Puritanical or Rational?

So, now that we have studied a little bit about the philosophies that underpinned the founding fathers of our country, we have been able to identify two brances of thinkers: the Puritans and the Rationalists.

The Puritans were strict Christians whose religious beliefs dominated their entire worldview - from their community government to their pulpit. They saw the world as in need of redemption by God. Cotton Mather, Jonathan Edwards and William Bradford are famous American Puritans.

The Rationalists were much more scientific and logic-based. They tended to be Deists, people who believed in a Supreme Higher Being who set the world in motion, but they did not have very personal religious convictions. Some of early America's leading politicians and patriots were Rationalists such as Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and so on.

If you were to live in the time of the American colonies, would you have been a Puritan, or a Rationalist? Think not about what these terms mean strictly, but the ideas and principles they stand for. Are you more of a personally religious individual or more of a scientifically-minded individual? Do you believe all mankind is born evil with a sinful nature or do you believe in the basic goodness of humanity and inherent logic and structure to the world? Explain why you believe you would belong to either the Puritanic philosophy or the Rationalist philosophy.

Please compose a 100 word response to this prompt. Your blog must be posted by Monday, October 11, 2010 at 3:30 pm

Contrasting LIterary Periods

Who are we? Answers then and now.

Consider what you've learned about the dominant philosophical and religious beliefs in early America. The Puritans believed that the world was fallen and that people were sinners who could be redeemed only through the grace of God. The rationalists believed the universe was basically good and that doing good for others was the best way to worship God. How do people today regard the universe and human nature itself? Write a brief essay (250 - 500 words/ 1 to 2 pages typed) explaining whether you find evidence of Puritanism and rationalism in American society today.

Please type your answer to this question into a word document. Then, copy and paste your answer into the body of a response. This blog response is due by Monday, October 4th by 3:30pm.

American Lit Quick and Dirty Part 1

American Lit Quick and Dirty Part 1

Okay, home skillets. The first link on the previous post is bad. Do not use it. Please use the link above to view the video and then respond to the questions on the previous post. Your blog post must be submitted to me by Friday, September 24th at 3:30 pm. No late work will be accepted.