Write about an idea you have about the sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." Your idea doesn't have to cover the whole sermon -- it could focus on one specific passage or passages. Look for ideas from the class activities and discussions that surrounded our exploration of this text. Your idea needs to go beyond just a personal reaction. Your idea should include an interpretation and analysis of specific textual details in the text of the sermon.
Develop that idea with specific details from the text. Talk in detail about the examples you use and how they relate to your bigger idea.
Give your entry a title that fits your idea. Also don't forget to include your name.
Marcus Charland Mods 9-10
ReplyDeleteThe author is saying If there was no god That there would be no land for us to stand on. Without god we are nothing, and because of god that we are not being rejected by the world.
Celine Fletcher
ReplyDeleteA passage that really struck me as interesting was the "your wickedness" through the " than a spider's web would have against a falling rock" on page 120. This paragraph is so descriptive it would be hard for people back in the day to dispute. And thats whats interesting the me, the preacher can say all these things about what will happen to people and the people have to listen, learn and believe what he says because its in the rules. The preacher can say anything he want to and the people will have to nod their heads and say they believe. This passage talks about a falling rock and a spiders web. If someone told your chances of success where as impossible as a rock through a spiders web, you would try everything to fix the holes and make the rest of it sound to try and save it. Yet this preacher tells them there is "nothing that can keep off the flames of wrath, nothing of your own, nothing that you have one, nothing that you will do" will spare you any moment with god. They don't have any choice but to listen and in this case say "oh well I guess it wasn't meant to work out" and thats it you are dead.
Throughout the passage, the author of this sermon is able to easily turn what could have been a friendly speech into a terrifying description of what happens to people who do not follow gods will. One particularly interesting section of the passage can be seen where it is said that there is "nothing you can have done, nothing you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment." This gives a particularly interesting message about God, as contrary to almost all other sects of christianity, the Puritains seem to think that almost everybody is danmed and there is not really much anyone can do about it. What is even weirder, is how instead of just accepting their fate and thinking, well because I'm danmed already I might as well have a little fun, they seem to try and out do-good eachother and think as though normal christian actions are not good enough. This speaks a lot about their values as a culture, and their trend towards conformity which can lead to problems down the road, and possibly explains why atrocities such as the Salem witch trials would happen.
ReplyDeleteTim Molino
ReplyDeleteThis sermon was filled with hate and anger but one part really stuck out. The part in the sermon where they mention "The bow of God's wrath" was very powerful because it showed how it was "nothing but the mere pleasure of God" to keep you alive. This shows that the Puritans believed that you had to prove yourself worthy to God and why you should be able to live. The Puritans thought that everyone was a sinner and the sermon backed this idea up saying "justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow." God was the only one that could save you so you had to believe and rely on God to save you from hell.
Brandon Farah: This sermon was very powerful and scary. But one thing really grasped me. The part where he said "The God that holds you over the pit of hell." really made me think. Because if god was here to protect us and keep us safe why would he be holding us over hell? I thought he was here to protect us and let us decide if we want to go to hell. Not him deciding if we go to hell and we are the ones left trying to protect our selfs. It seems backwards to me and makes me think how in some way it can make sense but i can never find a way
ReplyDeleteNick Paquin
ReplyDeleteDouble Meanings
In the sermon Edwards says a lot of things that could be flipped in a modern perspective. Such as god being a Grim Reaper figure and having a say whether you live or die by his hand, that god is in control of light and fire twisting it to a point where they're the same thing, and that god sins by indulging, showing something about the human condition and our flaws. God in the passage often seems like the gatekeeper of hell, instead of the devil. This is shown through the quotes of, “The bow of God’s wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart ” or “The God that holds you over the pit of hell much as one holds a spider loathsome insect over the fire.” These quotes prove that Edwards thoughts can be twisted into a double meaning from a modern perspective. Continuing with the double meanings light and fire are represented very similarly in the passage making it seem to be the same thing. “With the flames- of divine wrath flashing” or “The flame of life in your vitals” These are two of the many similar perspectives of light in Edwards sermon. God wielding fire isn't something that we relate to god, but we associate light with him. Also we put life and light together, not fire running through your vitals unless your were in raged. So this again makes me question Edwards passage because to me god seems more and more like the devil with his use of fire, and being the gatekeeper of hell. Lastly God