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Birthing the New Birth: The Natural Philosophy of Childbirth in the Theology of Jonathan Edwards

"It may be in the new birth as it is in the first birth." So wrote theologian Jonathan Edwards in his "Miscellanies" note numbered 241, named "Regeneration". The "new birth" that he spoke of was the process of religious conversion whereby God takes away one's sinful nature and instills a new, regenerate nature. The process of the new birth is intricately linked to the "first birth," which refers to physical childbirth. This thesis explores the ways in which eighteenth-century conceptions of childbirth helped to shape the new birth theology of Edwards. While historians have tended to portray Edwards, the revivals that he spawned, and new birth theology as erasing the distinctions of gender, this thesis will argue that Edwardsian evangelicalism actually highlighted the sinfulness of women. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Religion in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts. / Summer Semester, 2009. / May 14, 2009. / Natural Philosopher, Theologian, Ova, Nicolas Malebranche, Revivalism, First Great Awakening / Includes bibliographical references. / Amanda Porterfield, Professor Directing Thesis; John Corrigan, Committee Member; Amy Koehlinger, Committee Member.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_182228
ContributorsGray, Lauren Davis (authoraut), Porterfield, Amanda (professor directing thesis), Corrigan, John (committee member), Koehlinger, Amy (committee member), Department of Religion (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution)
PublisherFlorida State University, Florida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
LanguageEnglish, English
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText, text
Format1 online resource, computer, application/pdf
RightsThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them.

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