Pietism

Pietism is a movement within Lutheranism that focuses on personal faith and living a holy Christian life. It began in the late 17th century in modern-day Germany with the work of Philipp Spener, a Lutheran theologian who stressed the importance of personal spiritual growth and devotion.

From Germany, Pietism spread to many parts of Europe, including Switzerland, Scandinavia, and the Baltics. It also traveled to North America with German and Scandinavian immigrants. There, it helped shape a wider movement called evangelicalism, which now includes around 300 million people around the world.

In the 19th century, a Pietist revival in Scandinavia was led by Lars Levi Laestadius, leading to what is known as Laestadian Lutheran theology. This idea continues today in several churches. Pietism also influenced other Protestant traditions, helping to inspire movements like Methodism and the Schwarzenau Brethren.

Today, the word “pietism” can also describe a strong focus on personal religious feelings and practices, whether or not it is connected to Lutheranism or Christianity.

Beliefs

Pietistic Lutherans often gather in small groups called conventicles, separate from their regular church services, to support each other's faith and encourage living a good Christian life. They believe that true Christians experience a personal moment where they decide to change their lives and follow Jesus more closely. They focus on trying to live a holy life, following the teachings found in the Bible.

By country

Germany

Pietism stayed strong well into the 18th century and beyond. In the United States, it influenced groups like the German Evangelical Church Society of the West, which later became part of the United Church of Christ. Even today, Pietism lives on in certain groups within the Evangelical Church in Germany.

The 1800s also brought a renewal of Lutheran beliefs, emphasizing the unique identity of Lutherans and their historic teachings.

Indonesia

The Batak Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia blends worship styles from the Dutch Reformed Church and carries influences from Pietism due to historical missionary work.

Scandinavia

In Denmark, Pietistic Lutheranism grew popular in 1703, with people meeting for prayer and Bible reading.

Pietistic Lutheranism reached Sweden in the 1600s through the writings of important leaders. It received support from Archbishop Erik Benzelius, who promoted these practices.

Laestadian Lutheranism, a form of Pietistic Lutheranism, remains active in Scandinavia today, started by Lars Levi Laestadius in the 19th century.

History

Forerunners

Before Pietism became a movement, many people expressed concern about the church and called for a return to practical and faithful Christian living. Important figures included Jakob Böhme, a Christian mystic, and Johann Arndt, whose book True Christianity became very popular. Others, like Heinrich Müller, criticized certain church practices, and Johann Valentin Andrea was a theologian who also supported these ideas.

Founding

The movement began with Philipp Spener, who was born in Rappoltsweiler, now part of France. Spener believed that the Lutheran church needed to focus more on moral and religious renewal. He studied in Strasbourg and was influenced by his experiences in Geneva, where he saw a strong emphasis on moral living. In 1675, Spener wrote Pia desideria (Earnest Desire for a Reform of the True Evangelical Church), outlining six key ideas to improve church life, such as studying the Bible together and focusing on living a faithful Christian life.

Early leaders

Spener’s ideas inspired others, including August Hermann Francke, who helped start a new university in Halle. The Pietist movement grew, spreading through Germany and influencing many, including the revival of the Moravian Church and the beginning of Protestant missions. One notable missionary was Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg, who became the first Pietist missionary to India.

Establishment reaction

Some church leaders were wary of Pietism, seeing it as a threat to public order or traditional beliefs. They sometimes took action against Pietists, questioning their views or restricting their activities.

Later history

By the mid-1700s, Pietism had a strong influence but also helped pave the way for the Enlightenment, which shifted focus away from the church. Pietism emphasized personal faith and the importance of laypeople in the church. In the 1800s, Pietist ideas contributed to the union of Lutheran and Reformed churches in Prussia, leading to the formation of the Evangelical Church of the Union. In Scandinavia, Lars Levi Laestadius led a Pietist revival that continues today. In 1900, the Church of the Lutheran Brethren was founded, continuing Pietist traditions with a focus on personal conversion.

Pietistic Lutheran denominations

Pietistic Lutheranism influenced groups like the Church of Norway. Some Pietistic Lutherans stayed in these groups, while others formed their own. In the 1800s, Lars Levi Laestadius led a revival in Scandinavia, creating what is now called Laestadian Lutheran theology. This theology is followed by the Laestadian Lutheran Churches and some congregations in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.

Other Pietist Lutheran groups formed too, like the Eielsen Synod and the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations in Norway, led by Hans Nielsen Hauge. In 1900, the Church of the Lutheran Brethren was started, focusing on having a strong personal connection to faith through personal conversion experience.

Cross-denominational influence

Main article: Radical Pietism

Radical Pietism includes Christian churches that chose to separate from Lutheran traditions to focus on living a holy life. These churches include the Mennonite Brethren Church, Community of True Inspiration, Baptist General Conference, and others like the Evangelical Covenant Church and the Evangelical Free Church.

Pietism also greatly influenced the start of the Methodist movement in 18th-century Great Britain, especially through the work of John Wesley. Many American religious groups today still show the impact of Pietism, particularly among groups called Evangelicals. German immigrants brought these ideas to places like Pennsylvania and New York, shaping many religious traditions in America.

Influence on science

The Merton Thesis is an idea about early experimental science created by Robert K. Merton. Like Max Weber’s idea connecting Protestant beliefs to economic growth, Merton suggested that Protestant Pietism helped encourage scientific discovery. This idea has led to many discussions among scholars.

Impact on party voting in United States and Great Britain

Further information: Ethnocultural politics in the United States

In the United States, people from religious backgrounds that valued strong personal faith often supported the Whigs and later the Republicans. The more they focused on personal faith, the more likely they were to support the Republican party. These groups included Scandinavian Lutherans, as well as Northern Methodists, Northern Baptists, Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Disciples of Christ, and some smaller groups. Most of these groups were located in the northern states, while some in the South tended to support the Democrats.

In England during the late 19th and early 20th century, Protestant groups such as Methodists, Baptists, and Congregationalists, known as Nonconformists, largely supported the Liberal Party. The Liberal Party benefited greatly from the political support of these Methodist groups.