A Great Awakening — Wonderful film for Easter Week

IMDB ^ | April 5, 2026 | various

[Albion Wilde]

One of the most defining moments in American history is the unlikely friendship between the English minister George Whitefield, who preached freedom in Christ, and Benjamin Franklin, a scientific skeptic.

I saw this wonderful film and was blown away. A new hymn in the style of colonial hymns was written especially for this movie. The authenticity of the sets and costumes brought to life the pivotal years leading up to the creation of our Constitution, and two of the men who helped enshrine our God-given liberties in law.

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TOPICS: Education; History; Music/Entertainment; Religion
KEYWORDS: benfranklin; constitution; ushistory; whitefield

[Nateman]

Excellent movie. I posted about it a few days ago without much feedback. Of course someone had to jump in and mention Whitefield's opinion on slavery as if he should be judged by today's standards. If anything he suffered from the common issue of rationalization. Justifying something bad because it helped something good. In his case, an orphanage he was trying to support. Justifying the means because of the end is a great way to get something wrong when the means themselves are wrong .

[Albion Wilde]

Trailer at link. What a great way to mark our country’s 250th anniversary!

[Albion Wilde]

Thanks for your link. I see how your thread got off the rails over political correctness. It is such a shame that the contributions of many are cancelled because of their human failings; yet scripture teaches us that “all sin and fall short of the glory of God.”

I admired how this film did not ignore this part of Whitefield’s background. The Whitefield character gave a humble and resentful response when challenged on the issue.

[Albion Wilde]

resentful = repentant

I hate autocorrect!

[Robert DeLong]

Yes indeed, and hopefully that awaenking will do something to make itself into its former glory, by ousting the ledership and peventing the forces that overtook the Catholic religion in the first place from ever regaining control of it in the future.

Only then will it truly be a successful revival for the Catholic Church & religion, that supports Christianity only, for Jesus was the true Lord, not merely a prophet as Islam believes, and Judaism views Jesus as neither a prophet, or the son of God, let alone that he is the Lord himself. Mainly because when he came to earth he was powerless by his own design. Hie design was to experience life as a human to understand the human fraility. At that point the Lord existed intwo separte realms. That was necessary for him to return to heaven & complete his mission fo salvation for his human creation.

[Albion Wilde]

5:51 video about the meaning of the film:

A GREAT AWAKENING | Heart of the Story
A GREAT AWAKENING captures a movement when God stirred across our nation and around the world. Step into the studio with the director and dive deeper into the heart of this inspiring true story. agreatawakening.com

[Albion Wilde]

Well said, Robert DeLong!

[Faith65]

Thanks

[rktman]

The time was the time. Judging to today’s “standards” is something fools do. A hundred years from now some fool will judge today by their “standards”.

[Bob Ireland]

Thank you, AW! I didn’t know much about Whitfield.

[Nateman]

...Judging to today's “standards” is something fools do...

Racism did not exist in Roman times. This is because the concept of 'Race' itself did not exist. They thought skin color was because of where you were born. All it took to be slave material was to lose in battle against the Roman's. Where are my reparations?

[mass55th]

Thanks for the heads-up and link!!

[Liz]

[goodnesswins]

Thanks for posting...going to get my hub to watch...he likely had ancestors who experienced this great awakening

[Robert DeLong]

Thank you Albion Wilde. 😁🤙

[rlmorel]

I am absolutely looking forward to seeing this. That, and the “Project Hail Mary” movie!

[rlmorel]

"...Judging to today’s “standards” is something fools do..."

I shudder to think in 50-100 years how they will judge the insanity of today with all this transgenderism and race-based crap. Well, I hope they judge it harshly, that would be a good sign!

[spintreebob]

I posted yesterday afternoon about a Unitarian church keeping God and Christ out when “All ARE WELCOME”.

Last night, 7 0 10:30 pm between Good Friday & Easter I went to the Catholic Mass here in Sandy Springs. (Previously I usually went to the larger church in Marietta.)

Based on the number of chairs in a row and the number of rows in the Catholic School Gym for SPANISH mass I was going to estimate a little over 700. But then I realized half the rows of 10 or 11 folding chairs had a baby/toddler without his own chair. He sat on the lap of others in the family. Then I realized how many women between 20 and 35 showed pregnant and an equal number “not showing” were also pregnant.

Of the maybe 800 people squeezed in that small grade school gym my wife and I were the oldest. There were maybe 9 or 10 others over 60. There were 20 or 30 over 50. The average age was in the mid twenties with by far the largest age group couples in their 20s. There were many teens visible but no pregnant teens visible.

Every woman over 20 present seemed to have a husband with the exception of 10 or 15 women. One single woman was scaantily dressed as if in a night club. One single woman in her mid 20s looked like the sister of Oakland Raiders QB Fenando Mendoza. About 6 ft tall. As did many, when she swung her hands over her head as if it were a Charismatic service sitting 2 rows behind her I could see that her arms were all muscle... Like a WWE star. She was wearing an Army green “muscle shirt” and was dressed like she had just come from the firing range.

The 3.5 hour Catholic Mass had 5 sermons of 15-25 min each. Each sermon was interspersed with both old and new testament readings. Each scripture reading was interspersed with a prayer. Each of those was interspersed with a Chorus...and people waving their hands and arms high in the air.

The overwhelming majority of females...from baby to grandma, were wearing white dresses. I have not seen so many women in white dresses since Seventh Day Adventist Days for Goldwater in 1964. These white dresses varied greatly from cream color to almost silver. Some were long sleeved, mid arm sleeve, short sleeve, with a jacket or no jacket, with a high collar or no collar, with a belt or no belt, with ruffles and decorations or very plain. Maybe white had something to do with it being Easter Week and Catholic Confirmation was the special feature of this Mass.

About 25 Hispanic kids and 20 Brazillian kids were confirmed. They ranged in age from 12 - 20 it seemed. But most were 14-16. This “confirmation” was not about these kids confirming “The Church”. It was clearly a FARMILY EVENT where these kids were confirming to dedicate themselves to their nuclear family, extended family (obviously many extended families in that church, and church family.) The reason there were no “single moms” was that they were all dedicated to being “family”.

Again, over 700, average age mid 20s. There is hope for us.

[SoConPubbie]

The only thing tarnishing the story of George Whitfield is his lifelong support of slavery!