In modern usage, enthusiasm refers to intense enjoyment, interest, or approval expressed by a person. The term is related to playfulness, inventiveness, optimism, zest, verve, and high energy.[1] The word was originally used to refer to a person possessed by God, or someone who exhibited intense piety.
Methodist preachers have been known for their enthusiasm in promulgating the doctrines of the new birth and entire sanctification to the public at events such as tent revivals and camp meetings, which they believe is the reason that God raised them up into existence.[2]
The word enthusiasm originates from the Greekἐνθουσιασμός from ἐν (en, “in”) and θεός (theós, “god”), meaning "inspired or possessed by [a] god". Applied by the Greeks to manifestations of divine possession, by Apollo (as in the case of the Pythia), or by Dionysus (as in the case of the Bacchantes and Maenads), the term enthusiasm was also used in a transferred or figurative sense. Socrates taught that the inspiration of poets is a form of enthusiasm.[3] The term was confined to a belief in religious inspiration, or to intense religious fervor or emotion.
From this, a Syrian sect of the fourth century was known as the Enthusiasts. They believed that "by perpetual prayer, ascetic practices, and contemplation, man could become inspired by the Holy Spirit, in spite of the ruling evil spirit, which the fall had given to him". From their belief in the efficacy of prayer, they were also known as Euchites.[4]
During the years that immediately followed the Glorious Revolution, "enthusiasm" was a British pejorative term for advocacy of any political or religious cause in public, i.e. fanaticism. Such "enthusiasm" was seen in the time around 1700 as the cause of the previous century's English Civil War and its attendant atrocities, and thus it was an absolute social sin to remind others of the war by engaging in enthusiasm. The Royal Society bylaws stipulated that any person discussing religion or politics at a Society meeting was to be summarily ejected for being an "enthusiast."[5]
During the 18th century, popular Methodists such as John Wesley or George Whitefield were accused of blind enthusiasm, a charge against which they defended themselves by distinguishing fanaticism from "religion of the heart." Methodists who enthusiastically preach about and experience the new birth (first work of grace) and entire sanctification (second work of grace) often have emotional experiences.[2][4]
^Daniels, D.; Price, V. (2000). The Essential Enneagram. New York: HarperCollins. p. 64. ISBN0-06-251676-0.
^ abGibson, James. . South Georgia Confessing Association. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
^Shelton, Matthew James (2019). Madness in Socratic Philosophy Xenophon, Plato and Epictetus(PDF) (PhD thesis). University of St Andrews. p. 9. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
^ abcBrackney, William H. (2012). Historical dictionary of radical Christianity. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. p. 117. ISBN978-0810871793.
^Williamson, George (1933). "The Restoration Revolt against Enthusiasm". Studies in Philology. 30 (4): 571–603. ISSN 0039-3738. JSTOR 4625155.
Further readingedit
Grooms, Joshua. Enthusiasm: A Study in Project Management. London: Cambridge University Press.
Knox, Ronald Arbuthnott (1950). Enthusiasm: a chapter in the history of religion, with special reference to the XVII and XVIII centuries. New York: Oxford University Press. OCLC 1542527.
Tucker, Susie I. (1972). Enthusiasm: A Study in Semantic Change. Cambridge [Eng.]: Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-0-521-08263-1.
External linksedit
Look up enthusiasm in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Enthusiasm.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Enthusiasm.
David Hume, Of Superstition and Enthusiasm
(archived 29 December 2006)
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April 10, 2024
enthusiasm, other, uses, disambiguation, enthusiast, redirects, here, other, uses, enthusiast, disambiguation, modern, usage, enthusiasm, refers, intense, enjoyment, interest, approval, expressed, person, term, related, playfulness, inventiveness, optimism, ze. For other uses see Enthusiasm disambiguation Enthusiast redirects here For other uses see Enthusiast disambiguation In modern usage enthusiasm refers to intense enjoyment interest or approval expressed by a person The term is related to playfulness inventiveness optimism zest verve and high energy 1 The word was originally used to refer to a person possessed by God or someone who exhibited intense piety Men reacting enthusiastically Contents 1 Historical usage 1 1 Pejorative use 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistorical usage edit nbsp Methodist preachers have been known for their enthusiasm in promulgating the doctrines of the new birth and entire sanctification to the public at events such as tent revivals and camp meetings which they believe is the reason that God raised them up into existence 2 The word enthusiasm originates from the Greek ἐn8oysiasmos from ἐn en in and 8eos theos god meaning inspired or possessed by a god Applied by the Greeks to manifestations of divine possession by Apollo as in the case of the Pythia or by Dionysus as in the case of the Bacchantes and Maenads the term enthusiasm was also used in a transferred or figurative sense Socrates taught that the inspiration of poets is a form of enthusiasm 3 The term was confined to a belief in religious inspiration or to intense religious fervor or emotion From this a Syrian sect of the fourth century was known as the Enthusiasts They believed that by perpetual prayer ascetic practices and contemplation man could become inspired by the Holy Spirit in spite of the ruling evil spirit which the fall had given to him From their belief in the efficacy of prayer they were also known as Euchites 4 Several Protestant Christian denominations that emerged in the 16th and 17th centuries especially those who hold revivals were called enthusiastic 4 Pejorative use edit During the years that immediately followed the Glorious Revolution enthusiasm was a British pejorative term for advocacy of any political or religious cause in public i e fanaticism Such enthusiasm was seen in the time around 1700 as the cause of the previous century s English Civil War and its attendant atrocities and thus it was an absolute social sin to remind others of the war by engaging in enthusiasm The Royal Society bylaws stipulated that any person discussing religion or politics at a Society meeting was to be summarily ejected for being an enthusiast 5 During the 18th century popular Methodists such as John Wesley or George Whitefield were accused of blind enthusiasm a charge against which they defended themselves by distinguishing fanaticism from religion of the heart Methodists who enthusiastically preach about and experience the new birth first work of grace and entire sanctification second work of grace often have emotional experiences 2 4 See also editArtistic inspiration Unconscious burst of creativity Connoisseur Subject matter expert Emotional contagion Spontaneous spread of emotions among a group Entheogen Psychoactive substances that induce spiritual experiences Euphoria Intense feelings of well being Fan person Person who is enthusiastically devoted to something or someone Flow psychology Full immersion in an activity Motivation Inner state causing goal directed behavior Zest positive psychology Zest for livingReferences edit Daniels D Price V 2000 The Essential Enneagram New York HarperCollins p 64 ISBN 0 06 251676 0 a b Gibson James Wesleyan Heritage Series Entire Sanctification South Georgia Confessing Association Archived from the original on 29 May 2018 Retrieved 30 May 2018 Shelton Matthew James 2019 Madness in Socratic Philosophy Xenophon Plato and Epictetus PDF PhD thesis University of St Andrews p 9 Retrieved 16 May 2021 a b c Brackney William H 2012 Historical dictionary of radical Christianity Lanham Md Scarecrow Press p 117 ISBN 978 0810871793 Williamson George 1933 The Restoration Revolt against Enthusiasm Studies in Philology 30 4 571 603 ISSN 0039 3738 JSTOR 4625155 Further reading editGrooms Joshua Enthusiasm A Study in Project Management London Cambridge University Press Knox Ronald Arbuthnott 1950 Enthusiasm a chapter in the history of religion with special reference to the XVII and XVIII centuries New York Oxford University Press OCLC 1542527 Locke John An Essay Concerning Human Understanding Vol 2 Tucker Susie I 1972 Enthusiasm A Study in Semantic Change Cambridge Eng Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 08263 1 External links edit nbsp Look up enthusiasm in Wiktionary the free dictionary nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Enthusiasm nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Enthusiasm David Hume Of Superstition and Enthusiasm The Ronald Knox Society of North America archived 29 December 2006 John Wesley s Sermon The Nature of Enthusiasm archived 30 December 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Enthusiasm amp oldid 1189816273 Historical usage, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
