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
46 comments:
I don’t really find Puritanism in this world but I do find a lot of rationalism because Christianity is similar to rationalism because in Christianity we also agree that humans are imperfect and god does create the laws of nature. Also, in Christianity we believe in what some of the Puritans are saying too, such as god controls the universe he is the person that creates the animals and predicts the weather and when we are all going to leave this earth. People use nature as a religion by saying we are all gods creatures and we all should be treated equally, Muslims also believe in “repenting” meaning giving your sins to god and asking for forgiveness and for him to renew you on the other hand Puritans felt if you were to mess up then you were already a sinner forever and there is no way of being pure again. Today there are no Puritan, at least nobody has heard of any today but Christianity has took a little of Puritanism and made a religion out of it. Rationalists today are more like humanists today who look for human truths; they’re not really a strong religious groups their mind set are mostly on people’s morals and their outlooks on life, such as, what they need or their values. Similar to the economic system now. Rationalist seem to put the world first more like the people then a symbolic feature like the Puritans, not saying God is symbolic but to the rationalists there wasn’t a big issue about pure or un –pure. Puritans wanted the whole world to go by there laws, something like Christianity most Christians think everybody should be a Christian if your not a Christian or catholic or under that category they think your sinners and they don’t want anything to do with you.
Diamond Ponds
Ms. Kromas
Per.1
Juan Rivera
p.03
9-29-10
If I were to live in the time of the American colonies I have would been a rationalist. Is not that I don’t believe in good but science has make more explanations about life.
Even though all the American literature came from the bible, I don’t consider my self as a scientific person but neither as a religious. I’m kind in the middle because I believe in god as in science. Each person makes their own future so I don’t think god has something to do with the decisions we take and the ways we take our steps. I think we as humans were created to god’s eyes but I also think we were created to make our own future. The puritans believed that because Eve ate the apple we are curse, this shows that everybody is going to the same place no matter what you do or don’t in your life.
Rationalist saw everything with an explanation, I think everything has an explanation like if its true that Eve ate the apple I think is because that was on the history. In many ways now days we can change our future from good to bad, also taking decisions would make our future good or bad. Even if you don’t do as the bible or as the puritans wanted us to do.
Juan Rivera
p.03
9-29-10
If I were to live in the time of the American colonies I have would been a rationalist. Is not that I don’t believe in good but science has make more explanations about life.
Even though all the American literature came from the bible, I don’t consider my self as a scientific person but neither as a religious. I’m kind in the middle because I believe in god as in science. Each person makes their own future so I don’t think god has something to do with the decisions we take and the ways we take our steps. I think we as humans were created to god’s eyes but I also think we were created to make our own future. The puritans believed that because Eve ate the apple we are curse, this shows that everybody is going to the same place no matter what you do or don’t in your life.
Rationalist saw everything with an explanation, I think everything has an explanation like if its true that Eve ate the apple I think is because that was on the history. In many ways now days we can change our future from good to bad, also taking decisions would make our future good or bad. Even if you don’t do as the bible or as the puritans wanted us to do.
Juan Rivera
p.03
9-29-10
If I were to live in the time of the American colonies I have would been a rationalist. Is not that I don’t believe in good but science has make more explanations about life.
Even though all the American literature came from the bible, I don’t consider my self as a scientific person but neither as a religious. I’m kind in the middle because I believe in god as in science. Each person makes their own future so I don’t think god has something to do with the decisions we take and the ways we take our steps. I think we as humans were created to god’s eyes but I also think we were created to make our own future. The puritans believed that because Eve ate the apple we are curse, this shows that everybody is going to the same place no matter what you do or don’t in your life.
Rationalist saw everything with an explanation, I think everything has an explanation like if its true that Eve ate the apple I think is because that was on the history. In many ways now days we can change our future from good to bad, also taking decisions would make our future good or bad. Even if you don’t do as the bible or as the puritans wanted us to do.
Danilo Lozano
Ms.Kromas
Adv. American Lit.
P.3
If I lived in the time of the American colonies I would have been a Rationalist. I'm more of a kind of person that uses logical way of thinking. I dont think humans were born evil or bad its what the people learn that makes them into the kind of person that they are, not just being born evil or bad.I think I belong with the Rationalist because I always look at things the way you are. I strongly believe that people choose what kind of person they want to be, not born a certin way. I always go by the facts on things never the word of some one else. So with that being said I believe that I would be a Rationalist
Julio sanchez.
