Historiographic turns since alan heimerts religion and the american mind philip goff thirty years ago alan heimert published his monumental study of religions relationship to the american revolution. It is important to examine the exact nature of the event called the. From the great awakening to the revolution cambridge, mass harvard university press, 1966, 3940. The paperback of the religion and the american mind. Project muse the religious beliefs of americas founders. If one can believe the foreword and back cover blurbs of this reprint of the late alan heimerts religion and the american mind, the reappearance of his seminal study of the relationship between religion and politics in eighteenthcentury america may just prove to be one more piece of evidence demonstrating that resurrections do in fact happen. From the great awakening to the revolution, by alan heimert.
From the great awakening to the revolution jonathan edwards classic studies paperback october 1, 2006 by alan heimert author, andrew delbanco foreword 5. These unexpected choices could illustrate, alternately, how disillusioned. This list is provided by the american academy of religion s annual meeting program unit chairs. One catalyst of the debate was alan heimerts religion and the american mind 1966, which argued that the evangelical calvinism of the.
Religion, communications, and the ideological origins of. Both were, like heimert, students of perry miller, and both went on to achieve remarkable success. From the great awakening to the revolution jonathan edwards classic studies alan heimert, andrew delbanco on. One of millers students, alan heimert, took on the challenge of making that link, famously reading beyond the lines of evangelical and patriot rhetoric to produce, in 1966, religion and the american mind. Heimert, religion and the american mind from the great awakening to the revolution harvard, 1966. Religion, society, and politics in colonial america oxford, 1986. List of books and articles about american loyalists online. Baldwin, the new england clergy and the american revolution new york. In the book, professor heimert took all of the existing categories for understanding religion, the american revolution and what he called the. Transatlantic faiths, ideas, personalities, and politics, 16891775 london, 1962 and alan heimert, religion and the american mind. From the great awakening to the revolution by alan heimert 2006, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Preaching and religious culture in colonial new england. Alan heimert in a very large and important work, religion and the american mind which is very important, we are going to go into this, studies it in all the literature from about 1750 to about 1800 or shortly thereafter and finds it dominant, in fact, when he was studying the literature of the 1850s, 60s, 70s, he found that he could not understand it without going back to this idea of america as gods israel. From jonathan edwards to john dewey new haven, 1985.
Alan heimert books list of books by author alan heimert. Studies in christianity and culture volume 67 issue 04 december 1998, pp 695 721 doi. Religion and the american mind, from the great awakening to the revolution. Heimerts sources include nearly everything published in america from 1735. Religion and the american mind alan heimert is 20% off every day at. Heimert s terminology is not meant to imply that one reads beyond. Alan heimert in a very large and important work, religion and the american mind which is very important, we are going to go into this, studies it in all the literature from about 1750 to about 1800 or shortly thereafter and finds it dominant, in fact, when he was studying the literature of the 1850s, 60s, 70s, he found that he could not understand it without going back to this idea of america. Alan heimert s controversial study, religion and the american mind, probably did more than any other book to prompt that curiosity, for he argued that, at least in new england, the radical evangelical supporters of the revival later became the most ardent rebels, while the moderate and conservative opponents of the awakening became either. Parrington, main currents of american thought, vol. From the great awakening to the revolution jonathan edwards classic studies heimert, alan, delbanco, andrew on. This list is provided by the american academy of religions annual meeting program unit chairs. Few works on the puritans, the colonial or revolutionary eras, or religion in american identity and life have made as significant an impact as did heimert s religion and the american mind. They have recommended two to five books which they consider influential, pivotal, seminal, or otherwise important publications in their fieldpublications that someone within the broad field of religion and theology might be interested in, even if the topic is outside of his or her area of. This is not a standard history of any one area of ideas.
If heimert s study is simply an extension of miller, then the problems with the book become insurmountable because, heimert, religion and the american mind, viii. List of books and articles about american revolution online. Perry gilbert eddy miller february 25, 1905 december 9, 1963 was an american intellectual historian and professor and a cofounder of the field of american studies. It is rare when we can say that a history book was ahead of its time. The transformation of virginia, 17401790 1982, emphasis on baptists excerpt and text search. Miller specialized in the history of early america, and took an active role in a revisionist view of the colonial puritan theocracy that was cultivated at harvard beginning in the 1920s. From the great awakening to the revolution jonathan edwards classic studies by heimert, alan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. From the great awakening to the revolution 1966 online in acl e books heyrman, christine leigh. From the great awakening to the revolution 1966, has had a significant, and ongoing. Alan heimert, 70, professor and expert on early america the new. The transformation of virginia, 17401790 1982, emphasis on baptists kidd, thomas s.
From the great awakening to the revolution cambridge, mass. The late alan heimert, professor of american literature at harvard university and author of religion and the american mind, said that the evidence in this book provides, truly new and original insight into the religious atmosphere of prerevolutionary virginia, adding immeasurably to thomas jeffersons own intellectual biography. Since a samuel adams appears in brattle street recs. Heimert s religion and the american mind cambridge, mass. From the great awakening to the revolution jonathan edwards classic studies, which can be purchased at a lower price at.
The idea has for heimert a life of its own, conditioned by the physical furniture of reality but also conditioning it. The secularistsa majority of historians and political scientists, together with the american civil liberties union and americans united for the separation of church and stateview the founders as either indifferent or antagonistic toward religion. From the great awakening to the revolution eugene, or. More from the contributors religion and the american mind. Religion and the american mind, from the great awakening to the revolution by heimert, alan. Religion and the american mind by alan heimert waterstones. Three volumes that place edwards centrally in the development of american thought and culture are alan e. Absolutely everyone is fed up with our clueless elites. These newcomers, and the range of their intellectual achievements and failures, are vividly depicted in the puritans in america.
