How Religion in Colonial America Brought the Colonists More Benefit than Harm

In modern day America, religion is generally accepted as a benefit to society. People gain a moral compass from religious practices which lead them to live virtuous lives and build communities that promote unity and mental health. During the colonial era, religion had even greater positive impact than it does currently. Firstly, religious reformers instilled good morals within many men and women through preachings. The impact of religious reformers led to increased biblical teaching, enlightening many individuals and leading them to live virtuous lives. During hard times, the doctrine of predestination provided comfort for the unfortunate. President Lincoln’s religious faith brought upon the Emancipation Proclamation which gave freedom to slaves. And lastly, religion helped spark the American Revolution which allowed the colonists to gain independence. Although some may argue that religion in colonial America was harmful to colonists, the benefits outweigh the detriments it has brought upon American society.

After the second Great Awakening, religious reformers in America preached self-discipline, perfectionism, personal salvation and a more just social order to Americans, instilling good morals within them. As a result of religious preaching, many Northerners began to oppose slavery as it strayed from a just social order. Radical abolitionism became a movement in the North that brought abolition and religion together. Ultimately, religion was the driving force of abolition of slavery in the North. During the colonial era, George Whitefield, an Anglican minister, appealed heavily to many Americans which confirmed the religious beliefs of many Americans. Whitefield preached personal salvation which led many people to think virtuous lives. Members of the protestant denomination believed it wasn’t enough to avoid sin, but they had to perfect their communities as well. This resulted in one of the most major temperance movements in US history where many advocates, especially women, were pressing for a ban on alcohol due to the negative effects on health and family. As a result, several states passed laws prohibiting the sale of liquor. Although certain individuals were not pleased by this restriction on alcohol, it was for the better of society to put limitations on consumables that bring about possible harm to people.

The Bible enlightened certain individuals like Freeborn Garretson to strive for a more just social order, which led to the spread of often moral biblical teachings. Garretson was a rich plantation owner, who on one Sunday morning believed he got a command from God to let his slaves go free. He freed all his slaves and became a minister, visiting plantations to preach the evils of slavery. Many other Americans, after getting enlightened, abstained from performing sinful actions like slavery. The series of religious revivals made America a religious nation and the number of Christian ministers grew from 2,000 in the 1770s to 40,000 in 1845 and the influence grew accordingly.

Puritans, religious reformers who emerged from the Church of England, promoted the doctrine of predestination which offered many American men and women comfort and security during unsettling times. As capitalism was growing during the era, there was inflation and many people were unemployed. Due to this unsettlement, people needed spiritual consolation which is where the doctrine of predestination plays a role. As predestination is the belief that God chooses the elect, the impoverished and oppressed had hope they were part of the elect which brought them comfort. Without the doctrine of predestination, many struggling colonists would have lived in agony without hope of things turning out well for them.

President Lincoln’s religious faith brought about the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, freeing the slaves held by states not under Union control. During the civil war, Lincoln’s religious faith got stronger and he decided to issue the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862. He told his cabinet that he was “honoring a promise he made to God in exchange for a battlefield win” In Lincoln’s inauguration address, he argued that the Civil War was “America’s divine punishment” that God had brought about the North and South as a result of performing sins like slavery. Due to Lincoln’s belief of God and providence, the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863.

Religion sparked the American Revolution by offering a moral sanction for opposition to the British. In other words, religion justified the revolution, and with the help of ministers who promoted radicalism, the colonies were able to stand their ground. If religion hadn’t played such a huge role in the colonies, then many Americans could have been doubtful about severing ties with Great Britain. Therefore, religion helped the colonists gain independence from their oppressive mother country.

Without religious fervor during the colonial era, the United States of America wouldn’t be what it is today, an independent nation. Despite the occurrence of some corrupt colonists using the Bible to justify slavery, many more were led a moral direction by the Bible. It is because of the religious fervor that was present in colonial America that so many people got the courage to fight for more equality and rights. As the number of ministers grew, so did the amount of biblical teachings with ministers preaching the sin of slavery. Additionally, the religious beliefs of people in power had a great deal of influence on the nation like President Lincoln’s, who’s religious belief brought freedom to a number of slaves. Although it is true that religion had some unfavorable outcomes during the colonial era, the beneficial impacts greatly override the harmful ones as the United States of America would not have been so united without religion.