sins, by gluttony indulging on our pain and life’s blood. “And in the house of God, it is nothing but His mere pleasure that keeps you from being this moment swallowed up in everlasting destruction.” or “And it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being drunk with your blood” This shows that god is just as human as we are, that he makes mistakes and that he’s not perfect. Its basicly the human flaw that can be seen by any figure that mankind makes in a allegory or lore throughout time. No one is exempted from seeing the flaws of everything, so why don't we see the flaws in god? What makes religion a divine practice if its just as flawed as everything else we know, is its mass practice? Is it the time and spiritual investment we put into it that makes us not want to think its a waste of our time? Of course it is, bringing it to a big picture outside of just Edwards sermon. The belief of god, and the practice of religion is a tool used by mankind to guide us with a direction in life towards a reward of salvation from a flawed world. To an other place in the subconscious that will protect us from harm, and this is the message Edwards tries to promote. As a free thinker I do not like to adhere to the rules of religion or will I, because in my eyes its always has been used to promote someone else interests, instead of benefiting me and my spiritual health. So over all thats what Edwards is trying to promote, he’s promoting his own interests in the new world because he is the law in a Puritan community. He needs to use religion as a tool to keep everything under control. Or else chaos will happen and ultimately his perspective of hell that he shows in the passage will become a reality he has to live with. Looking at Edwards sermon analytically and interpreting it has opened my eyes to the way language can be used to sway people under your control much like propaganda used today by regimes. Words have an agenda, to capture, control, and destroy. So sadly talented writers and speakers can create history easily through the use of words and speech, and ultimately that will be our downfall as part of the human condition.
In the sermon overall, it talks about what would happen if we did bad things and we would get bad consequences by God. An example of that is, "if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf." This image means that when you ignore God and start doing bad things, you would fall into sin and that you would try to beg for forgiveness. The consequences would be dreadful. The author uses dramatic imagery to make the reader scared about falling into sin. Another example is, "Consider the fearful danger you are in: it is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of fire of wrath, that you are held over in the hand of that God...". The author tries to persuade people to not fall into sin and that God lifts us back onto our feet and to never let sin overcome us. Throughout the sermon, Edwards tries to make the people scared so that they try not to do bad things and try not to fall into hell.
ReplyDeleteMichael Purvey
ReplyDeleteIn the The Sermon, by Jonathan Edwards, is basically talking about the consequences what you would get if you had sinned or done any bad thing by God. This passage tells you in a agressive and angry tone; I believe it does tell you in an unpleasent tone is because the author wants to somewhat scare you into doing good deeds. The author makes God look intimidating by saying "The God that holds you over the pit of Hell, much as one holds a spider or some loathsome insect of fire, abhors you, and is provoked: His wrath towards you burns like fire; He looks upon you as worthy of nothing else but to be cast into the fire." In this quote, the author is saying that God is holding you over Hell like an insect and that his anger to you burns like fire, and that if you do sin, he sees no mercy but to throw you in the fire. I feel like this author could have made the passage in a peaceful tone, but instead he uses intimidation to alert and tell people to not sin or get the consequences from God
Ben VanDeBogart
ReplyDeleteThe sermon in my opinion overall had a very powerful but negitive feeling in it. One part of the sermon that shows this alot is the part where Edwards says that "The bow of Gods wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood." This part of the sermon struck me the most because Its almost like Edwards is betraying God to be the hunter and the sinners being the prey. Edwards is also saying that if God doesn't help the people then they will all die and go to hell. Another part that i thought was interesting was the part where Edwards says that the sinners are in the hands of the angry God and that the spirit of God is in the hands of all creatures. I find this all interesting because Edwards is connecting real life people, animals and different things to the sermon. Edwards is trying to scare the sinners so they will not do anything bad causing them to go to hell.
One specific spot in the text that I began to think about was where the author wrote,"There are black clouds of God's wrath now hanging directly over your heads, full of the dreadful storm,...;and if not for the restraining hand of Go, it would burst forth upon you." When the author writes of these storm clouds it illustrates how God's anger is always there with you. Where it says hanging directly over your heads, he uses that to show to the people that they have to always be conscious of God. And since God is always watching, they should always be fearful of His wrath. He strikes fear into his listeners when he writes of the clouds bursting forth upon you. His intentions are probably to scare the people into not sinning. I believe that that is his whole purpose for writing this sermon.
