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Analysis Of 'Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God'

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Fear is an emotion that someone receive when they believe someone or something is dangerous. Fear appeals as a persuasive message that can influence attitudes and behavior. Fear has been very effective in the past and in today’s literature. Using fear as a motivational tool can make a person grow in strength, but it can also make a person weaker. Using fear as a motivational tool is an effective way to modify human behavior.
When the world was more dangerous and based on survival, fear helped keep people out of danger. In “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” Edwards uses imagery, repetition, allusion and the strategy that appeals to fear. Edwards tries to convince Christians that God could instantly drop them into the pit of hell if they …show more content…

“When we walk through our fears rather than run from them, it is impossible not to emerge as a stronger person” (Arcel). Using fear as a motivational tool is only effective when there is a description on how to avoid the threat. If someone were to look back at exciting times in their life, they would also be remembered as some of the most terrifying times. If fear piles up in front of someone and they do not let it hold them back, it could turn out to be more improbable than they ever expected. Fear can be too powerful of a motivator which will cause ineffective results making someone weaker. Fear is a negative motivator, but it is very powerful. For fear to be a prosperous motivator there must be a solution offered or a new path. Wilson prefers another motivator to help someone get rid of doubt which will inspire them in a positive way. “I prefer to motivate someone by eliminating doubt. Doubt destroys motivation. If you can help a person get rid of it, you will motivate them positively” (Wilson). In conclusion, fear is a very effective motivator. For fear to be rewarding motivator there must be a solution offered. Fear as a motivator can appeal to be a persuasive message that can influence attitude and behavior. Using fear as a motivational tool can cause a person to become stronger or weaker. Fear has been effective and ineffective based in certain circumstances on how powerful the motivator is pushing

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Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Puritan preacher, Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God transforms how the congregation sees their relationship with God. Edwardss purpose is to show the sinners an opportunity to obtain salvation (104). He adopts a cynical tone in order to save the otherwise damned and helpless souls (104).Edwards immediately starts his sermon by evoking fear and solicitousness into the congregation. He achieves this by appealing to ethos, presenting God and himself as an authority figure. Edwardss purpose by doing this is to help the sinners in the congregation come to realization that they are held in the hand of God (102) and it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds them

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In Jonathan Edwards' fiery sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," he describes the horrible fate of those who do not open their hearts to God. He accomplishes this by employing the persuasive techniques of fear and guilt and by creating frightening imagery. By repeatedly reminding his parishioners of God's anger and their transgressions, Edwards uses fear and guilt to accomplish his goal. Edwards states that the unconverted "are now the objects of that very same anger and wrath of God" to demonstrate the abhorrence God has for them. God's anger and the consequences of transgressions are used repeatedly to produce fear; Edwards actively induces fear by describing the dead unconverted as "those who are now in the flames of hell."

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Edwards' distinct diction is put to work to descriptively describe the power of the Lord and the unpleasant Hellfire that awaits the sinners. Such words efficiently infiltrate into the minds of his audience and scare them greatly. Edwards held his congregation locked up with his assurance of eternal damnation if the correct course of action was not taken. The church assembly felt the great impact of his rhetorical tactics and had the fear of the power of God on their minds.

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Reverend Jonathan Edwards’ “from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” relies upon pathos to recommit the Puritans. The sermon heavily plays upon the Puritan’s fear. During the sermon, Reverend Jonathan Edwards emphasizes that “there is nothing between [the Puritans] and hell but the air” without God (Edwards 80). Using their fear of hell and god, Reverend Jonathan Edwards compels Puritans to save themselves from eternal wrath by recommiting. However, fear is not the only emotion used.

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In the Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Jonathan Edwards delivers his ideas about the God’s rage and human sinfulness to his audience by using

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From Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God expresses the point that a parishioner should not fall away from the church unless they want to be permanently condemned to hell. Jonathan Edwards expresses his ideas through the usage of multiple persuasive techniques and different types of figurative language. This sermon puts fear into the congregation and this makes the parishioners not want to fall away from the church. Through Edwards utilization of figurative language, the picture of God's Wrath is painted clearly for the listeners of this sermon.

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One of his well-known sermon is “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” preached at the meeting house in the village of Enfield, Connecticut, on Sunday, July 8, 1741, at the height of the great awakening. In this sermon, Edwards focused on the consequences of leading a sinful life, the power of God and repenting of ones sins, in order to be saved from hell. The purpose behind this piece of writing was not to terrorize or dismay the hearers, but to make them repent and believe in God again. This piece was aimed at those who lacked belief in God as well as churches.

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In his sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Jonathan Edwards describes a wrathful God who detests the humans he created. Edwards uses fear, imagery, faulty logic and his own authority to sway listeners to follow his word. The image selected presents a blend of both the setting of the sermon and much of the imagery used within it. The image effectively draws out this imagery and portrays the sermon with both vibrance and tension.

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In “Sinners in The Hands of an Angry God”, Johnathan Edwards uses fear to create images that help his audience experience the consequences of sinful behavior. He uses imagery and figurative language to persuade his readers. He wants us to get a mental picture of Hell in your head and he wants us to fear the wrath of God. One such image was when Edward wrote, “When men are on god’s hands and they could fall to Hell, natural men are held in the hands of God, over the pit of Hell.” God could let us fall into the eternity of burning flames anytime He wants to.

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Edward begins with how God is angry and how only through conversion will mankind find peace from going to the pits of hell. Edward explains, "The God that hold you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you and is dreadfully provoked" (Pg. 126). Edward's' metaphor describes how people in life, when faced with a pest such as a spider, think nothing of it at all to kill it. Edwards compares that logic to God's anger against mankind and how God can see mankind as pests and easily throw them down into hell. Edwards emphasizes that God is an angry and merciless ruler and is ready to drop those who are unconverted into

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