot over his shock and started taking part

William WilberforceWilliam Wilberforce• Started getting involved in politics and Started getting involved in politics and

spent 9,000 pounds to become the spent 9,000 pounds to become the member of parliament for Hullmember of parliament for Hull

• Began working for social reforms Began working for social reforms especially regarding the conditions of the especially regarding the conditions of the people working in the factoriespeople working in the factories

• Was approached by Lady Middleton and Was approached by Lady Middleton and asked to represent abolition to parliamentasked to represent abolition to parliament

• 1789 he made the first of many speeches 1789 he made the first of many speeches against the slave tradeagainst the slave trade

• 1791 his first abolitionist bill failed 163-881791 his first abolitionist bill failed 163-88

William WilberforceWilliam Wilberforce• He persisted in abolitionist parliamentary He persisted in abolitionist parliamentary

pursuitspursuits

• 1792 an amended abolition bill passed 1792 an amended abolition bill passed with a great majority, but did nothingwith a great majority, but did nothing

• Afterwards the abolition movement Afterwards the abolition movement bogged down and received no great bogged down and received no great support until 1804support until 1804

• While parliament was ignoring abolition he While parliament was ignoring abolition he pressed for more humanitarian goals, pressed for more humanitarian goals, setting up a bible society, caring for poor, setting up a bible society, caring for poor, and sending missionaries to Indiaand sending missionaries to India

William WilberforceWilliam Wilberforce• 1807 the English parliament passed a ban 1807 the English parliament passed a ban

on the slave trade, though the slaves on the slave trade, though the slaves weren’t emancipated.weren’t emancipated.

• He began working towards a gradual He began working towards a gradual emancipation, believing an immediate one emancipation, believing an immediate one would cause economic devastationwould cause economic devastation

• 1825 he retired from parliament though he 1825 he retired from parliament though he remained active, striving for emancipationremained active, striving for emancipation

• He died July 29, 1833 one month before He died July 29, 1833 one month before the finalization of the “Slavery Abolition the finalization of the “Slavery Abolition Act” emancipating the slavesAct” emancipating the slaves

Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass• Born in 1818 as Frederick Augustus Born in 1818 as Frederick Augustus

Washington Bailey, a slave in MarylandWashington Bailey, a slave in Maryland

• was separated from his mother while an was separated from his mother while an infant, and was sent to work for Hugh Auldinfant, and was sent to work for Hugh Auld

• Hugh’s wife Sophia broke the law and Hugh’s wife Sophia broke the law and taught him the alphabettaught him the alphabet

• He learned to read from young children He learned to read from young children and from observationand from observation

• 1837 with help from Anna Murray he 1837 with help from Anna Murray he escaped to New Yorkescaped to New York

Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass• 1841 he heard William Lloyd Garrison 1841 he heard William Lloyd Garrison

speak and was greatly influencedspeak and was greatly influenced

• 1843 he became very involved in the 1843 he became very involved in the abolition movement, writing for several abolition movement, writing for several newspapers and journalsnewspapers and journals

• Became famous as a speaker for abolition Became famous as a speaker for abolition also became a minister in the African also became a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal ChurchMethodist Episcopal Church

• Did and said lots of stuffDid and said lots of stuff

• Died in 1895 and became the first Died in 1895 and became the first posthumous frat boy in Alpha-Phi-Alphaposthumous frat boy in Alpha-Phi-Alpha

William Lloyd GarrisonWilliam Lloyd Garrison• Major figure in the abolitionist movementMajor figure in the abolitionist movement

• Wrote Wrote The Liberator The Liberator a newspaper famous a newspaper famous for its outspoken abolitionist contentfor its outspoken abolitionist content

• Founded the American Anti-Slavery Founded the American Anti-Slavery SocietySociety

• He was outspoken against anything He was outspoken against anything hindering abolition including the hindering abolition including the constitution and the organized churchconstitution and the organized church

• Split with many friends over various Split with many friends over various issues he was not willing to back down on issues he was not willing to back down on primarily the equality of womenprimarily the equality of women

William Lloyd GarrisonWilliam Lloyd Garrison• After the war and emancipation Garrison After the war and emancipation Garrison

promoted the dissolution of the AAS, but promoted the dissolution of the AAS, but was outvoted so he retired leaving many was outvoted so he retired leaving many hurt feelings hurt feelings

• 1873 he made up with his friends while 1873 he made up with his friends while they worked together in the American they worked together in the American Woman Suffrage AssociationWoman Suffrage Association

• After the death of his wife he became After the death of his wife he became involved in spiritualisminvolved in spiritualism

• He died a much celebrated manHe died a much celebrated man

Churches and American SlaveryChurches and American Slavery• In the south slaves were often made to In the south slaves were often made to

attend church where they were instructed attend church where they were instructed in obedience and their “place” in lifein obedience and their “place” in life

• In the north a more abolitionist spirit had In the north a more abolitionist spirit had room to move, though not all were room to move, though not all were involved many choosing unity over allinvolved many choosing unity over all

