Predestination

an influential French theologian as well as a pastor during the Protestant Reformation era in Europe. He was a major figure who contributed on developing the system of Christian theory entitled Calvinism, which have a perspective of doctrine of predestination and the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation of the human soul from death and eternal damnation. The seminal work of Protestant systematic theology he published in 1536 is called Institutes of Christian Religion, which is highly…

The People of Salem The Salem witch trial was a period of time where the citizens of Salem (mostly women) were persecuted of witchcraft. The panic took place around February of 1692 to May of 1693. The occupants of Salem were mostly Purist, Protestants who left the Roman Catholic Church due to corruption during the reformation period. They were a group of hard working individuals who were heavily God fearing. During the trials 19 people were executed, from either hanging or body pressing. Among…

John Demos book the “Unredeemed Captive” is set in the second year of the Queen Anne’s War in 1704. The location is primarily set in Quebec and the Massachusetts in the village of Deerfield which was located in then the northwestern portion of the colony. The final chapter of the story ends in 1785 with the death of Eunice Williams, the “unredeemed captive.” However, the book primarily covers through the year 1724. The title of the book “Unredeemed Captive” contains the two main themes;…

Puritans were a large group of religious reformers who lived in the England Church, and believed in predestination and wanted to prohibit drunkenness, gambling, swearing and Sabbath-breaking rules. In them, were two groups: Congregationalists, and Presbyterians. The Congregationalists traveled to Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Connecticut, also having stricter views of the church than the Presbyterians. They required each person applying for membership to testify publicly his/her…

served as working models for the Puritan lifestyle). Calvinist theology and polity played significant parts, with regards to shaping Puritan teachings: the moral and religious qualities that were representative of Puritans along with a doctrine of predestination, which was inherited from Calvinism, created a “covenant theology,” a perception of themselves as designated spirits selected by God to live holy lives both individually and communally. With the reinstatement of…

The doctrines of predestination and humanism were hot button topics at the time, and people were at a loss as to who or what to believe. McAlindon asserts, “Whereas the humanist emphasized the dignity of human nature and man’s capacity to win salvation for his soul through reason…

As men and women made the long, harrowing journey across the Atlantic to the unknown, unwelcoming lands of the New World, religion to many of these pioneers was the only means to find comfort and hope amid battering waves and wicked cases of seasickness. William Bradford and John Smith were no different: religion was their guiding light, both consciously and subconsciously, in their settling of the New World. Despite the differences in Bradford and Smith’s approaches to recounting their…

By definition a Muslim is a follower of the religion of Islam; and Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world behind Christianity. Unfortunately, though, today in the United States many would define a Muslim as someone who is anti-America or even just a terrorist. Bigoted mindsets such as those in the 21st century have had an adverse reaction to how modern day Muslims are received and treated in the United States and aboard. The general public judges the majority of Muslims based on the…

Macbeth, the witches act duplicitous and decides Macbeth’s fate, to become king but for a limited time. The fate motivates Macbeth to become king and leads him towards the wickedness. In Macbeth, William Shakespeare suggests that unquestionable predestination can perceive to provide a sense of security, but indeed, it results to be harmful. According to Macbeth, the three prophecies are impossible…

In the beginning of the story Dimmesdale is sensitive towards the townspeople and his secret family, but as the story progresses Dimmesdale becomes less caring, and more self absorbed with his problems. One night while he was on the scaffold with Pearl and Hester, Pearl asks Dimmesdale, “Will thou stand here with mother and me, to-morrow noontide? inquired Pearl. Nay; not so, my little Pearl, answered the minister” (139). Hester and Pearl both had to stand on the scaffold and be judged in front…