Into the Enlightenment English 441 Dr. Roggenkamp

17 th 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 17 th Century into 18 th 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 17 th, 18 th 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