The reasons that allowed the Great Awakening to develop at the this time in colonial America are. "Many ministers were concerned that westward expansion, commercial development, the growth of Enlightenment rationalism, and lack of individual engagement in church services were undermining religious devotion... the revivals were less a coordinated movement than a series of local events united by a commitment to a "religion of the heart," a more emotional and personal Christianity than that offered by existing churches" (Liberty 156). Many Churches adopted intensely emotional styles of preaching. They were critical because many people heard the sermons and immediately confessed their sins, begging for forgiveness, to be saved. If it weren't for this new way to preach, many people would have lost "their way". The Great Awakening also caused Americans to call into questions aspects of established authority. It also brought many black slaves into the Christian fold. As a result, some Plantation owners emancipated their slaves.
Jonathon Arnold's main criticism of Whitefield according to Mangus Falconer was, "That the Rev. Mr. Whitefield exclaims against all the bishops and clergymen of the Church of England, 2nd, That he passes unwarrantable sentences upon men as if he was the Supreme Judge" (Voices 86).
The revivals created change in the colonies, they were now thinking for themselves, able to question the autohority, and that even the most sinful people have a chance of salvation. Even today, these "intense emotional" style preaching is going on today.
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I like what you said about how people rose up and questioned authority. Similarly, although I don't specifically take sides with Arnold and all the antagonists (I think the Great Awakening was amazing), I really respect their guts to come out and oppose Edwards and Whitefield all and them like they did(as long as they opposed out of love). Nowadays, there are plenty of fake, prosperity-gospel, false-doctrine preachers out there who are huge, and no one says boo into the public eye. We're scared of looking intolerant. Tolerancy is Christian America's downfall.
Questioning authority is a very brave thing to do especially in those times when punishments were handed out like coupons. I also think it took a lot of guts to change things up a bit and open some eyes to new things.
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