Importance of Religion to Early American Civilisation

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Lauren Mills Mr. Peters Period I 17 September 2012 Religion in Early American Literature Puritans, according to the protesting members of The Church of England is a term meaning “purify”. The Puritans wanted to change their ways and start fresh. Wishing to return to simple ways of worship, America was sought out and founded. The stories “ The Sky Trees”, “Here Follow Some Verses” and “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” all express the importance of religion to the early Americans in the author’s own way. “The Sky Trees” exhibits the importance in Native American Literature. “In the beginning earth was covered with water.” This sentence is using logos. The term logos means logic, facts and using statistics. The author is stating how the earth has changed and grown according to its caretaker, God. It is also using text from the bible and how the Old Testament and the world began. Here follow some verses upon the burning of our house…” illustrates the significance of Puritan life. Bradstreet writes, “I blest his name that gave and took.” (29) Using an allusion to Job 1:21. “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Bradstreet’s house and belongings are disintegrated but she believes she is still blessed to be alive. Bradstreet uses ethos throughout this poem. Ethos is the use of authority credentials. She continues, “And to my God my heart did cry.”(29) “The fearful sound of ‘Fire!’ ‘Fire!” (29) Through all her struggles, Bradstreet is still strong in her faith, and is contempt of the plans God has in store for her. She quotes in the last stanza, “My hope and treasure lies above.” (29) Finally, Jonathan Edwards, speaker in the seminar “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” portrays the religious spirits of the Great Awakening. In his sermon, Edwards purpose was to convince sinners to repent and accept
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