We Don 't Think About God That Way

Pastors have used the “fire and brimstone” method for centuries, scaring congregations into obedience with the threat of being sent to an indescribably painful realm after death, usually referred to as “hell”. Pastor John Edwards took this method to a new extreme; he terrified some people so much that they went as far as to commit suicide during his sermons. One particular sermon combines some of the principles of Puritan faith, as well as his personal opinions, with what is commonly considered the most vivid description of hell ever written. His sermon represents the Puritan belief system in some respects, but not all, which can be seen by identifying and comparing the main points of the sermon and other similarities in his sermon to known Puritan values. John Edwards actually gives hope to his congregation with his views, while Puritanical views are even harsher.

The minister they had once sought for comfort and solace has become a seductive, mysterious stranger with whom nobody can identify. The congregation feels as though Hooper can reach into their souls and see all the inadequacy and sin hidden within. As expressed in the story, "Each member of the congregation, the most innocent girl, and the man of most hardened breast felt as if the preacher had crept upon them, behind his awful veil, and discovered their hoarded iniquity of deed or thought." Because of his vow, the minister is forced into a life of solitude, forever lacking satisfaction and comfort.

The “Great Awakening,” similar to the Protestant Reformation was a religious revival. Rather than in Europe, this revival was across the British American colonies. The movement was a cause of the Enlightenment. Jonathan Edwards had refused to convert to the Church of England, he had believed that the Church had been corrupted and New Englanders were developing into worldly, renaissance men and women. People had begun to find wealth and new ideas much more significant than religious principles. With this speech, Jonathan Edwards had meant to strike fear within wayward Puritans of his congregation. His sermon had delivered a vivid image of the fiery pits of hell, and those who would burn. The bone chilling sermon was meant to convince people to give themselves to God and believe in him as the highest power. However, fear mongering will never truly change an individual’s core beliefs. His intimidation is also what diminished his credit.

The myths surrounding the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 spike the interest of historians and non-academics alike. These trials have been the concern of different historical articles, novels, plays, films, and even religious debates. One issue that is certain, is the hysteria of the community overwhelmed Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 and 1693. A particular primary source, “Accounts of the Salem Witchcraft Trials (1693)” by Cotton Mather, suggests that the actions brought forth provided proof of satanic work. Even though Mather was a contemporary observer, Mather fails to analyze the importance of the real contemporary issues displayed during the time of the trials. Furthermore, historian Kyle Koehler, takes a different approach in his review,

Within the eighteenth century, Christians were going through the Great Awakening, a wave of religious enthusiasm that swept through the colonies in an effort to make an impact on the religion within the areas. In the sermon written by Jonathon Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” he is trying to persuade nonbelievers into joining his religion in a way unused by many. To show nonbelievers the two altering sides of God based on what people believe and “they may imagine him to be so” (3), Jonathon Edwards’ sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” utilizes threatening tone, conveying repetition, and augmenting similes to express the fury and hopefulness of God.

“A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving is a novel in which religion plays a significant role. One of the main themes in this novel is faith in God and faith in oneself, and the conflict between belief and doubt. It is this need for faith that brings the two main characters together. John and Owen seem to need each other and there is an odd connection between the two that is shown throughout the novel. This connection seems to “curse” them to eternal friendship and forces each other to depend on one another. There are many reasons as to why John and Owen fit together, but few stand out as primary reasons. This is a lack of guidance, religion and faith.

