Into the Enlightenment

English 441Dr. Roggenkamp

17th Century Massachusetts Relatively complete Puritan hegemony in Mass

Bay area and large portions of colonial frontier (hegemony—predominance of one class or political system over all others)

Theocracy—quash most political and social dissent

Much greater religious and political diversity elsewhere in colonies

What “sticks” from Puritans—cultural influence, rhetorical tools, literary genres

Exceptionalism, idea of “chosen ones,” paradoxical relationship of individual and community

End of 17th Century into 18th Century More widespread breaking away from strict

doctrines of Calvinism, even in Boston Strengthening of other cultural, political, religious

voices—partly because British crown takes over colonial charters post Salem

Unitarianism and Deism: Denominations rejecting doctrine of the trinity, stressing benevolent & more detatched God, individual freedom of belief, free use of reason in religion, liberal social action, faith in science over mystical spiritual expression

Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, George Washington, Ralph Waldo Emerson, etc. etc.

Ethos of Enlightenment—The Age of Reason

Intellectual movement/empirical philosophy of late 17th, 18th centuries

Advances in science, technology, politics

Emphasize reason & empirical evidence over—demystify life—the SENSES

Natural goodness of humanity Perfectibility of human race Right to individual liberty Build a better world through

reason, brotherhood, new governments (not theocracies)

Quakerism (Religious Society of Friends)

Not as mainstream, but extremely impt. in America’s social development/conscience

Every person’s capacity to comprehend God on own terms—follow “inner light”

Direct access to God—no ministers, dogma, creed, rituals—silent worship

God as benevolent, loving, compassionate—not angry and judgmental

SOCIAL doctrines—reject racism, chauvinism, warfare—“friendly persuasion”

Lives of simplicity, peace, social justice

Quaker John Woolman I “was early convinced in my mind

that true religion consisted in an inward life, wherein the heart doth love & reverence God . . . & learn to exercise true justice & goodness, not only toward all men but also toward the brute creatures” (670).

“I found no narrowness respecting sects & opinions, but believed that sincere, upright-hearted people in every Society who truly loved God were accepted of Him” (670).

“To consider mankind otherwise than brethren, to think favours are peculiar to one nation & exclude others, plainly supposes a darkness in . . . Understanding” (681).

“The Great Awakening” Period of intense revivalism &

evangelism, 1730s and 1740s Backlash against increasingly

liberal & cosmopolitan society Jeremiads—call to return to

good old days of strict Calvinism—Purify Congregational church in America this time

Reinforce idea of depravity as basic human condition—vengeful God

Image: George Whitfield

Jonathan Edwards “The last Puritan” Re-inscribe strict Calvinism into

American experience Emphasis on true religious

conversion as opposed to Enlightenment ideals of leading a good, moral, civic life

Conversion narrative—within genre of “personal narrative”

Idea of journey, development