If I were to live in the time of the American colonies I would be a rationalist because the rationalist person won't mind as much as the puritains did when they did something wrong. Puritains were more of religeous persons and they were more strict. I am more of a scientifically-minded individual because I'm not that much into religeous believes. The Rationalist are more logic minded than the Puritains because the Puritains have more religeous beliefs they see the world as in need of redemption by God. I believe in the basic goodnes of humanityand structure to the world because no man is born evil they just turn evil because the way they were threated when they were little. I belong to the Rationalist philosophy because I think than I'm more than a logic person and I'm not that much of a religeous person.
Juan Rivera
p.03
9-29-10
If I were to live in the time of the American colonies I have would been a rationalist. Is not that I don’t believe in good but science has make more explanations about life.
Even though all the American literature came from the bible, I don’t consider my self as a scientific person but neither as a religious. I’m kind in the middle because I believe in god as in science. Each person makes their own future so I don’t think god has something to do with the decisions we take and the ways we take our steps. I think we as humans were created to god’s eyes but I also think we were created to make our own future. The puritans believed that because Eve ate the apple we are curse, this shows that everybody is going to the same place no matter what you do or don’t in your life.
Rationalist saw everything with an explanation, I think everything has an explanation like if its true that Eve ate the apple I think is because that was on the history. In many ways now days we can change our future from good to bad, also taking decisions would make our future good or bad. Even if you don’t do as the bible or as the puritans wanted us to do.
If I lived in the time of the American colonies, my personal belief would be to become a puritan. I honestly don’t believe that people come to this world as sinners or evil though. My personal beliefs come from my background and ethnics. What my family has taught me I would use in what I thought about religion. Your own beliefs are all that you truly had and you use that in your everyday life. I do believe that higher power has created and set this place we call earth in motion. My opinion will always stay the same as well as my own personal beliefs.
Kaley Taulli
Period.1
If I were to live in the time of the American colonies, I would have to say that I would be a rationalist. I am more of a scientifically minded person. Today I don’t base my life on any religion, I am not an atheist but I believe that we are all here for a reason and I always believed that everyone including myself should be productive in life and make a difference for themselves and for others. So I’ve always had rationalist thoughts in my head, therefore I would be a rationalist. Also, I would hate being under strict laws saying that if I broke any of them that I am an evil person that is dammed to hell.
Gerald Zaragoza
Period 6
Bianca Chagolla
Kromas
Literature
4 October 2010
.
If I lived in back then I would be Rationalist because I’m a minded individual instead of a religious individual. I believe that no one is born evil, they can do evil stuff but no one can be born evil. Also is that people can go to hell but I believe that you can go still go to heaven if you have done wrong things. I believe that I should be a rationalist because the Puritans were strict but I believe in god. But they believe that if you do something against the bible you are going to hell but everyone in this world has something evil in them and did something wrong that they regret doing. No one is perfect even if they show it. I would be a rationalist too because if you did something good for someone, god will worship it. Even though people can be mean, they have a heart deep down inside of them.
Now in America today there are a lot of religions because of our freedom of religion right, but going back to the 16th and 17th century there weren’t that many religions but there were 2 groups of people who believed in a certain matter that people caught onto. These two groups were the Puritans and the Rationalists. In my case if I had to choose I would personally choose to be a Rationalist because they didn’t believe that their religious beliefs should dominate their view of the world. I would also like to be a Rationalist because they too believe that there is a Supreme Higher Being that is controlling the world and everything in it. The Rationalists also didn’t believe that you are born evil which I strong disagree with because what could you hardly do wrong when you are born? Nothing! Anyways to tie it all up to me the Puritans were a little crazy in the way they believed and thought about things that’s why I would strongly choose to be a Rationalist.
Jonathan Garcia P.1
Margaret merino
Mrs.kromas
Per. 5
10/05/10
Puritanical or Rational?
