2. Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards 1703-1758 1703-1758

3. Jonathan Edwards(1703- 1758) Historical Background Historical Background Life Life Leader of the Great Awakening Leader of the Great Awakening Aspects of Edwards ’ Religious Philosophy Aspects of Edwards ’ Religious Philosophy

4. Jonathan Edwards born in Connecticut, son of a Pastor. He graduated in theology at the top of his class at Yale, and. went on to teach theology, following a vocation as a Congregationalist pastor. While serving as a missionary to the Housatonic Indians, Edwards become an eminent theologian; subsequently elected President of Princeton. Died of smallpox in 1758. born in Connecticut, son of a Pastor. He graduated in theology at the top of his class at Yale, and. went on to teach theology, following a vocation as a Congregationalist pastor. While serving as a missionary to the Housatonic Indians, Edwards become an eminent theologian; subsequently elected President of Princeton. Died of smallpox in 1758.

5. Historical Background American Puritanism American Puritanism American Revolution American Revolution Enlightenment ( 启蒙运动 ) Enlightenment ( 启蒙运动 )

6. American Puritanism I. Puritans=Calvinists I. Puritans=Calvinists a: John Calvin, a theologian, Puritans believed most doctrines preached by him, so they were also called Calvinists a: John Calvin, a theologian, Puritans believed most doctrines preached by him, so they were also called Calvinists b: Puritans wanted to “ purify the church ” to its original state, because they thought the church was corrupted and had too many rituals b: Puritans wanted to “ purify the church ” to its original state, because they thought the church was corrupted and had too many rituals c: To be a Puritan: taking religion as the most important thing; living for glorifying God; believing predestination （命运天定）, original sin （原罪，人生下来就是有罪的，因为人类的祖先亚 当和夏娃是有罪的）, total depravity （人类是完全堕落的，所 以人要处处小心自己的行为，要尽可能做到最好以取悦上帝）, limited atonement （有限救赎，只有被上帝选中的人才能得到 上帝的拯救） c: To be a Puritan: taking religion as the most important thing; living for glorifying God; believing predestination （命运天定）, original sin （原罪，人生下来就是有罪的，因为人类的祖先亚 当和夏娃是有罪的）, total depravity （人类是完全堕落的，所 以人要处处小心自己的行为，要尽可能做到最好以取悦上帝）, limited atonement （有限救赎，只有被上帝选中的人才能得到 上帝的拯救） d: Life style of Puritans: pious, austerity of taste, diligence and thrift, rigid sense of morality, self-reliance (John Milton is a typical Puritan.) d: Life style of Puritans: pious, austerity of taste, diligence and thrift, rigid sense of morality, self-reliance (John Milton is a typical Puritan.)

7. American Puritanism II. American Puritan II. American Puritan a: American Puritans were all idealist as their European brothers. They came to the new continent with the dream that they would built the new land to an Eden on earth. a: American Puritans were all idealist as their European brothers. They came to the new continent with the dream that they would built the new land to an Eden on earth. b: American Puritans were more practical maybe because the severe conditions they faced. b: American Puritans were more practical maybe because the severe conditions they faced.

8. American Puritanism III. Influence on literature III. Influence on literature a: Basis of American literature: the dream of building an Eden of Garden on earth (Early American literature were mainly optimistic because they believed that God sent them to the new continent to fulfill the sacred task so they would overcome all the difficulties they met at last. Gradually Americans found that their dreams would not be successful, so lots of pessimistic literary works were produced.) a: Basis of American literature: the dream of building an Eden of Garden on earth (Early American literature were mainly optimistic because they believed that God sent them to the new continent to fulfill the sacred task so they would overcome all the difficulties they met at last. Gradually Americans found that their dreams would not be successful, so lots of pessimistic literary works were produced.) b: Symbolism （象征主义） : lots of American writers liked to employ symbolism in their works. (typical way of Puritans who thought that all the simple objects existing in the world connoted deep meaning.) Symbolism means using symbols in literary works. The symbol means something represents or stands for abstract deep meaning. b: Symbolism （象征主义） : lots of American writers liked to employ symbolism in their works. (typical way of Puritans who thought that all the simple objects existing in the world connoted deep meaning.) Symbolism means using symbols in literary works. The symbol means something represents or stands for abstract deep meaning. c: Style: simple, fresh and direct (just as the style of the Authorized Version of Holy Bible) c: Style: simple, fresh and direct (just as the style of the Authorized Version of Holy Bible)

9. American Revolution (Strict rules made by English government prevented the economic development of the colonies. It was unfair. So American Independence War broke.) (Strict rules made by English government prevented the economic development of the colonies. It was unfair. So American Independence War broke.) 1775, Lexington, beginning of the Independence War 1775, Lexington, beginning of the Independence War June 4th, 1776, Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence June 4th, 1776, Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence 1778, alliance with France, turning point for American army 1778, alliance with France, turning point for American army 1778, English army surrendered 1778, English army surrendered 1783, formal recognition from Britain government 1783, formal recognition from Britain government