• Christians were the forerunners of Christians were the forerunners of abolition, in the South many were workers abolition, in the South many were workers on the underground railroadon the underground railroad

• In the North Christians were often the In the North Christians were often the most active of all the abolitionistsmost active of all the abolitionists

Temperance MovementTemperance Movement• Along with an increasing desire for Along with an increasing desire for

abolition came an increased interest in abolition came an increased interest in general moralitygeneral morality

• Often drunkenness was seen as the Often drunkenness was seen as the primary cause of poverty and immoral primary cause of poverty and immoral livingliving

• The evangelical perfectionism preached by The evangelical perfectionism preached by Finney and others greatly influenced this Finney and others greatly influenced this ideologyideology

• Temperance fell by the wayside during the Temperance fell by the wayside during the civil war, but afterwards came back civil war, but afterwards came back strongly in the form of various societiesstrongly in the form of various societies

Temperance MovementTemperance Movement• Temperance also became a popular Temperance also became a popular

political platform “supported” by manypolitical platform “supported” by many

• Women were especially involved in the Women were especially involved in the movement and used powerful guilt tacticsmovement and used powerful guilt tactics

• Ultimately it resulted in the 1919 18Ultimately it resulted in the 1919 18thth amendment prohibiting alcoholamendment prohibiting alcohol

• 1818thth amendment did very little as most amendment did very little as most ignored it, including the presidentignored it, including the president

• Also led to a major upswing in crime Also led to a major upswing in crime resulting in the 1933 21resulting in the 1933 21stst amendment amendment repealing prohibitionrepealing prohibition

SchleiermacherSchleiermacher• Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher the Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher the

son of a reformed Prussian army chaplainson of a reformed Prussian army chaplain• Born 1768 he was educated in a Moravian Born 1768 he was educated in a Moravian

communitycommunity• Was fascinated by Moravian spirituality Was fascinated by Moravian spirituality

but was unable to obtain itbut was unable to obtain it• The Moravians were unwilling to answer The Moravians were unwilling to answer

the objections raised by modern skeptics the objections raised by modern skeptics and theologiansand theologians

• He left the community, was disowned by He left the community, was disowned by his father, and began studying at the his father, and began studying at the rationalist University of Halle rationalist University of Halle

SchleiermacherSchleiermacher• Began his career with by writing a critique Began his career with by writing a critique

of post-enlightenment thought, implying of post-enlightenment thought, implying that religion is inherent in human naturethat religion is inherent in human nature

• Became famous as a thinker, teacher, Became famous as a thinker, teacher, philosopher, and theologianphilosopher, and theologian

• Was one of the few great thinkers able to Was one of the few great thinkers able to combine personability with great intellectcombine personability with great intellect

• His lectures and sermons were always His lectures and sermons were always greeted with a full audiencegreeted with a full audience

• By not shying away from science his By not shying away from science his studies created hermeneutics in the form of studies created hermeneutics in the form of the modern scientific study that it now isthe modern scientific study that it now is

SchleiermacherSchleiermacher• He attempted to combine most every He attempted to combine most every

theological system into one, especially the theological system into one, especially the unification of science and faithunification of science and faith

• Everything to S. was based on the Everything to S. was based on the consciousness of Christ and one’s relation consciousness of Christ and one’s relation to him from there all theology, morality, to him from there all theology, morality, and life sprangand life sprang

• Ultimately his theology weakened Ultimately his theology weakened orthodoxy by its reliance on vague orthodoxy by its reliance on vague spirituality and lack of emphasis on spirituality and lack of emphasis on essential theologyessential theology

LiberalismLiberalism• The rationalist scientific view had so The rationalist scientific view had so

weakened 19weakened 19thth century theology that they century theology that they had a hard time answering the objectionshad a hard time answering the objections

• Theology liberalized in order to counter Theology liberalized in order to counter the rationalist critiques and respond to the rationalist critiques and respond to biblically applied “higher criticism”biblically applied “higher criticism”

• Much theology at the time was dogmatic Much theology at the time was dogmatic and not well understood including an and not well understood including an excessive emphasis on non-essentials excessive emphasis on non-essentials making its defense rather difficultmaking its defense rather difficult

• Liberalism resulted, often throwing the Liberalism resulted, often throwing the theological baby out with the bathwatertheological baby out with the bathwater

LiberalismLiberalism• Liberalism usually entailsLiberalism usually entails

– Weakening of strong theological standpointsWeakening of strong theological standpoints– Overemphasis either on spirituality or Overemphasis either on spirituality or

rationality rationality – De-emphasizing essential theologyDe-emphasizing essential theology– Social issues replacing Christian onesSocial issues replacing Christian ones– Increase in humanism often to the exclusion Increase in humanism often to the exclusion

of Christ as the primary focusof Christ as the primary focus– Viewing of the Bible as merely fallible Viewing of the Bible as merely fallible

historical documentshistorical documents