When John Winthrop set out to create a colony, his ideals for the new nation were expressed in his “A Model of Christian Charity” sermon. These ideals, deeply rooted in his religious conviction, were to make the colony a beacon for other nations to look up to. Since then, the idea that America is a beacon for other nations has been ingrained in our countries sentiments. Politicians throughout America’s history call upon Winthrop’s sermon to evoke patriotism. One example is John F. Kennedy’s “Address to the General Court of Massachusetts”. If Winthrop could see this speech, he would find the ideals espoused by Kennedy to be dissimilar and secular from his own.
Kennedy states that he is following the principles of
Winthrop saying “these are …show more content…
For courage, Kennedy says one must have the bravery to stand up to one’s enemies and associates. Winthrop discusses enemies with a Bible quote: “If thine Enemy hunger, feed him; Love your Enemies, do good to them that hate you” (Mathew: 5.44). This highlights not only Winthrop’s esteem for love, but also how that esteem is rested in religious belief. Winthrop and Kennedy hold disparate views on the topic of courage. Winthrop holds a passive, religious view while Kennedy holds a more active stance. On judgment and integrity, Kennedy discusses the importance of foresight and holding to principles for a nation to succeed. Winthrop would find Kennedy embracing the wrong values. Winthrop does not mention the importance of individual judgment or integrity in the entirety of his sermon. On dedication, Kennedy advises an individual to have “honor mortgaged to no single individual or group…but devoted solely to serving the public good and the national interest” (Kennedy). Here is the closest Kennedy arrives to Winthrop’s message. Winthrop did value the public good over the individual. He says “We must not look only on our own things, but also on the things of our brethren” (175). However he and Kennedy were talking about entirely different groups. Kennedy’s society is described that no single group would hold more honor. Kennedy mentions how the society is great due to the “Pilgrim and the Puritan, …show more content…
However, it shows how Winthrop’s ideals have influenced the nations psyche. Kennedy does cite Puritan values, avoiding greed, adhering to principles, serving the public interest. While these are secular interpretations, they do show influence of Winthrop’s work. Despite this, God was inextricably tied to Winthrop’s idea of the ideal society. By not making God a central role in society, Kennedy prevents the nation from truly being Winthrop’s dream. Kennedy invokes God in the final lines of his speech stating “Humbly I ask His help in that undertaking – but aware that on earth His will is worked by men”. This deistic view goes completely against Winthrop, who believed that God held a constant presence in helping or hurting a society. Winthrop says “The Lord will be our God, and delight to dwell among us as His own people” (176), he goes on to say “We shall find that the God of Israel is among us.” (176). Winthrop believed God played an active, not passive, role in a society. Winthrop would not find the model nation he envisioned as the values are not rooted in Puritanism as he felt they
Kennedy states that he is following the principles of
Winthrop saying “these are …show more content…
For courage, Kennedy says one must have the bravery to stand up to one’s enemies and associates. Winthrop discusses enemies with a Bible quote: “If thine Enemy hunger, feed him; Love your Enemies, do good to them that hate you” (Mathew: 5.44). This highlights not only Winthrop’s esteem for love, but also how that esteem is rested in religious belief. Winthrop and Kennedy hold disparate views on the topic of courage. Winthrop holds a passive, religious view while Kennedy holds a more active stance. On judgment and integrity, Kennedy discusses the importance of foresight and holding to principles for a nation to succeed. Winthrop would find Kennedy embracing the wrong values. Winthrop does not mention the importance of individual judgment or integrity in the entirety of his sermon. On dedication, Kennedy advises an individual to have “honor mortgaged to no single individual or group…but devoted solely to serving the public good and the national interest” (Kennedy). Here is the closest Kennedy arrives to Winthrop’s message. Winthrop did value the public good over the individual. He says “We must not look only on our own things, but also on the things of our brethren” (175). However he and Kennedy were talking about entirely different groups. Kennedy’s society is described that no single group would hold more honor. Kennedy mentions how the society is great due to the “Pilgrim and the Puritan, …show more content…
However, it shows how Winthrop’s ideals have influenced the nations psyche. Kennedy does cite Puritan values, avoiding greed, adhering to principles, serving the public interest. While these are secular interpretations, they do show influence of Winthrop’s work. Despite this, God was inextricably tied to Winthrop’s idea of the ideal society. By not making God a central role in society, Kennedy prevents the nation from truly being Winthrop’s dream. Kennedy invokes God in the final lines of his speech stating “Humbly I ask His help in that undertaking – but aware that on earth His will is worked by men”. This deistic view goes completely against Winthrop, who believed that God held a constant presence in helping or hurting a society. Winthrop says “The Lord will be our God, and delight to dwell among us as His own people” (176), he goes on to say “We shall find that the God of Israel is among us.” (176). Winthrop believed God played an active, not passive, role in a society. Winthrop would not find the model nation he envisioned as the values are not rooted in Puritanism as he felt they