Summary Of Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Analysis Religion has unquestionably shaped the structure of the United States from the founding of the first colonies on the eastern coast to modern political disputes. The roots of its grasp upon american society can be tied back to settlements in the east for the purpose of establishing strict religious communities. Although many continued to hold onto older religious beliefs as the colonies progressed, american colonies began to drift from the stern ideals which were held by the colony’s founders. In fear of allowing the colonies to become involved in “worldly matters”, movements such as the Great Awakening arose. In this campaign, many ministers sought to instill fear upon those they believed to be

His speech is not simply aided by the frightful connotations held with each word, but by the objective nature of his statements. Edwards speaks not from personal view, but from the view of a spiteful God forced to gaze upon the state of His creation. The omission of phrases such as “I believe” or other personal statements places the central focus upon God rather than Edwards himself. Despite his reputation as a gifted, educated minister, an audience of anxious colonists is likely to fear God in a manner which cannot be held towards a mere human being. By speaking instead for God Himself when Edwards declares, “Men’s hands cannot be strong when God rises up”, a superstitious audience is left petrified with distress. Given the strength of religious values at the time of the speech’s deliverance, the idea of an inescapable wrath brought upon by sin would undoubtedly draw the colonies away from worldly matters, and instead towards the olden values which the colonies had been founded upon. As mentioned previously, Edwards possessed a remarkable reputation as a minister and orator at the time of the deliverance of Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Through the establishment of credibility through ethos, Edwards allows his reputation to support his argument and convey validity to his audience. With these

Although it presents a more authoritative view of God than is common today, it exposes the legitimate fears of colonists and the reasoning behind the preservation of many historical values. Religion’s presence in the United States can be tied to fear, often of a higher power or discrimination amongst religious communities. The passage under question presents how the terror brought by the idea of one’s suffering has allowed ancient religious traditions and beliefs to translate into modern America. As someone who attended a Christian school for nine years prior to my transfer to high school, I notice remarkable differences between the traditions which our country was founded upon and those taught within religious schooling. The Great Awakening unleashed a new wave of conversions driven by a desire to be cleansed of sin and avoid eternal punishment. These beliefs depend on a fear of God rather than sole worship, as He is portrayed to be a spiteful, all-powerful being. In my teaching, the fear of God was not placed within me. Instead, a deeper trust in God’s saving powers was instilled upon my beliefs, which attempted to draw belief from love rather than fear. God was portrayed as an all-loving being attempting to free us from the control of sin, which quite evidently contradicts the image of a vengeful God. Religion has shaped the way the