Date of Award
Spring 2022
Degree Type
Thesis
Department
History
Director of Thesis
Woody Holton
First Reader
Carol Harrison
Second Reader
Carol Harrison
Abstract
This paper compares the religion, philosophy, and politics of Presbyterian ministers John Witherspoon and John Zubly leading up to the American Revolutionary War, during which Zubly was a Loyalist and Witherspoon was a Patriot. The two ministers integrated Enlightenment thought and evangelical Calvinism differently which led to hold opposing political views. Witherspoon’s commitment to the Scottish Enlightenment concept of ethical sensibility was not contrary to Calvinist doctrine, but rather fits within the Reformed understanding of how God’s grace restores nature. Even though Zubly ended up becoming a Loyalist during the Revolutionary War, his pre-war political leanings are complicated, as he shares qualities of both Whigs and the friends of government.
First Page
1
Last Page
49
Recommended Citation
Bolin, Henry Jr., "Enlightened Evangelicalism and the American Revolutionary War: A Comparison of John Witherspoon and John Zubly" (2022). Senior Theses. 524.
https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/senior_theses/524
Rights
© 2022, Henry Bolin Jr
Included in
History of Religion Commons, Intellectual History Commons, United States History Commons