Wesley and Aldersgate

Despite being widely recognized as John Wesleyâs key moment of Christian conversion Aldersgate has continued to mystify regarding its exact meaning and significance to Wesley personally. This book brings clarity to the impact this event had on Wesley over the course of his lifetime by closely examining all of Wesleyâs writings pertaining to Aldersgate and framing them within the wider context of contemporary conversion narratives. The central aim of this study is to establish Wesleyâs interpretation of his Aldersgate experience as it developed from its initial impressions on the night of 24 May 1738 to its mature articulation in the 1770s. By paying close attention to the language of his diaries letters journals sermons tracts and other writings fresh insights into Wesleyâs own perspective are revealed. When these insights are brought into wider context of other conversion narratives in the Christian milieu in which Wesley worked and wrote this book demonstrates that this single event contributed in significant ways to the ethos of the Methodist movement and many other denominations even up to the present day. This is a unique study of the conversion of one of historyâs most influential Christian figures and the impact that such narratives still have on us today. As such it will be of great use to scholars of Methodism theology religious history and religious studies more generally. . Language: English