ReplyDeleteChelsea Snide
ReplyDeleteIn the Sermon by Jonathan Edwards, the metaphors, tone and Edwards' choice of words really stood out and made a point. With these Edwards shows how extremely strict the Puritans were with religion. Throughout the entire text there was an overall aggressive and violent tone used to initiate and install fear to the reader. His choice of language really intimidates the reader and make he or she feel like they have done everything wrong to anger god. "You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder;" In this metaphor Edwards is saying that you have your last chance, that god is testing your faith with all the fiery he gives you. That at every moment God is watching and waiting for you do something wrong and take your last chance away. Its also explained through the quote "nothing of your own, nothing that you have done, nothing you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment." That you can't negotiate with God. There is nothing worthy you have done or can do to get God to spare you and give you another chance. Edwards explains that God is always watching you and you should fear it. The fear and intimidation that God hates you and what his wrath can bring on you, can brainwash someone into strictly following their rules and beliefs and ultimately control you to follow them. The Sermon uses fear to manipulate the readers/listeners to follow the strict Puritan beliefs.
In the sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards, the use of diction and metaphors was very powerful. There were several words that he chose to repeat over and over, and all of those words are very angry and aggressive, and carry negative connotations. Words like this, such as "wrath," "fire/flames," and "nothing" were intentionally repeated a great deal because of the associations and feelings they provoke, in order to scare the reader. Out of all of the words repeated in the sermon, however, "you" was used the most. Jonathan Edwards wanted to make sure that the people who heard or read his sermon felt responsibility. He is holding them accountable for all of their sins. His metaphors are also extremely powerful. The use of the spider web and fallen rock metaphor is an extremely effective way to convey the idea of absolute hopelessness. The bow-and-arrow metaphor has a very tense, dangerous feeling that is difficult to convey.
ReplyDeleteAustine Bodenstab
ReplyDeleteThe word choices that Edwards uses throughout the sermon makes the piece very powerful, and disturbing. For example, Edwards says, "Nothing that you have done, nothing you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment." This line of his is very frightening. By saying this, he is instilling fear in his listeners, but also capturing there attention. It makes them want to come back and listen to more of what he has to say, and here more about there impending doom. Edwards uses their fear to his advantage, in order to get more people to hear out his scary and disturbing point of view. Edwards says, "O sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in: it is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of the fire of wrath, that you are held over in the hand of that God." The words fire, wrath, and bottomless pit stick out a lot. Without those words, and words like them, the sermon would not be as powerful as it is. They make the sermon more disturbing, and leave the listener/reader on the edge of their seat.
Haley Bialobzeski
ReplyDeleteIn the "Sermon" by Jonathan Edwards, I just thought WOW. I never knew anger could seriously come through the words and you actually feel it. There are so many powerful words that just take you in and you just want to keep reading it. Most of the words were powerful and scary. If people also did bad things then we would get bad consequences by God. The consequences would be dreadful.
THis sermon makes me wonder; Why would god create us if he hates us much? It just doesn't make sense. Personally i think the message: nomatter what your going to hell" would be more of deterent to going to church mainly because whats the point to go if i'm dambed anyway?
ReplyDeleteThroughout the sermon the quote “you are a burden” was mentioned multiple time throughout the passage, such as when he referred them as a burden to this earth. Although this can come offer as a put down to most people, it can also give reason to their religion. The Puritans believed that religion mattered throughout every aspect of their lives, if they didn’t continually do this than they would become even more damned than they already thought themselves to be. In order not to upset God, the author is simply trying to say we must make ourselves and devote ourselves in every way possible to him, in order to make themselves less of a burden to God.
ReplyDeleteMaeve Gurbey
ReplyDeleteThe choice of words Johnathon Edwards uses in his sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", made the piece seem very intimidating and aggressive. He used strong, effectibe words such as "nothing" and "you". This sermon confused me in some ways. It made me question why Johnathon Edwards was saying that God hatws people and that they are horrible sinners. As young children that believe in God we are normally taught that he loves us and forgives us for all of our sins. However, what we have been taught and what was being preached by Johnathon Edwards greatly differ from eachother.