I think if i were living back in the American colonies I would probably be a puritan. I think I would be a puritan because I believe in god and only him. My family and I are religious and go to church every Sunday. I don’t know if I could follow everything that the puritans do, for example the fact that they can only read religious material would be hard for me because I like to read other book besides the bible. I do believe god is the only one who can save me from my sins and that he knows and see everything we do. I can agree with something`s that the puritans believe in and practice but I can truthfully say I don’t know if I could follow everything that they believe in.
If I were to live in the time of the American colonies I would have been a Rationalist. I believe in God and I’m a Christian but I think through things logically. I wouldn’t let my religious beliefs get in my way of my decision-making. When America was being born we had to think logically, are founding fathers thought of how we had to run a country and we couldn’t let religion itself run it. Thomas Jefferson believed in god but had to think of what was best for the people. I believe that man should not kill but at times in war I believe we have to put aside our beliefs for the good of the nation.
I don’t believe that all mankind is born evil, I think we are born neither but it is society that turns us evil or good.
Stephanie Dube
period. 1
If I was living in the times of a american coloniest,I would have belonged with the puritan's philosophy.I believe mankind was born with a sinful nature,beacuse Adam and Eve were told not to eat the fruit from the tree.they went against the word of God,so this is why the world is in need of redemption by God.This is why women bare children,and get "VERY MAD" once a month,and this why men work the land for there family.This is the punishment from God to mankind.This is the philosophy of a puritan in my mind.
by:Dominic Wilcoxen
If I were to have lived during the time of the American colonies I would have been more on the Puritan side of the philosophical scale. As a Christian, I have a very personal relationship with God and I agree with the Puritans when they put God above everything else. I also believe that it is only through the mercy and love of Jesus Christ that we as sinners are allowed to enter the grace of God in heaven. However, I do share, in part, the Rationalist belief that there is logic and goodness to be found in the human race, but it is nearly impossible to find when looking at the whole of human society which IS, for the most part, dominated by people who are sinners by nature and in need of the Lords guidence.
So, to tally up the score I get:
Puritan-3.5(87.5%)
Ratonalist-0.5(12.5%)
Adding up to one Puritan.
Jesse S Gitchell
Kromas
American Lit(6)
10/7/10
Jade Richards
Ms.Kromas
P.1-American Lit.
October 8, 2010
Puritans
When it comes to puritans and rationalist beliefs I go along with the puritans. The puritans believe total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace and perseverance of the saints. They also had belief in the covenant that existed between God and humanity. The reason I believe more of the puritan values is because they believe just as I that the bible is the final word and to me it really is. The Bible should be the answer to all questions and thoughts, following the rules of I will bring you salvation. The reason I don’t side with the rationalist is because they believed in just truth and reason and these two don’t always work. Using your judgment or reason won’t always get you where you need to go but with puritans beliefs you can.
Daniel Wideman
Ms. Kromas
Advanced American lit (1)
9 October 2010
Puritanical or Rational
If I were to live in the time of the American colonies I would have been a rationalist. I would want to figure out how things worked and how they were made, like I do now. I believe god gave us our curiosity to gain knowledge of the things that are in this world. Like cure’s to diseases that could have killed us without proper medical treatment. I don’t believe that all men have sinful nature. I believe what causes them to become sinful is the way they grew up with their families and other experiences they went through in life to cause them to become sinful.
If I were to live in the time of the American Colonies, I would have been a Puritan. I believe that God created us and that we should live how he wants us to live and not how we want to live. I believe that people are not perfect, and we sin every day. Sometimes we don’t know that we are living in sin, but other times we do know. I would belong to the Puritanic Philosophy because they are more about Godly things and the Rationalist are more about worldly things. On the other hand, I believe that the Puritans are a little too strict on people and want people to be perfect but no one is perfect.
-Jacqlyn Jordon
Period 1
If I lived in the old American colonies and had to choose between being a Puritan or Rationalist, the choice would be easy to make. I would choose to join the rationalist. I couldn’t see myself following everyone else around me. I myself like to live my own life without as many restraints as possible. Having some “greater power” control every little thing I do with my life and with my family just wouldn’t work for me. I believe the hole thought of a “god” is just to keep everyone hoping that someone will end up helping you with your little problems in life. Why not just see life for what it is? I see no point in “praying” to someone hoping they will fix YOUR problems. I say if you want something done, strive for it! Don’t sit around waiting for someone to come along and do it for you. The Puritan belief that everyone is born evil because of some made up story about some “nudist” eating forbidden fruit is just stupid. Babies don’t come out of the womb knowing how to sell drugs or murder someone. They have to see and learn about it. I don’t get how people can go about there lives being ruled by some book someone through together to make people feel better about the world, why not just live life as your own person?
