Into the Enlightenment
English 441
Dr. 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
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End of 17th Century into 18th Century
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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
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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)
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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
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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”
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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
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“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