Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God Analysis

Improved Essays
Jonathan Edwards, the author of “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, wrote vivid sermons about the Puritan religion and the destiny that awaited those who did not accept Jesus as their savior. He was an enthusiastic writer that wanted people to clearly hear his messages. Jonathan Edwards wrote this piece over 300 years ago in an era where religion was very strict and there were distinct beliefs that were followed. Darrow’s claim acknowledges the sharp and cynical tone and attitude that Edwards attempted to convey the path in which to gain salvation. Edwards committed to his style of writing in order to establish purpose and instill fear into the reader. In Darrow’s defense, Edwards had a twisted mindset while writing his sermons due to the strict atmosphere of the Puritans, which only Puritans could have tolerated. …show more content…
He was born in 1703 to colonial New England ministers. He was raised in a Puritan society which explains his religious background. He adored God and showed a great interest in the ministry. Edwards reinterpreted God into his own vision because it was in a time where science was evolving and God was no longer a mystery. The Puritan religion was centered on the church and consequences for unacceptable behavior. The Puritan lifestyle was plain and believed the only way to achieve salvation is through the understanding of the word of God. Edwards had a distinct mindset when he wrote, “Sinner in the Hands of an Angry God.” He wanted to use powerful images and a threatening tone to depict God’s wrath. His objective was to get people listening to his sermons to fully understand that God is loving but one should fear his wrath and power. Growing up in a strict atmosphere influenced his perception of religion and therefore is seen in his

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Did I mention that Dimmesdale is a male? This means not only is he wrong because he is the pastor, the one who preaches on doing the right thing, and obeying God, and Godly ways, yet he is breaking on the Commandments, and not even confessing. Hawthorne goes to say this about how the pastor will look at Hester as an individual; “Giving up her individuality, she would become the general symbol at which preacher and moralist might point, and in which they might vivify and embody their images of womens frailty and sinful passion” (Hawthorne 92). Even when he tries to commit to his wrong doings later in the…

    • 1091 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the Puritan society, it consist of being strict in religious discipline. They believed that God has the power for everything. They are very uncompromising when it came to their religion and beliefs. Puritans honored God above all, and a Puritan’s priority is to serve God first. Puritans would not do what they believe was good, but what was good in God’s sight.…

    • 663 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Puritan society revolved around God. Everything anyone did had to relate back to their religion and conform with the Puritan rules. In the works of John Winthrop, Cotton Mather, and Jonathan Edwards imagery, diction, and syntax are used to support their purposes for writing the different pieces and the idea that the world is God-centered. The pieces prove a God-centered world through devices and techniques that create either fear or awe of God. In both Mathers’ “The Devil in New England” and Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” the imagery evokes fear from the readers and listeners because it is violent and volatile.…

    • 1068 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God “You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.” Jonathan Edwards stated this quote in his famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. On July 8th, 1741, in Enfield, Connecticut, Edwards expressed his beliefs to his audience: people who were not saved by God will go to Hell; these “people” were also known as “Unconverted Men”. Edwards was known for the uprising theology of the Great Awakening. Henceforth upon reading Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, it can be concluded that Edwards followed his strict religion that he strongly believed in, Puritanism, during the seventeenth century. The emotion and manner of Edwards expression towards his audience was filled with irritation and rage.…

    • 494 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    During the Puritan age many wrote to find and show others about God. Some of these authors and their pieces contrast greatly though, such as Anne Bradstreet’s “The Burning of Our House” and Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. Puritan literature of the time is very straight to the point and interpretations of the Bible. While both believe in the puritan lifestyle, they vary greatly in perception of God and their styles. In Puritan life God of course is seen as very important when dealing with faith; all though this may be true, Edwards presents God as something to fear and someone who wants to hurt you, while Bradstreet shows him as loving and a protector.…

    • 928 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” is a sermon by preacher Jonathan Edwards that uses fear to motivate churchgoers to be more religiously involved. Edwards asserts that not even the most devout members of the congregation are exempt from punishment, stating that “However you may have reformed your life in many things, and may have had religious affections, and may keep up a form of religion in your families and closets, and in the house of God, it is nothing but his mere pleasure that keeps you from being this moment swallowed up in everlasting destruction” (Edwards para 5). By emphasizing humanity’s insignificance and describing the torments of eternal damnation, Edwards forcefully intimidates the audience into reconciling their sins. Fear motivates people by giving them a simple solution to remedy the discomfort they are experiencing. For this reason, fear is possibly the most powerful and effective motivator to the human mind.…

    • 905 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Religious leaders and groups are very powerful voices in community, their stances on morality greatly effect the social climate of a nation. When the churches of America refused to speak out against slavery from the pulpit, or condoned it from the pulpit they were committing, according to Douglas, the highest form of hypocrisy. A hypocrisy that is “a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages” (Douglas). The church, he reasoned, due to their religious ideologies, should have stood along side the slaves and fought with them. The Christian religion stems from a nation that was constantly enslaved and rescued by their God.…

    • 950 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Christians were constantly reminded of the consequences of sinning during the Great Awakening. However one church in Enfield, Connecticut was largely unaffected. So they invited Johnathan Edwards, one of the most dynamic pastors of the time to speak. His mission was to convert, and convince the congregation of their sins. He accomplished this by delivering a compelling sermon that helped the congregation realize that they are going to be judged by God, and that this judgment will be more fearful and painful than they could imagine.…

    • 711 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Congregation Uproar Well respected Puritan Minister, Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon “Sinners In the Hands Of An Angry God” (1741), vilifies the consequences of unrepentant sinners. Edwards’s purpose was to outline for the congregation by the refusing of repenting would lead to many punishments. He implies a dramatic tone in order to propose that non repentance is inescapable. Edwards employs imagery, repetition, and vivid metaphors in his use of pathos. Edwards operation of imagery is expressed through his sermon by saying ¨casting his enemies to hell¨ (11) .…

    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Jonathan Edwards Rhetoric

    • 1183 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Jonathan Edwards addressed the people, he said, “Unconverted men walk over the pit of hell on a rotten covering…and these places are not seen” (Edwards 122). He wrote his sermons with the intent of instilling fear in the audience by using sensory details and imagery. Edwards inspiration for this sermon was his belief that they should be more invested in their religious beliefs. The audience that he gave his sermon to were more interested in newly discovered scientific research rather than religion. Jonathan Edwards's sermon influenced people into reviving their religious beliefs by using methods such as emotional appeal, imagery, and tone.…

    • 1183 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays