During the eighteenth century, religion was a major part of American lives. Despite this, church leaders believed that colonial economic growth and worldly affairs were distracting colonist from their religious duties and observances. This fear sparked the Great awakening, revivals throughout the colonies. These revivals offered colonist a more personal spiritual life. Colonist saw themselves as predestined for damnation, but this new emotional preaching taught that God was merciful and willing to forgive their sins. This style of preaching received critics who complained that these emotional preachers were not properly taught in theology and that they brought disrespect and disorder to their established churches and ministries. The Great awaking
