Religon
a bill for establishing religious freedom (Thomas Jefferson) pg 150
first attempt in the new nation toward thoroughgoing religious freedom and disestablishment. wanted to rid the state of the church. the fault was in men assuming dominion over the faith of others. "no man shall be compelled to frequent to support any religious worship, place, or ministry...nor shall suffer on account of his religious opinions or beliefs"
a model of christian charity (John Winthrop) pg 16
first governor of mass bay colony. puritan. distressed by Englands church corruption and gods displeasure. his vision of the groups covenant as a city upon a hill exposed to the eyes of all people who must not wear from the highest standards of christian behavior. community must be balanced so there is conformity in his works, so he has more occasion to manifest his work, and so every man need one another creating brotherly affection. either rich or poor or justice and mercy. commanded to love his neighbor as himself.
narrative of the life of an American slave (Frederick Douglass) pg 213
former slave who educated himself. organized secret schools for slaves before he escaped. joined African methodist Episcopal Zion church. addresses the disparity between the religion of the slaveholders and the religion of slaves. the conversion of his master made him more cruel. the Bible gave him support for his actions. he tied up a lame woman and whip her while keeping her there for hours with th justification being "he that knoweth his master's will, and doth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes". he also set free a child her had no use of her hands. slaveholding religion in the south is just a cover for their crimes. religion of th eland and of christ is different.
the articles of faith and revelations (Joseph smith) pg 164
founded the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints (mormons). died from an angry mob. summarizes some of the key church teachings as recorded by smith. had a revelation about plural marriage. 13 basic points of belief of mormons. believe in the trinity, men should be punished for their own sins to Adams, saved through god, book of mormon-word of god
a plain account of christian perfection (John Wesley) pg 115
founded the methodist movement. initiated a "holy club" to foster greater christian discipline, devotion, and concern for poor. were called methodists because of their disciplined spirituality. became a "circuit rider" minister. persuaded on the need to dedicate every part of life to god. "desire not to live but to praise his name, let all your thought words and works tend to his glory". perfection is "purity of intention, dedicating all life to god". gives a numbered list in chronological order of the steps he told towards grasping the doctrine. "love the lord your god with all your heart soul mind". answers questions about sanctification/perfection
mary baker eddy, the founder of Christian Science, denies the reality of suffering, sin, and death (tlearn)
founder of church of christbelieves god knows no such thing as sin because he only knows what is in himself and he is not sinful. sinner has refuge from sin in god.true practice of christianity heals sickness (no need for doctor- enough faith can heal).
the diary of Nathan cole. Nathan Cole, Connecticut farmer, hears the preaching of George white field and is born again tlearn
listened to white field preach and say "great numbers be converted to Christ and felt the spirit of god draw him by conviction". tells how he ran 12 miles to see the sermon. saw a fog and heard thunder (horses coming down the road). ferry boats brought more people. white field looked angelic. sermon made him decide he was not saved and needed god to save him. becomes scared that he is going to hell. god appeared to him to tell him he is saved if he follows god. After hearing Whitefield's preaching, it gave Cole a heart wound. Similarly, he has a conversion crisis and ultimately after God appeared to him, everything was in its place again, his distress was gone, he was filled with a desire to see Christ's own words in the bible, and his soul longed to love those he hated.
the pueblo Indian world in the sixteenth century (tlearn)
2 sisters were born from tsichtinako (thought woman)in darkness. she told them to plant 4 pine trees given to them by their father uchtsiti in baskets so they could ascend to the light. they praised the sun and offered gifts and songs. one sister became mother of corn clan and the other sun clan. they grew corn and they were given fire to cook their food and warmth. They gave life to animals and created mountains, plains, mesas, and canyons from pebbles and pine, cedar, oak, and walnut trees from seeds. an animal was unintentionally born and became the serpent pishuni who bred selfishness and competitiveness between the sisters. nautsiti was enticed by the serpent and agreed to have twin sons from water droplets off a rainbow (bearing children had been forbidden by their father-he took thought woman away). iatiku and tiamuni (the son nautsiti didn't like) married and named their daughters after sky, water, fire, and corn. iatiku made season spirits and cloud (ancestor) spirits. created a community which didn't know sickness until pishuni returned. the medicine man was created and the people were healed temporarily which they took as a sign to move to Haako.