-Zhain Amelang
Jillian Wainscott
Period 6
10-11-10
When it comes down to the big question if I would be a Rationalist or a Puritan I would have to stick to the beliefs of the Puritans. The Puritans seem to have beliefs that are very similar to what the Christians believe . Christians believe the one and only way to get to heaven and have eternal life with God is to ask for forgiveness of your sins and ask Jesus into your heart, because we are all sinners who live in a corrupt world and need the grace of God. It is not something we can earn or buy. My life and what I believe would fit more with the puritan life style rather than the rationalist.
Ramon Duran
Ms. Kromas
Ame Lit (per-6)
9 October, 2010
Puritan or Rationalist?
If I were alive in the time of the American colonies I would probably have been a rationalist. I would believe in a god but I would also use reason to some of the things that happen. I would not be able to live my whole life around just religion; you also have to use reason to why things happen. That is what some of our founding fathers were rationalist but they also believed in a god. And also the idea of all people being sinner a birth is something I do not believe in. I believe people are naturally good it’s just the environment they grow up in or the situations they are put in makes them do bad thing. Because anybody can be really nice or super evil it’s just what they decide to do. Just some of the things the puritans believed in I just don’t think I would have been able to believe in myself. But then today’s world is much different from the world during the American colonies I don’t know if I would have been influenced to be a puritan because practically everybody was puritan and religion was a big part of everyday life and in today’s world you have more education more reason to why things happen in the world. But we also do believe in a God and we tend to incorporate them together so we can understand the world more.
Rational is the way to go
If I was alive back when there were Puritans and Rationalists I would definitely be a Rationalist. Rationalists just lived a better and more fulfilling life than Puritans. They thought things out instead of just going with the flow. The way the Rationalists thought is what I respect about them the most. They tested out everything other people would say, like they wouldn’t just believe what others say. Rationalists are the reason why we are separated from Britain. And Rationalist thinking is why technology keeps on improving making the lives of the people better. BY ZAK SCHMIDT
Collin Alexander
Ms. Kromas
American lit 5
Oct 10, 2010
If I were alive during the American Revolution I would be a Rationalist. I base all my beliefs of science, in that time period the rationalists’ had the most logical, science backed religion. I believe that people are born good not evil but people can develop into something horrible. I also people should use common sense and reason through out their lives instead of relying on anything else. I also relate more to people like Benjamin Franklin instead of William Bradford.
Thalia Vicente
Ms. Kromas
Adv. American Lit. (1)
11 October 2010
Rationalist or Puritan?
I would fit under the Rationalists because the are more logical where in the other hand Puritans believe every one was born evil there were only a couple who are going to be saved which are “chosen by God”. Rationalists believe everybody was born good and not evil that everybody good is going to be saved by God. I think more logical for example if I do something good its going to be a good outcome or have a positive effect but if I do something bad its logical that its not going to be positive and its going to other people around me. Everybody in the world has a purpose in life nobody was born by a mistake. Puritans were forced to believe what they were told and it’s harsh because many were terrified because there were told they weren’t going to be saved. I wouldn’t like to be told that I’m not going to be saved when maybe its not true that I may have a better future but the wont allow it to happen. I would have been a Rationalist at that time period.
I believe that I would be a part of the Rationalist philosophy simply because of the fact that I am very open minded and that I belive in working hard for yourself and that one's future isn't already set. I don't believe that we shouldn't study things due to religion because it limits us as a human race. We could find ways to further ourselves and instead we have an almighty being that is holding us back from doing so; i do not believe that is correct. I believe that Americans are not naturally terrible in the eyes of a rationalist and that's something that I like about this side.
