Have you ever heard a motivational speech and while it was going on you felt so motivated, but when it was over you did not know what to do with yourself? In Beyond Scared Straight, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," and "Can Kids Be Scared Straight?" all three authors try to persuade people to do the right things in a forceful tone, but there are reasons why appeals to fear is not the best motivational force. Some reasons why appeals to fear is not the best motivational force are that people might not get scared, are not afraid of the negative consequences, and do not want to nor know how to change.…
Jonathan Edwards’s sermon “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God” is a very scary sermon. It is believed that Edwards said this sermon in a quiet voice. I think it would of given many people goosebumps because this sermon is about God’s judgment. According to Edwards, God’s judgement is more painful than a person can understand. Edwards described the fearful judgement very well.…
When Jonathan Edwards gave his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” (291-303) he used several analogies that would give his listeners a better understanding of the danger the non-believers were in.…
Everywhere you look in the world today, there is always someone trying to persuade you to do something. While watching the television every commercial is sixty seconds of pure persuasion. You can read them in the newspaper. Even while driving on the interstate there are huge billboards that grab your attention to whatever they are advertising. People literally knock on your door trying to persuade you to switch to their religion. The goal of the persuasion is mutual, but the persuasions techniques may differ. The techniques that one uses can depend on many things. For example, the technique a speaker chooses, might depend on your audience or the occasion. In Jonathan Edwards “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God”, Edwards uses three main persuasive techniques which are, connections to reality, his vivid description, and fear of the unknown.…
Puritanism was found by English Protestant leaders with the purpose of providing original unification of spiritual life, church and social life. Due to the fact that puritans in Britain were prohibited to attend the church, they had to move to New England and maintain their power over the continent. After establishment of their colony, the local authorities began to implement laws regulating human behavior in terms of drunkenness, swearing and gambling. This way, they hoped that the colony would build a new and reliable role model. In view of many scholars, although Puritan ambition to create the ideal model of society, based upon the establishment of a covenant with God, was initially rather promising, they did not firmly follow what they…
Whether or not there is a doomed afterlife in which is called “hell”, everybody has their own perception of what their “hell” would be like. Rather your view of hell is eternal detonation or a place consisting of deathly flames and Satan’s head down in a bucket of ice, most people do not wish to be summoned into the depths of hell. However; Jonathon Edward’s sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” portrays briefly the vivid imagery of how hell was represented during the Second Great Awakening. In addition, Edwards aim was to teach his listeners about the horror of hell. Thus, Edwards’s dramatic interpretation of hell frightened the people who followed by God’s word and urges those who don’t to call upon Christ to receive forgiveness.…
When first reading Jonathan Edwards’ sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” shocked readers how it started right in about the wrath of God and Hell. His diction and images create a tone of alarming immediacy – act now for your own good.…
Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God” approaches the audience with a call to action. Jonathan does not soften his blows of aggression towards those listening to his sermon. Edwards’ use of imagery and syntax add to the emotional effect of the sermon. “The bow of God’s wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string.” This metaphor is directed to those that sin, and is used as a more blunt approach to those who do bad, than Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”. Plato approaches the topic of ignorance with ease and softness, using an epic metaphor to compare humans finding self-knowledge to those in a cave. Edwards uses many similes as well, but with a more aggressive impact. “And the fiery…
Preacher Jonathan Edwards in Sinners in the Hands of a an Angry God used fear of eternal damnation to motivate his followers to repent. In Scared Straight? The program used fear to make teenagers experience the consequences about their acts. I think fear is a good motivational between kids and parents . It works between teachers and students , it works between citizens and law.…
I found "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" written by Jonathan Edwards as a terrible misconception. From the things I've learned through my own faith and Theology classes I've taken God is nothing like the god that Edwards portrays. Edwards's god is one of destruction and hatred. Where as the true God is full of love and compassion for his children. This sermon suggests that God is ready at any moment to condemn man to Hell. In Theology however we learned that God does not choose to send anyone to Hell, rather it is our sin that condemn us to this destiny. Edwards fills his sermon with scripture in an attempt to solidify his beliefs. However upon closer examination these quotes are bits and pieces of the complete text. These instances…
In one of the most famous sermons ever preached, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, preacher, Jonathan Edwards, tries to persuade the ‘sinful’ people to realize that God is real and that they have to live ‘purely’, as in to live as a true Christian who is devoted to God. Because of God’s Wrath, his judgement, on all people, will be more painful and fearful than expected by many people around the world. Throughout his sermon, Edwards wants describe to them about how God treats us, views us, and handles us with care throughout our pitiful lives as ‘sinful’ people. But, in order to preach such a powerful, complicated topic to the whole world, he first must use several persuasion tactics to make his audience realize what they are doing with their everyday lives. By using these tactics, he successfully creates a portentous tone and fearful mood throughout his sermon.…
Imagine being told how to make a moral and not an immoral life decision. In recent discussions regarding learning forms, a controversial issue has been whether it is better for people to learn through fear or through positive example. On the one hand, some argue that learning through fear teaches discipline. On the other hand, however, others argue that learning by positive example teaches nothing and is shortly forgotten. It appears that it is better to frighten the learner into making the right choice than to show them how it is done. Jonathan Edwards’ sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” and Benjamin Franklin’s, “Autobiography,” portray how to succeed in the world in two completely different ways. Edwards speaks through…
Albert Einstein, a theoretical physicists and founder of the general theory of relativity, once addressed, "Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death" ("Albert Einstein"). Men concern themselves with life on earth and doing good deeds now, not fret about life after death. From the early 1600s to 1750, Puritan influence impacted America as predestination, the idea that God knows where each person will end in eternity, and the Protestant work ethic, the idea that hard work displays Godliness and wins God's favor, penetrated the colonist's lives and literature. As Puritan influence decreased in the late 17th century, the Age of Reason blossomed, shifting literature from teachings…
individualism is “a social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control”. what this means is that the individual has control over what goes on in the society rather than a government or any one force controlling what the individual does, individualism could be shown in many different forms. examples of different forms individualism could be shown is through the way you dress, your moral beliefs, or even your actions.Individualism is shown through romantic, revolutionary, and colonial text in Sinners in the hands of an angry god, speech to Virginia conviction, and self reliance…
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” is a sermon given by Johnathan Edwards, a preacher and a theologian. Published in 1741, Edwards’ sermon is one of most defining pieces of literature during the First Great Awakening in the United States. The Day of Doom is a poem written by Michael Wigglesworth, a Puritan minister. The poem became wildly popular in Puritan New England when it was published in 1662. Both texts discuss the themes of divine judgement and punishment. Edwards’ sermon illustrates that it is God’s will that keeps evil men from being sent down to hell. Wigglesworth describes the Day of Judgement in which God will decide who will be saved who will be sent to hell. These pieces of religious literature both describe a harsh God who has ultimate judgement and no mercy when it comes to punishment.…