Joseph jouvence (of Plymouth plantation) a jesuit priest, discusses death and hell with Canadian Indians (tlearn)
2 sources of disease-the mind of the man desires something and will vex the person until it is required. everyman has inborn desires. have soothsayers (have divinely imparted power to look into the mind). families often gift the sick people whoever they can think for their desire which is divided with the soothsayer (often times the families put the sick out of their misery). move the body out the door that the body turned when it died. they beat the house to rid it of their spirit. buries them with supplies for the land of the dead. chiefs- raised above ground with weapons, women-have necklaces, infants- close to path so they can attach to women and grow. burry the body in the same position as in the womb. those droned are buried with greater ceremony (their bodies are opened and flesh thrown in fire to appease heaven-is angered by drowning). 10 days of laying on ground with no sound-mourn for a year. 8-10years cast all corpses into a pit (day of dead). honor a deity with no definite character or code of worship. derive principles of life from dreams. believe in manitou-the author of evil and enemy of the human race. did not believe in hell b/c they did not think a fire could burn eternally. sts Peter and Paul made them believe in hell and god by lighting a fire with sulfur and proving that wood is not needed.
the life and experience of jerena lee (Jerona lee) pg 197
African American evangelist. first woman ordained to preach in African methodist episcopal church. converted to baptism after Richard Allen. accounts her fight to preach.Jarena Lee embraced Christianity and experienced a conversion after hearing a sermon by Richard Allen. Immediately after hearing Allen's sermon, she felt a call to preach. Lee's conversion is similar to Nathan Cole's and Charles finney in that they feel a pull towards god.
the genesis of mormonism (jan shipps tlearn)
Jan Shipps compares religion in 19th century America to a collage. All the little parts seemed to be very diverse, but were in fact held together by a commonality. All of these different groups were related through the religious history of Europe. Everything was connected to the Apostolic era. The first Mormons were very different because they did not have a recent past like other American religions. Their religious history had a huge gap missing that allowed them to write a history that reflected their experiences. Shipps talks about how religions are created during a time of "cultural chaos". People were willing to accept the Mormon beliefs. Since the Mormon faith did not have ties to the religious history of Europe, it was a uniquely American religion. The lack of religious history helped to spread the Mormon faith because the Mormon's believed in creating their own religious history that was centered around America as the kingdom of God. This was alluring to Americans because it gave being in America new significance and it made them important.
civil disobedience (Henry thoreau tlearn)
Thoreau believes that an ideal citizen is the one who is capable of rebelling against the government when the latter is promoting unmoral and unjust behavior. According to Thoreau, rebelling against the government doesn't necessarily mean trying to eliminate it, but rather refraining from participating in things like The Mexican-American war and slavery. An ideal citizen will also accept the consequences of his acts with the purpose of defending moral and the rights of freedom of the people. Thoreau uses the metaphor of a drowning man to explain that an ideal citizen must do what's consciously honorable even if that entails a loss or a defeat of some sort. He says : "If I have unjustly wrestled a plank from a drowning man, I must restore it to him, though I drown myself". This literally means that we must do whatever it takes to do the right thing. And he serves as a good example of this ideal because he is imprisoned as a consequence of his beliefs, and yet he continues to defend his position. On the other hand, an ideal government should be present only as a "middle-man" to ensure the rights of all citizens and their will. In this way, the ideal government should intervene the least possible in civil matters, or as Thoreau puts it: "that government is best which governs least". In sum, the ideal citizens must act according to moral and not follow unmoral decisions as a result of the majority wins process. Consequently they should strive to change, not necessarily eliminate, the government for the better, to improve it.
the examination of mrs Anne hutchinson pg 37
Throughout Anne Hutchinson's trial, the clergy continuously condemned her of crimes against God and state. However, Anne contested their accusations with educated answers that invalidated the men's complaints. Anne seems to successfully combat the court until she makes a small mistake that destroyed her whole argument. This statement comes as she explains how God "showed [her] what he would do for [her] and the rest of his servants" when he "revealed himself to [her]" (Griffith, 55). This angers the clergy due to the Puritan belief that God does not engage in direct contact with individuals but rather spreads his commands through the Bible. Along with this, the Puritan society also believes that only men can interpret and spread Gods word. The clergy could not accept the fact that a woman claimed to be of equal status of a man in Gods and society's eyes. Anne's claim undermines the entire Puritan experiment by introducing the idea that women could be spiritual leaders along side men as well as question the rules of the Bible and Puritan beliefs. Anne's ideals scare and anger the clergymen which lead to her banishment.
