What type of spirituality was emphasized during the Great Awakening?

During the Great Awakening, emotive spirituality was a key emphasis among the various religious movements that took place across the American colonies in the 18th century. This religious revival focused on individual emotional experiences and personal connections to faith, rather than strict adherence to formal doctrines or rituals. Preachers such as George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards encouraged a passionate, heartfelt approach to religion, which resonated with many individuals seeking a more personal and feeling-based relationship with God. This emphasis on emotion led to the idea that spiritual experiences could be transformative and could instill a sense of urgency and immediacy in one's faith, often resulting in intense public gatherings and revivals.

In contrast, logical reasoning reflects a rational approach to understanding spirituality, which was less prominent during the Great Awakening. Traditional rituals might have been part of established religious practices, but the revival's focus was more on personal spirituality than on ritualistic elements. Similarly, while community engagement did occur, it was not the central feature that characterized this period of intense emotive religious expression. The Great Awakening thus marked a significant shift in how individuals experienced and expressed their faith, centering on emotion as a driving force in spiritual life.