Final answer:
The term 'silver lining' best fits the description of a redeeming feature amidst negative situations, and it is not inherently religious. 'Holy absolution' is a religious term for forgiveness of sins, particularly in Christian confession. The Second Great Awakening is characterized by increased church attendance and belief in a better world, not necessarily a connection to nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that is most synonymous with a redeeming feature that compensates for negative aspects is silver lining. It is not necessarily religious-sounding, despite the student's description. When it comes to the context of spirituality and wrongdoings, holy absolution refers to the act of being forgiven by a divine power, particularly within the Christian confession sacrament where a priest absolves individuals from their sins. This concept could be viewed as a path to moving beyond suffering (B) and a series of aspects of behaving right, or wisely (C). In terms of belief systems and historical context, all events might have been perceived with spiritual implications, such as sickness being a sign of sin, and absolution as a critical step in atoning for wrongs to avoid eternal consequences.
As for the historical religious movements such as the Second Great Awakening, a key characteristic was the belief in the possibility of creating a better world (D), not a greater emphasis on nature which is not a characteristic of that movement (A). Lastly, during periods where the institution of slavery and religious fervor were intertwined, religion sometimes provided a contradicting backdrop to societal injustices, with churches being built with funds from slavery and religious justifications being used to undergird the slave trade.