Alan heimert is the author of the puritans in america 3. From the great awakening to the revolution hardcover january 1, 1968 by alan heimert author 5. From the great awakening to the revolution cambridge, massachusetts. From the great awakening to the revolution has been called the most significant. Alan heimert, religion and the american mind from the great awakening to the revolution. A legendary teacher and scholar, his work made an indelible mark on the field of american studies. List of books and articles about american loyalists.
Initially vilified and discounted for its method and arguments, it came to mark a touchstone for a new generation of scholars working in colonial american history. Heimerts book was widely met with not only skepticism but also sharp. From the great awakening to the revolution 1966 isaac, rhys. Professor alan heimert was a few months shy of 70 that spring, in the fifth decade of what by any conceivable measure was a monumentally successful and influential career. Religion and the american revolution, divining america. From the great awakening to the revolution, eugene, or.
Heimert 49, an authority on american literature in the colonial period, has received tenure and will become an associate professor of english on july 1. Newspapers and eschatology in colonial america, 1690. Religion american mind great awakening revolution abebooks. Frazer identifies three camps in the politically charged debates about the religious disposition of the founding fathers. Arguing for an explicit relationship between the great awakening and the revolution are. Title, religion and the american mind, from the great awakening to the revolution. Alan heimert, 70, professor and expert on early america. Heimert s book was widely met with not only skepticism but also sharp criticism.
From the great awakening to the revolution jonathan edwards classic studies by heimert, alan and a great selection of related books. Instead he posited a fundam in his 1966 work religion and the american mind, which proved a critical touchstone for many who followed, alan heimert proposed that the ideas and rhetoric of evangelical calvinists, rather than enlightenment influenced clergy and secular thinkers, laid the groundwork for the american revolution. Conventional wisdom up until heimerts book suggested that the only connection between religion and the american revolution was to be found among a. Heimert, alan, religion and the american mind from the great awakening to the. Prompted by the growing interest in secular studies, as well as postnational, transnational, and postcolonial critique in the humanities, american literature and the new puritan studies seeks to represent and advance contemporary interest in a field long recognized, however problematically, as. From the great awakening to the revolution has been called the most significant and provocative book on american religious history. Cabot professor of american literature at harvard university. This book contains thirteen original essays about puritan culture in colonial new england.
Alan heimert, religion and the american mind from the great awakening to the revolution cambridge, mass harvard university press, 1966. Emotion, power, and the coming of the american revolution published by the omohundro institute of early american histo nicole eustace. Harvard university press, 1966 religious thought 668 pages. From the great awakening to the american revolution. Van doren, secret history of the american revolution 1941. Religion and the american mind by alan heimert, 9781597526142, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
The specter of perry miller hovers over heimerts book and re. The propaganda war of the american revolution 1961. Alan heimert proposed that the ideas and rhetoric of evangelical calvinists, rather than enlightenment. Nov 03, 1999 alan heimert, 70, professor and expert on early america. Historiographic turns since alan heimert s religion and the american mind philip goff church history. In religion and the american mind alan heimert argued that those very calvinists whom parrington dismissed had, in fact, stimulated the democratic movement that resulted in the revolution. Jun 19, 20 it has now been nearly 50 years since the publication of alan heimerts religion and the american mind, an ambitious attempt to draw a direct connection between the great awakening of the mid eighteenth century and the american revolution that followed thereafter. Book overview exploring the richness of american thought and experience in the mideighteenth century, alan heimert develops the intellectual and cultural significance of the religious divisions and debates engendered by one of the most critical episodes in american intellectual history, the great awakening of the 1740s. Religion, communications, and the ideological origins of the. The maritime communities of colonial massachusetts, 16901750. Philip goff is assistant professor of history and religious studies at. Buy religion and the american mind by alan heimert from waterstones today. Oct 07, 2010 one of millers students, alan heimert, took on the challenge of making that link, famously reading beyond the lines of evangelical and patriot rhetoric to produce, in 1966, religion and the american mind.
Alan heimert, a longtime harvard professor whose scholarship about 18th century america was influential and controversial, died of cardiovascular problems on monday in washington, d. The following books will be especially rewarding to the diligent reader. But that is precisely the case with alan heimerts religion and the american mind. Alan heimert, longtime harvard university professor whose scholarship. From the great awakening to the revolution, by alan heimert pennsylvania magazine of history and biography current. Alan heimert, 70, professor and expert on early america the. From the great awakening to the revolution alan heimert on.
It has now been nearly 50 years since the publication of alan heimert s religion and the american mind, an ambitious attempt to draw a direct connection between the great awakening of the mid eighteenth century and the american revolution that followed thereafter. The christian science monitor is an international news organization that delivers thoughtful, global coverage via its website, weekly magazine, online daily edition, and email newsletters. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. His study, in its range and conception, is an original contribution to an understanding of the relationship between colonial religious thought and the evolution of american history. Exploring the richness of american thought and experience in the mideighteenth century, alan heimert develops the intellectual and cultural significance of the religious divisions and debates engendered by one of the most critical episodes in american intellectual history, the great awakening of the 1740s. In the book, professor heimert took all of the existing categories for. From the great awakening to the revolution contradicted the conventional wisdom rooted in vernon parringtons 1927 main. In alan heimert s 1966 book, religion and the american mind, he makes the case that it was a consequence of the first great awakening that the american revolution was not only made possible but inevitable and that it provided a thrust toward american nationalism. First great awakening project gutenberg selfpublishing.