In the sermon you are controlled by this "God" and he has all power over you and you don't know if he will spare you or let you burn in hell. at the part of the story " The bow of Gods wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood". during that part and even overall the author loves to go very deep into detail to get you thinking and get a picture in your mind about what is going on and he/she does that by using sinners like, wrath, provoke, induce etc. which is a good thing because it keeps you on the edge for a long time so it interests you into reading more about it which also brings you deeper. its almost impossible to predict what the "god" will do or what will happen so you're almost taking a tour and watching and waiting for whats next.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the entire sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry god" by Jonathan Edwards I realized that the overall message was that god is basically saying that no matter what he will always hate people. A part that really stood out to me with voice, tone, and diction was that part where Edwards is talking about how God holds you over the pit of hell and also by mentioning God's wrath. He is repeating his word choice to get a sense of fear, the words that he mimics repeatedly is having to do with fire and flames. By repeating these words he can develop a sense of fear. The sermon goes in depth with hatred, and it almost makes you think why God wouldn't just get rid of everyone if supposedly his "wrath towards you burns like fire". This paragraph is just explaining how god is disgusted with humans by using certain terms like "loathsome".
ReplyDeleteSinners in the hands of of an angery god by jonathan Edwards shows an angery god throughout the serman. The god we know is supposed to be nice, and supposed to care for us but in the serman the people beleive in this angery god and put aqll their faith into this angery god. Its confusing because the people that are putting their faith into this angery god should be putting their faith into a happy and caring god instead of an angery and fierce one. The quote says "Justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere plaesure of god, and that of an angery god." Where it says " it is nothing but the mere pleasure of god, and that of an angery god." it sounds like the god is enjoying himself even though he is and angery god. Its surprising that an angery god can have so many poeple put their faith into this god. Normally in order to change something in their life or to take something bad in their life away they would look to a good god that will help in solving their problems not an angery one that does'nt really care for you.
ReplyDeleteThis sermon at first, just disgusted me. I then thought of it from a psychological point of view and i believe that edwards has a huge god complex or finds himself to be a superior being to those he is preaching. Edwards through out the whole sermon never uses the word "we" but instead uses accusatory words such as "you" and "your" for example in the text "God should let you go," "the sun does not willingly shine upon you" "To satisfy your lusts;" he includes everyone else but himself in all of this preaching as though he has never committed sin or that he is exempt from hell! i take this sermon as the rantings of a mad man who lives in a world that he feels is not perfect enough for him.
ReplyDeleteIn "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry god" by Jonathan Edwards I noticed that society is different back then from today. The guy who wrote this is a priest who focused on God's control over the people. "The bow of the God's wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready for the string, and the justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood." This shows that at any minute God could take their lives and that is the ultimate control, that someone could take your life. He was trying to tell people that God was in control and they should obey him. This is different from today because today, lots of people do not attend church. Back then religion was the number one thing in their life, but today it's a less important thing in life. Most people will go to church on holidays, but do not live with the fear of being killed and going straight to hell. Today when you do go to church there is not that much of a focus on burning in hell or that God hates you. Where Edwards said, "The God that holds you over the pit of hell....abhors you..." he is telling people that God hates them and will drop them in hell for doing anything that he doesn't like.
ReplyDeleteIn 'Sinners in the hands of an angry god', I was intrigued by how much irony was present. The author wrote about how much he hated us, and then went on to say how he was keeping us from falling and burning into hell. If I hated something that much, I wouldn't have just dropped it into hell, I would have thrown it into the fiery depths. He also talks about a god that hates us. In the book of exodus when the Hebrews escaped Egypt, god wept when the Egyptians drowned saying: even though they were evil, they were still my children.
ReplyDeleteI think its interesting that the priest's obvious objective is to scare the villagers into submission and obedience. His repeatedly uses the word you to make the individual feel guilty and ashamed. Even the people that followed the rules would feel like they had done something bad and probably would work harder to behave. His word usage is almost poetic in the way he is able to string in angry, red words to get across the feeling of hell. He also compares people to unwanted, dangerous animals that people tend gravitate away from. You are isolated and everyone hates you.
ReplyDelete