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
Top Related