Evangelism
Posted by Caroline on March 12, 1998 at 10:06:09:
In response to Two quotes, written by gkb on March 10, 1998 at 19:44:07
Thanks, Kay! I'll look into the letters again..
The second letter was after her father was dead, so maybe her earlier dislike was grounded in family criticism of what would have looked like extremism? I think the Evangelicals stood in the same relation to the Church of England as charismatic Christians today stand to the more established denominations--sort of a matter of fiery fervor versus calm dignity.
I think the standard middle-class attitude would have preferred calm dignity (we are back to 'reason' and 'enlightenment' again, are we not?), but I also think that there was fear there- the Wesleys drew such tumultous crowds, so many riots or near-riots occurred at their meetings, and also they did threaten not only established religion but also the whole social structure based the combined church and state.
The idea expressed by the Methodists that everyone's soul was as sinful as another's no matter what class they were born into , must have come as a bit of a shock to the nobly born!
- Thanks gkb 11:07:57 3/13/98
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