appeal of the christian women of the south (Angelina Grimke) pg 220
abolitionist and proponent of women rights. daughter of a slave owner (lead to being dismayed by slavery and leaving the south and becoming quakers). biblically based refutation of slavery. Moses- protect servants as men and women, secure their rights as human beings, and guard them from oppression and defend them from violence. goes into slave law- hereditary slavery, uncompensated labor, people seen as property, no legal right to any property, no appearance as a witness in court, the master decides punishment, no resisting freeman. says slave are not like the jewish servants because Moses protected the slaves. "do unto others what you would've done to you". asks reader to answer if they would be ok with being a slave or their family. "love your neighbor as yourself". "masters give unto your servants that which is just and equal knowing that your master also is in heaven". 7 propositions- slavery is against the DOI, contrary to the rights of humans given to Adam, slavery being under prophecy give no excuse to slavedealers, did not exist under patriarchal dispensation jewish dispensation, reduces men to things, contradicts Jesus. state that women have great influence in ending slavery (wives, sisters, mothers). 4 ways to overthrow. Egyptians did not obey th pharaoh because they feared god more- you should obey god more than the rules about having slaves. a woman (Miriam) lead the escape of the jews- examples of biblical women,
a persuasive to moderation to church dissenters in prudence and conscience (William Penn) pg 76
against religious coercion. believed that only where liberty of conscience was upheld would true religion thrive. argues that a person has a duty to exercise the freedom of their conscience to avoid false claims against God's faith and worship. That church and state shall not come together because the business of the government is to enforce state laws by getting people to conform to state imposed religion. However, Penn believed by doing so you would be ruled by tyrants. William Penn created the Quaker affiliated Philadelphia government, where he advocated the freedom of worship. A Quaker, Penn sought to protect the rights of Englishmen. The result was that Philadelphia was quite wealthy and religiously diverse. Williams challenges Puritan beliefs because he believed everyone should have liberty to participate in their own desired faith and should not be forced to practice a religion. William Penn wrote against religious coercion as well, however, he communicates to the Quakers that a person has a duty to exercise the freedom of their conscience
wonders of the invisible world (Cotton Mather) pg 80
co minister of Bostons second church. lived during the Salem witch hunt. believed that witches who were in league with the devil were disruptive the holy community but thought the methods of interrogation leads to false convictions. justified the trials. withes were a tool to "overturn this poor plantation the Puritan colony. tells the cases of 3 trials. tells how people were convicted of witchcraft
some thoughts concerning the present revival of religion in new england (Jonathan Edwards) pg 92
congregationalist minister in Mass. the great awakening caused reflection on the emotionality unleashed by religious rivals. supported of the revival. included his wife unnamed as someone whose spiritual affections had not compromised her righteousness. explained that the spirit of god could not be understood scientifically and should be accepted for what it is. Edward addresses the critic of religious practices and accuses them of coming from three things, one of them being the judging of Gods work as a priori. A priori is the practice off questioning the mechanics of God's work. This entails what makes the work happen, the results of the work, and the science behind it. Trying to understand an omnipotent and all powerful God will only result in questioning the faith. Edwards explains that works of God should not be judged as a priori because no one can hope to understand the miracles of God. Instead, he suggest to judge as a posteriori which is to observe the act and decide if it agrees with Gods work and to trust in it. This implements the idea of a faith lead religion where the followers believe in unseen and seemingly impossible events.
seasonable thoughts on the state of religion in new england (Charles chancy) pg 102
congregationalist minister. distrusted emotionalism and opposed the revivalist preaching of the great awakening. saw all participation in the revivals as a danger to religion and social order. documented these dangers and was an important statement of the principles of the emerging liberal wing of NE congregationalism. opposed Edwards.
essay on slavery and abolitionism (Catherine e Beecher) pg 235
daughter of evangelical Protestant minister. a vocal advocate for women's education- founded 3 important schools for young women and wrote about homemaking, health, and religion (domestic feminism- encouragement to value their feminine roles and expand their moral influence in the home). opposed to women suffrage and abolition. wrote this as a response to Grimke. wants to address her ideas publicly. claims that if abolitionists were more put together and less accusatory in the beginning then slave owners wouldn't have responded with more prejudice and irritation. says abolitionists weren't peaceful or christian like and instead wanted to provoke violence. "peace on earth and good will to men". thinks women are out of place to take action theirselves. they should stick to teaching children
storming heaven by the back door (Nathan hatch tlearn)
explicates the phenomenon of American camp meetings- controversial gatherings led by unofficial ministers who encouraged uncensored testimonies of their religious experience. the citizens were told to take their religious destiny into their own hands and oppose centralized authority. notes that in a democratic and rapidly expanding nation, groups such as presbyterians and Episcopalians could no longer assume they could remain in the center of American religious culture.
