Charles G. Finney was a prominent figure in the Second Great Awakening, a religious revival movement that took place in the United States in the early 19th century. He was born on August 29, 1792, in Warren, Connecticut, and was the youngest of 15 children.
Finney was raised in a strict Calvinist household and received a limited education. However, he was a voracious reader and self-taught himself theology and law. In 1821, he was admitted to the bar and began practicing law in Adams, New York.
Despite his successful career as a lawyer, Finney felt called to the ministry and began preaching in the Presbyterian Church. He quickly gained a reputation for his powerful and eloquent sermons, which often focused on the idea of free will and the importance of personal conversion.
In the 1830s, Finney became involved in the Second Great Awakening and played a key role in the revival movement. He traveled throughout the country, preaching and holding revival meetings, and became known as one of the most influential evangelists of his time.
Finney's teachings and revival meetings were not without controversy, however. Some members of the clergy accused him of promoting a "new measures" approach to evangelism, which focused on the use of emotions and manipulation to convert people to Christianity. Finney also faced criticism for his views on slavery and women's rights, as he believed that both practices were fundamentally wrong and should be abolished.
Despite the controversy, Finney's influence on American Christianity was significant. He is credited with helping to spark the modern fundamentalist movement and influencing the development of the Pentecostal and Holiness movements. He also played a key role in the founding of Oberlin College, a pioneering institution of higher education that was dedicated to providing equal education opportunities for women and African Americans.
Finney died on August 16, 1875, at the age of 82. He left behind a legacy as one of the most influential figures in American Christianity and continues to be remembered as a pioneer of the revival movement.