The novel has religious themes embedded throughout. The theme of miracles was prominent in A Prayer for Owen Meany. For example, it is believed that Owen Meany himself is a miracle of God. Like Virgin Mary, Mrs. Meany “just conceived a child” without having sex with her husband (545.) This is believed to be a miracle among characters like Johnny and the Many family but the town and church do not agree. Another theme was the Power of God. Owen was very religious and had a deep belief in God and voiced it openly saying things like “FAITH AND PRAYER. FAITH AND PRAYER - THEY WORK, THEY REALLY DO” and that God will show Johnny who his real father is in time

David Foster Wallace investigates the confliction of religion’s black and white expectations with the sin of premarital sex throughout his work “Good People.” On one hand, Lane Dean Jr. and Sheri Fisher’s strong affiliation with religion creates a commitment to each other and the well being of the unborn child. However, this commitment becomes offset with the guilt creeping into Lane’s mind. He wanders towards temptation consistently: premarital sex, leaving Sheri on her own to raise their child, and refusing to talk to the religious figures in his life. Without religion, these actions do not sign the contract for eternal damnation. Lane’s religious nature, therefore, creates a level of insanity that originates in fear. That growing insanity snowballs with each internal incident: “Two days before, he had awakened very early and tried to pray but could not. He was freezing more and more solid (Wallace 151). Lane’s perception that he has an inability to pray lengthens the distance he feels has been created between himself and God. Religion does not resolve the conflicts Lane and Sheri have created. Instead, religion creates a new accountability and guilt that intensifies the sin the two students have sunk into.

Gore Vidal once said, “The Puritans left England for America not because they couldn’t be Puritans in their mother country, but because they were not allowed to force others to become Puritans; In the New World, of course, they could and did.” In1741, esteemed Puritan pastor, Jonathan Edwards, preached a sermon to his congregation, terrifying everyone who wasn’t truly Puritan into becoming one. Edwards’ purpose was to admonish non-Puritans and emphasizes the importance of the Puritans rededicating their life to their faith. Edwards uses diction, logos, and personification to terrorize the congregation into leading the “perfect Puritan life”.

In John Irving’s novel A Prayer for Owen Meany, a boy with an uncanny way of persuading and changing people’s lives tugs at the reader’s heart throughout a powerful story. A special soul named Owen Meany is not only everyone’s friend, but also a symbol of Christ. Not only does Irving show us symbolism, but he also shows us many other literary devices throughout the entire novel.

They are filled with his intense emotion as he speaks about “the fiery floods of the fierceness and wrath of God” (4). His intent is to educate the non-believers on God’s immense power and provide them with the knowledge of His strength and severity. Edwards expresses his passionate tone when trusting that “inconceivable fury” and “omnipotent power” would come upon them if their almighty creator had the desire to do so. By enlightening the doubters of the terror they might encounter through being neglectful, the devoted minister is able guide them towards a better way of life. With his confident attitude, Edwards has a powerful effect on the listeners and easily informs them of what He is capable

Religion also plays an important function in allowing the authors to comment on society and faith’s role in it. For example, both authors seem to be suggesting that our religion is only compatible in society as we know it, that is to say that it is not compatible with other situations. In The Children of Men a major disruption to the working of society, mass infertility, has led to a total destruction of the Christian faith. In Brave New World, an unstoppable surge of machinery and technology has led to the disregard of religious moral and the introduction of a new set of hedonist attitudes, both scenarios being deplored by the reader. This could also be seen as the authors’ asserting that a civilized society desperately needs stable religion and morals, given that the utter breakdown in The Children of Men is arguably as shocking as the superficial worship of machinery and pleasure in Brave New World.

Zachary Bell Final Essay on Religion Professor Comer 4/18/16 1. Contained within John Caputo’s book On Religion are a variety of interesting views as it pertains to modern religion, which he labels as Post-secular. The most important of these views, which constitutes a major theme in the novel, is that religion can be present with or without religion. He explains this mostly by using a question “what do I love when I love my God?” He uses this question to state that God may be the embodiment of love, however, he agrees with Augustine that when people love for things deeply, they love God unknowingly.

Witch Hour: The Aspects of the Puritan Worldview that Contributed to the Mass Hysteria in Salem

One time I felt my heart beating so fast that I had to pressed my palm against the left side of my chest because I was afraid it’s going to jump out. And my eyes were so red and dry even though I did not rub them at all.