memorial and remonstrance against religious assessments (James Madison) pg 152
opposed the tax to fund preachers and to support Jefferson's bill for establishing religious freedom in Virginia. makes 15 arguments why religious liberty is a necessary and fundamental right. wrote against the states right to determine matters of religion (would turn tyrannical). was against Patrick henrys compromise bill
the christian doctrine of slavery (George d Armstrong) pg 239
presbyterian minister. uses scriptural exegesis that lead to the split of the old school presbyterian church. the work for men is to secure a christian life and prepare for meeting god in heaven. sees africans as so sinful their humanity is obliterated. slaves are assigned to the same church as masters. says to let slavery continue if the master "gives unto the slave that which is just and equal" and the slaves works good and hard. "bonds make free be they righteous bonds. freedom enslaves if it be an unrighteous freedom". how are they to provide just rights and well being of emancipated slaves? setting them free would destroy them. they are better of enslaved. claim to want slavery that benefits both parties. claims the apostles state that roman slavery was much worse than American slavery. Paul treats slavery as neither a sin or an offense. "wrestling the scripture" and tampering with gods truth. bible teaches the country of slavery being a sin.
crisis over the Bible (tlearn)
pro slavery and anti slavery arguments using the Bible
letter to the town of providence on the limits of religious liberty (roger Williams) pg 75
puritan minister and separatist who was banished from mass bay colony to a new home called rhode island. believed in religion liberty and separation of church and state. RI was a refuge for other religious dissenters escaping puritan authorities. became baptist to found the first baptist church before leaving organized religion all together for pure liberty of conscience. letter clarifies the relationship between religious liberty and civil responsibility. compare religious liberty to many religions being on a boat and not needing to practice other beliefs. no one should revolt or refuse to work because all are equal under god. Roger Williams began the evolutionary process in the colonies by challenging the Puritan hypocrisy and his belief in leaving Native American land alone. After being banished, Williams began the Rhode Island colony and lead believing that "all are equal in Christ, therefore no masters nor officers, no laws nor orders" were imposed upon people in his colony
Alvar Nunez cabeza de vaca, a Spanish castaway becomes a Indian healer (tlearn)
states that the "Indians" treat and love their children better than everyone (when anyone but one people die they weep for a year-family cry in morning as people join in as well as midday-and then wash themselves clean of the soot on their bodies-if a child dies the families don't look for food for 3 months and let friends bring them food). old people are different (claim that they are of little use-waste of space and food-and ignore them when they die). dead medicine men get burned as the people dance around the fire and grind the bones to be drank by his family a year later. inlaws and husbands believe seeing each other is bad. wives brings her husbands kills to her parents and they take the food to the husband. vaca was forced to become an Indian healer. when people get healed they give all their possessions (and relatives possessions to the healer). medicine man cuts where theres pain and sucks it then cauterizing it then blowing on it. Vaca prayed to god to heal the people. the people told the tale of "evil thing" who wondered the land and they never say his face of. he would appear in fire and stab who he wanted 3 times throwing their guts in the embers. he cuts their arm and pulls/replaces it in its socket. he would then place his hands on their wounds and they healed. he didn't eat. vaca said god would protect them from him
Harvard divinity school address (Ralph Waldo Emerson) pg 172
transcendentalist. individual self reliance, intuition over rationalism, idealism over materialism. argued against Unitarianism's. paper set forth his own spiritual vision. Emerson suggests that people should now look within themselves, think for themselves, and decide for themselves if they are going to heaven or hell. He stresses that religion and faith are not based on structured institutionalized knowledge from a formal church. In his view, religion is a personal thing that a person discovers and figures out for themselves, it occurs within. All people have a direct connection to God, and so therefore people can act in accordance with how they deem God sees fit (usually this would mean that people acted morally just because that is what God would call them to do). This idea of a personal relationship with God is a major theme of this time period. Emerson's ideas further show how the Second Great Awakening signaled a shift away from a judgmental God and predestination to a loving God who you can have a relationship with
memoirs (charles finney) pg 189
urged people to follow christ and experience new birth. preached against slavery and advocated temperance. Charles Finney encounters a similar experience as Lee and Cole. He wrote about his own conversion in "Memoirs" and describes how he experienced a forceful emotion of God wanting him to preach the Gospel. This similarities between Lee, Cole, and Finney demonstrate feelings/emotions and the peace that one encounters with the power of God/the Holy Spirit.
errand into the wilderness (Perry miller tlearn)
what was the underlying aim of the first colonists in coming to America? are they errand boys for a higher power? had an epiphany of his purpose in life in Africa. is in despair about 2nd and 3rd generation preachers. they believe that previous generations were more devote. "errand boy" does someone else bidding compared to running errands for yourself. new england had a identity crisis