Question

lesson 4.3 primary/secondary source analysis
read the source and answer the guiding questions that follow
great awakening source: jonathan edwards
excerpt from \sinners in the hands of an angry god\ (1741)
there is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of god. the wrath of god burns against them; their damnation (the act of sending someone to hell) doesnt slumber; the pit is prepared; the fire is made ready; the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them. - jonathan edwards, open anthology of earlier american literature1
excerpt summary:
jonathan edwards warned people that they could be punished by god at any moment unless they changed their ways and had strong faith.
analysis questions:

1. what emotions do you think edwards wanted his audience to feel?

to feel safe when supporting a religion

1. how does this sermon reflect the religious intensity of the great awakening?
2. why might this message have inspired people to change their beliefs or behavior?

excerpt from the autobiography of benjamin franklin (1791):
\i conceivd the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. i included under thirteen names of virtues all that at that time occurrd to me as necessary or desirable, and annexed to each a short precept, which fully expressd the extent i gave to its meaning.\ - benjamin franklin, commonlit excerpt2
excerpt summary:
benjamin franklin wanted to become a better person by working on 13 important values like

Explanation:

1. Edwards used vivid and fearful language about God's wrath to instill fear in his audience, aiming to make them feel the urgency of repentance and faith - not safety in supporting a religion. Fear of damnation was a powerful motivator.
2. The sermon reflects the religious intensity of the Great Awakening as it emphasizes the immediate and dire consequences of sin, a common theme during that period of religious revival. It shows the eagerness to convert and save souls from eternal damnation.
3. The message inspired people to change because the fear - inducing imagery of eternal suffering in hell was a strong incentive for them to seek redemption and change their ways to avoid such a fate. It offered the hope of salvation through faith and repentance.

Answer:

1. Fear, dread, and a sense of urgency to repent.
2. By emphasizing the immediacy of sin's consequences and the need for salvation, which were hallmarks of the Great Awakening's religious fervor.
3. The threat of eternal damnation and the promise of salvation through faith and change of behavior were powerful motivators.