However, at this point in history, only a few select religions believed in the traditional ideologies that existed before the Second Great Awakening. Very few people still believed in the concept of predestination, and surprisingly, women played a much larger role during the Second Great Awakening. Brinkley pointed out that the Second Great Awakening was far more progressive than the First Awakening: not only did women outnumber men in terms of conversions, but "in some parts of the country, revival meetings were open to people of all ages." races,” which led to the emergence of black preachers within the “slave community” (p. 155). Even Native Americans played a role in the Second Great Awakening, particularly in Presbyterianism and baptism. Brinkley's entire section proved how religion had a positive effect on American society, regardless of religious breakdown during the American period.