Journal #7 Jonathan Edwards: Original Sin? Whatever.

QUOTE:

“Natural men’s prudence and care to preserve their own lives, or the care of others to preserve them, do not secure them a moment” (Edwards 428).


SUMMARY:

Edwards is basically saying that anyone who isn’t “saved” is going to hell, no matter how they live their lives. This is his most extreme type of sermon, so it is easy to say that Edwards took his position as Reverend too far after he tried to bring his congregation back to “the old days.”


RESPONSE:

My main problem with Edwards claiming that anyone who isn’t “saved,” or anyone who is “natural,” will go to hell is that it can be confused with “nature” being something bad or evil. I know now, from our class discussion, that this is referring to the “original sin” that all Christians believe people are born into, but it makes no sense to me. Since our class isn’t a theology course, I’ll try not to focus too much on how ridiculous the concept of “original sin” is to me, and focus more on his sermon failing to motivate his congregation.

First of all, Edwards breaks his sermon down with his ten points. Every point is negative and is describing most likely the greatest fears these people have. I’ve learned with teaching young children to adults (in dance classes), that trying to browbeat people into doing anything will either discourage them so horribly that they quit, or will make them angry at whoever is trying to direct them.

I do know what it’s like to have that type of rank over people, and have had my moments of “me against them” (only with my kids and teenagers though, the adults have never given me trouble), but I guess it’s different because I’m not telling them they are “bad” children or that they will go to hell. I think I’d lose my job if I did that! (I guess that happened to Edwards!)