What doctrine did Charles Finney reject in favor of free will in his theology?

Charles Finney rejected Calvinism in favor of a theology that emphasized free will. Calvinism, rooted in the teachings of John Calvin, supports the idea of predestination, where it is believed that God has already determined who will be saved and who will not, thereby limiting the role of individual choice in matters of salvation.

In contrast, Finney's theology promoted the belief that individuals have the ability to choose salvation through an active response to the Gospel. He believed that moral agency and free will were central to a person's spiritual journey, allowing for the possibility of conversion and repentance at the individual level. This emphasis on free will was a significant shift from the determinism found in Calvinist doctrine, making his views more accessible and appealing during the Second Great Awakening, a period characterized by revivalism and a focus on personal faith and decision-making.

The other doctrines listed—Arminianism, Universalism, and Deism—while they also address concepts of free will and moral choice, were not the direct focus of Finney's theological rejection. Arminianism, for instance, supports a version of free will and predestination that differs from Calvinism but maintains a belief in God's grace and human choice. Universalism posits that all humans