I would be a rationalist because to me religious beliefs do not make much sense. Most people who believe in religion believe that heathens will destroy the earth because they have no morals to guide them so they will commit sadistic acts like killing babies or that they have no reason to act kind so if people need help they will simply turn there head and walk away. They might be right about some people but to me because nothing matters then what we do does matter and to me helping people is the best thing I can do in this world. That’s why I do what I do as a rationalist.
Sam Gillette
Ms. Kromas
Advanced American Literature (5)
10 October 2010
Puritanical or Rational?
If I lived in the times of the American colonies, I would have been a Rationalist. There are a couple reasons I would be labeled under this group of people. First, I use logic as a reason for almost everything I do in life. The Puritans use religious beliefs as the main reasons for almost everything they do. I’m not saying I don’t believe in religion or that there isn’t a Supreme Higher Being, I am just saying that there is a sensible reason behind everything in the world. Also, the Puritans say that everyone is born evil and that only certain people are destined to go to heaven and the rest are going to hell. I disagree with that. I believe that everyone is born good and throughout life they make the decision to stay good and go to heaven, or to become evil and go to hell. It may be easy to believe that the world is a simple place where everything in life is set and you can’t change it, but it only makes sense that the choice of the path of life for every individual is up to his or her self.
I would definitely be a puritan because they have personally beliefs. They believe only god can structure and forgive you of your body and sins. I also believe everybody was born with sins which states in the bible in the book of Psalm. I agree with Puritanism because they also believed that personal salvation was entirely from God, that the Bible provided the indispensable guide to life, and like I said only god can forgive you for your sins. He is the creator of all people. Mostly scientists believe in rationalism because it has to do with scientific methods such as DNA, cells, etc. But I believe in the Adam and Eve story where Adam was the first man and created a woman out of a men’s womb, I believe we were hand made by god with sin and guilt such as which the puritans also believed in.
-Diamond Ponds
Madisen Jaurigue
Kromas
Adv. American Lit (5)
10-11-10
If I were to live in the time of the American colonies, I would be a Puritan. I would be a puritan because I’m a Christian and I believe that God hand created each one of us and that he has a purpose for us. Of course , I am a religious person ,because I would be a Puritan, because I believe God created us and that we have to redeem ourselves to him. I believe that everyone was born with sin in their life because no one is perfect, and for our sin to go away, we ask God for forgiveness. In my view of the American colonies, life would be better off as a Puritan, because of what I believe in.
Matthew O’Hara
Ms. Kromas
American Literature 5
10 October 2010
Puritan or Rationalist
If I lived during the colonial period I would drift toward Rationalist ideals due to the fact that I like the idea of controlling my destiny. I am also an optimist, goodness in human nature is a belief that I strongly believe in. However, many of those ideals go out the window when I see American politics. Anyways, no body wants to be told that you are naturally evil and are predestined when you’re born. Rationalists ideals were so much more appealing and had reasons to their madness. How many people respond to some of your allegations with the words prove it. That was the rationalist motto and how can you not jump on the bandwagon with Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and many other great names. I personally like proof and reasons when it comes to a touchy subject like religion which is probably why if a time machine is invented he/she will probably be assassinated; to keep sanctity to the Bible. Deist is my favored religion due to the compromise it has, there’s a powerful being and evolution best of both worlds. All in all rationalistic ideals are the more appealing, civilized and rational choice.
If I lived in American colonial times I would be more of a rationalist because I am not a religious individual. I can believe more in a supreme high being that only put things in motion then the puritan God but in full I believe that science and reasoning disproves this god in the Christian and other popular religious views of this deity and I do not believe that anyone is born evil, like a baby because how can a baby be evil if the only action its have done is birth and breathing ect. Everyone is born innocent and good in a sense at first then through action does it define you as good or evil.- Anthony Wright p.1
Sarah Hendry
Ms. Kromas
Adv. American Lit.—3
8 October 2010
Puritans and Rationalists are polar opposites. They’re like oil and water. It’s extremely difficult to be both at the same time and not contradict yourself, seeing how Puritanism and Rationalism deal with two different ways of thinking. But, if I was living in that time period, I would have to be a Rationalist.
