Charles G. Finney - Revivalistic Rhetoric

Though much has been written about Charles Finney, The Father of Modern Revivalism, most works have concentrated on his roles as an educator and political reformer. In this new study, Chesebrough examines the rhetorical skills and techniques that made Finney the first contemporary evangelist, one whose methods are still practiced today. A major force in many social reform movements of his time, most notably abolitionism, Finney introduced techniques to revivalist preaching that he used toward politically sophisticated ends. Chesebrough explores both his rhetoric and the effect it had on Finney's audiences, as well as the controversy this major figure often provoked.

Following a survey of Finney's life, with special attention given to those aspects pertaining to the development of his oratory, Chesebrough considers the themes of Finney's sermons and lectures on both religious and political subjects. A third section details the rhetorical devices he introduced and employed, and the volume concludes with three of Finney's actual sermons, which reveal the ways in which this speaker commanded the attention of his audiences.

List of contents

Introduction
Finney's Life
Finney's Themes
Finney's Rhetoric
Finney's Sermons
Bibliography
Index

About the author

David B. Chesebrough

Product details

• Authors: David Chesebrough, David B. Chesebrough
• Publisher: Bloomsbury
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.10.2001
• EAN: 9780313318139
• ISBN: 978-0-313-31813-9
• Series: Great American Orators
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature > Letters, diaries; Religion / Christian Church / General, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Historical, Biography: historical, political & military, RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Missions, RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Evangelism, RELIGION / Christianity / General, Christian mission & evangelism, Christianity, Religious mission and Religious Conversion, Biography: historical, political and military, Religious institutions and organizations, Religious institutions & organizations, RELIGION: History