Into the Enlightenment

1. Into the Enlightenment English 441 Dr. Roggenkamp

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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).

7. “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

8. 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