I have always thought logically. If there is something that I can’t see or figure out, I always have to find out how it works or happens. If I can’t, then I don’t really believe it. Since I think like that, I have a scientific brain. I also believe that humanity is born good, not evil. Humans look for answers, building our knowledge of this world. In times of crisis, we help each other. Even if there are bad people in the world, there are a lot of good people, too. For these reasons, I believe I’m a Rationalist. If I called myself a Puritan, I would not be myself at all because I am too different from their beliefs.
-- Sarah Hendry, Period 3
Bryant Taylor
If I were to live in the time of American colonization, I would have undoubtedly shared the opinions of the typical Rationalist. I believe strongly that people should use logic and reason to come to conclusions. In my numerous years of schooling, one of the most important skills I have learned to practice is reasoning. I don’t need to make connections through the bible or through sermons to come to conclusions. I also believe that everyone has the power to change their destiny and there is no predestination. I see myself as a scientific individual rather than a religious centered individual, and therefore am more rationalistic.
If i lived in the time of the American colonies, i definitely would've been a Rationalist. The ideas of the Rationalist make alot more since to me, and fit in more with my beliefs about life and earth.
I am definitely more scientifically-minded, its easier to believe in something thing that has been proven, then something that is based only on faith. Science PROVES what it says, and religion goes off of what a book says. In my opinion the Rationalists point of veiw
is more reasonable then the one of the Protestants.
-matt david per 1
Cullen Sullivan
Ms. Kromas
Adv. American Lit. (1)
11 October 2010
The question for this writing is which point of view would I rather have if I was placed back when Rationalists and Puritans where around. I would honestly place myself in the category of Rationalists because my view on religion is much wider than what the narrow minded Puritans believed in. To me it seemed like the Puritans based their whole lives off of this book and not one of them could ask questions about the bible because in their practice everything is so strict. To me God does not seem like that at all in fact I believe we are not all dammed that he placed everyone on the Earth to help others and for us to learn and live a life of knowledge and just in general learning the steps to success or failure. To me the Rationalists is what you could call me today I believe in God but, I see him in a completely different way so the Puritans to me would not at all be my choice when you are on the Rationalists side you can read the bible ask questions and really form your own opinion of God once reading the bible and to understand that God wants us to learn how to build and make ourselves better and that no one is designed to be evil, its just how you take the world in. You have the choice to act on good or bad so to say everyone is good might not be something I would say like the Rationalists. Although I would say everyone has the capability to do something good in this world or the other.
Kerolos Sorial
Ms. Kromas
Period 5
October 2010
Puritan
My beliefs as a person have made it so that I would have been a Puritan back then during those times. Although I do not believe every single thing they believe our beliefs are similar in many ways. In my mind religion is believing without seeing and is based upon if you believe or not. In the early times puritans believed that god exists one hundred percent. I have come to the conclusion that I believe that same exact statement which would have made me a Puritan back then. On the contrary they also believed that god was an angry person and was not very forgiving. From what I have heard and what i believe god is very forgiving and willing to take you back from sin anytime you are ready to praise his name.
Emmanuel Rodriguez
The puritans way of thinking was that only god can choose whether you go to heaven based on the chosen ones. So basically they judge you the exact minute you are born. On the other hand the rationalist believed that the people are naturally good and can choose their own path of being good or bad. The rationalist changed the world because without them everything would be different, example the constitution would have never been thought of. Or say Malcolm X was a puritan he wouldn’t have done what he have done or even Gandhi would or been different too so I’m basically saying I would rather be a rationalist for the better of mankind
Sommer McGarry
Period 5
In the early days of our country, there were two dominate types of people. These people were the Puritans, who were based off of religion, and the Rationalists, who based their lives off of logic. If I were alive during these times, I would probably have been a Puritan. I would have been a Puritan because even in present days I consider myself to be religious, so I don't see why it would have been different back then. Also, like most people, I tend to stay with what other people are mainly doing and the Rationalists were considered a dangerous lifestyle because it was out of the norm. So based on that factor alone I would have stayed with the Puritans.
Jesse Golden P.6
If I lived back then i would be a rationalist. I would be a rationalist because i would not be able to cohere to the strict lifestyle of the puritans as God and or religion does not play a very large role in my life. A rationalist makes a lot more sense to me. Absolutely everything in the universe can be explained with science and math, and what seems to not be explained so easily is human error or simply not dicovered yet. I would think rationalist would be more popular than puritans by a long shot, both then and now.