10. Enlightenment ( 启蒙运动 ) Originated in Europe in the 17th century Originated in Europe in the 17th century Resources: Newton ’ s theory; deism （自然神教派， 宗教与启蒙精神相结合的产物） ; French philosophy (Rousseau, Voltaire) Resources: Newton ’ s theory; deism （自然神教派， 宗教与启蒙精神相结合的产物） ; French philosophy (Rousseau, Voltaire) Basic principles: stressing education; stressing Reason (Order) (The age has been called Age of Reason.); employing Reason to reconsider the traditions and social realities; concerns for civil rights, such as equality and social justice Basic principles: stressing education; stressing Reason (Order) (The age has been called Age of Reason.); employing Reason to reconsider the traditions and social realities; concerns for civil rights, such as equality and social justice Representatives: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson etc. Representatives: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson etc. Influence on literature Influence on literature –In form: imitating English classical （古典主义） writers –In content: utilitarian ( 功利主义 )tendency for political or educational purpose)

11. Life of Jonathan Edwards Born in a very religious New England family Born in a very religious New England family Graduated from Yale Graduated from Yale Worked as a minister and was an important figure in “ Great Awakening ” (a serious of religious revivals which occurred in the 1730s and 1740s on North America continent) Worked as a minister and was an important figure in “ Great Awakening ” (a serious of religious revivals which occurred in the 1730s and 1740s on North America continent) Dismissed from his position because of fierce religious controversy at that time Dismissed from his position because of fierce religious controversy at that time Lived and meditated in solitude; wrote some books Lived and meditated in solitude; wrote some books

12. More about His Life Influenced by the new ideas of Enlightenment, such as empiricism Influenced by the new ideas of Enlightenment, such as empiricism Still a pious Puritan Still a pious Puritan His sense of God ’ s overwhelming presence in nature and in soul anticipated the Transcendentalism. His sense of God ’ s overwhelming presence in nature and in soul anticipated the Transcendentalism. First modern American and the country ’ s last medieval man First modern American and the country ’ s last medieval man

13. Leader of the Great Awakening considered the leader of The Great Awakening in New England--- a name given to a religious revival in 1730s which brought about the following changes in the Puritan theology: considered the leader of The Great Awakening in New England--- a name given to a religious revival in 1730s which brought about the following changes in the Puritan theology: 1. Stressed the emotional side of religion. 1. Stressed the emotional side of religion. 2. This weakened institutional authority; regeneration was not certified by church, but by one ’ s own emotional conviction. 2. This weakened institutional authority; regeneration was not certified by church, but by one ’ s own emotional conviction. 3. It bypassed doctrinal orthodoxy; the convert ’ s immediate sense of participating in spiritual reality rendered intellectual formulations less significant. 3. It bypassed doctrinal orthodoxy; the convert ’ s immediate sense of participating in spiritual reality rendered intellectual formulations less significant. 4. It made religion more popular; it is easier to experience emotional excitement than rational understanding. 4. It made religion more popular; it is easier to experience emotional excitement than rational understanding. 5. It made religion more democratic; by emphasizing the individual experience of conversion, and the equal capacity of everyone, child or adult, rich or poor, ignorant or wise, to be touched by the inner experience of grace. 5. It made religion more democratic; by emphasizing the individual experience of conversion, and the equal capacity of everyone, child or adult, rich or poor, ignorant or wise, to be touched by the inner experience of grace. 6. It made religion trans-colonial; breakdown of distinctions between church and creed, it encouraged the proliferation of sects which led to vagueness in doctrine, laxness in discipline, and faded into general religious indifference. It gave rise to a community organized in pursuit of secular values. 6. It made religion trans-colonial; breakdown of distinctions between church and creed, it encouraged the proliferation of sects which led to vagueness in doctrine, laxness in discipline, and faded into general religious indifference. It gave rise to a community organized in pursuit of secular values.

14. Aspects of Edwards ’ Religious Philosophy 1. His mystical conversion at age seventeen 1. His mystical conversion at age seventeen –- "I often used to sit and view the Moon, for a long time; and so in the daytime spent much time in viewing the clouds and sky, to behold glory of God in these things; in the meantime, singing forth, with a low voice, my contemplations of the Creator and Redeemer." from "Personal Narrative." 2. He agreed with John Locke in the concept that ideas are generated by sense impressions 2. He agreed with John Locke in the concept that ideas are generated by sense impressions –- knowledge must be supplemented by faith. 3. He believed in the intuitive process; a person must passively surrender to receive grace through senses. One cannot achieve saving grace through a rational process. 3. He believed in the intuitive process; a person must passively surrender to receive grace through senses. One cannot achieve saving grace through a rational process. 4. From Isaac Newton, Edwards borrowed the concept that the harmonious working of the universe reflected the magnificence of "the Great Geometrician" or God. 4. From Isaac Newton, Edwards borrowed the concept that the harmonious working of the universe reflected the magnificence of "the Great Geometrician" or God.

15. The End The End