Javier Romero
Kromas
American Lit
10/11/10
Puritanical or Rational
I believe that if I lived in the American colonies I would have been rationalist. There are many reasons that I believe that I would be rationalist and not puritanical. I would be rationalist because I am always thinking about many things.
Thinking of many things in life is what I believe makes me rationalist. I don’t really focus much on religion. I am always wanting to discover how things in this world were created. I am a person who believes in a religion, but I am mostly curios about scientifical things in life. Logic and structure is what creates a person’s personality in this world. I believe that all that reasoning and logic is what makes the person I am. Also that the world can have a god but science has been proven and shown to me enough that I believe that mainly science creates this world.
Those are the reasons why I belong in the Rationalist philosophy, because of thinking about the world and Logic in life. Reason and logic is what make up a Rationalist person.
I would definitely have been a rationalist, I have and always will look to scientific evidence and rational thought for answer. The key word is rational. It is illogical to trust in an all mighty savior and blame human beings as sinful by nature. We rule ourselves through choices and logic through an existentialist view point. Puritans were ruled by fear, where as Rationalists were ruled by thought.
-Leah Waters-Katz
Jacqui Villalobos
Kromas
Adv. American Literature(1)
10 October 2010
Puritanical or Rational?
I would say I’m more Rational because I am not centralized purely on religion. I have a more logic based view about the world, but I still do believe in the basics about religion. Im more of a scientific thinker and I just see the world as it is. I believe in god but I think of the world in a more logical way. Religion wasn’t really enforced in my house so I don’t think too much about it. I don’t centralize my life around religion, its just one of my small beliefs. I believe mankind was made with goodness in them, some just get lost during their life and make bad choices. All of this depends on the personal experiences and beliefs of people, religion just wasn’t my main focus like others. I think it just helps to think with reason rather than emotion.
Jade Scott
Ms. Kromas
Adv. American Literature
October 11, 2010
Response to Puritan/Rationalist Question
If I were alive, during the American Colonial Time Period, I would defiantly be a rationalist. The main reason is because, as an individual, I believe in science, as well as religion. I wouldn’t want to be “forced” into having to practice a religion, and having to practice a certain amount of time a day on it. I feel it’s your own decision how you want to praise your God. Another reason id be a Rationalist, is because I wouldn’t want to just be subjected to reading/ learning/ watching religious stuff. I also don’t see the need for people to not be able to be entertained by other people, or by literature. Science is needed to figure out problems, the bible cant solve every issue you may have. It also states in the bible, that God blessed us with knowledge, so we need to use our own brains as well as well as the bible. The Rationalists are science and logic-based, as well as religious. Id be a Rationalist because they have all the same qualities as a Puritan, only with the benefits of “living life“, as well.
p.s. please please please except this, I tried to do it on my phone because I wasn’t at home yet, but it didn’t send.. Now im home. Thank-you
If i was living in the time of the American colonies I would be a Puritans because they have simular believs to christans and I am cathlic. I don't believe in alot of scientifical things. I am not a strict religious person but i do belive in alot of thinks in the bilbe. I don't think people are born evil but i believe people should get baptized and be fogiven for there sins do the stoy of Adom and Eve.
Maya Wiltz per.3
Jeremiah Flores
Mrs. Kromas
Amer. Lit.
11 October 2010
Through examining myself and my beliefs I find that I am more like the rationalists. I don’t believe when we are born that we are either damned or destined. Although I do share beliefs with both puritans and the rationalists, the rationalists make more sense. I believe we shape our own pot of clay, but that God does set up opportunities for us to excel. Having a good head on your shoulders and using to help others is something I believe God looks positively on. I don’t believe when your born He decides your fate, He starts us down a path and lets us go from there.
I find it hard to choose which i would be. I am quite religious but in that age i would probably label myself as a rationalist just so i wouldnt be looked at wrong. I dont agree with all men being equal but i do believe u need to earn your way in a sense. You need to preach and let others know what you believe in and why. But i can agree with the statement about sinful nature, many of us steal, fight, etc. Just to get what we want in life. I would have to say that i would follow the puritan belief.
- Ian Peltz
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