Jonathan Edwards Research Paper
English Department
University of Heidelberg
HS Literature: Science and Religion
Instructor: Dr. Prof. Jan Stievermann
WS 11/12
Jonathan Edwards: The Theory of Conversion and His Disposition towards Science
Angela Abram
Am Güterbahnhof 26, 69181 Leimen angeljoy89@yahoo.com English philology, semester: 5
Matriculation number: 2828314
April 9th, 2012
1. Introduction 3
2. Jonathan Edwards 4
2.1. His Life and Calling
2.2. The Conversion Experience 6
3. Edward’s Disposition towards Science 10 3.1. Science as a Way to Know God
3.2. Book of Nature vs. Book of God 13
4. Is Empiricism Important? 14
5. Jonathan Edwards: A Scientist …show more content…
Evidence and empiricism are very important in the realm of science. Science is based on experience, findings and evidence. Without empiricism science would merely be speculation and not fact. Edward’s doctrine of conversion is important as it seeks for evidence of a true born again Christian. We can say that in order to identify a true believer one has to engage in scientific methods if you will. At first glance one might even come to see a contradiction between Edwards ‘view of conversion and his ways of looking at science. On the one hand Edward’s places strong emphasis on the signs and evidence of a person that has been born again by the spirit of God. One has to closely watch and examine such a person to truly be able to tell whether he is really saved or a false convert. On the other hand Edward’s seems to not place a lot of emphasis on empiricism and evidence in nature and scientific findings. Therefore one might ask: Why does Edwards stress the importance of empiricism and evidence in the area of religion and seem to ignore it in scientific …show more content…
He can now see things he could not discern before. A born again Christian now finds himself in the will of God and they begin a new life with God as their heavenly Father (Erdt 1980, p. 25; Knutson 2011, p. 1). By drawing parallels of a blind man receiving his sight and God opening s lost person’s eyes through conversion, Edwards is not only showcasing God’s graciousness, but also his power. However, Edwards did not put a lot of emphasis on the Puritan “strict order of preparatory stages” which many preachers of the generation before Edwards stressed. Instead, in Religious Affections, he tries to describe the different changes a converted soul undergoes and how he can understand his
University of Heidelberg
HS Literature: Science and Religion
Instructor: Dr. Prof. Jan Stievermann
WS 11/12
Jonathan Edwards: The Theory of Conversion and His Disposition towards Science
Angela Abram
Am Güterbahnhof 26, 69181 Leimen angeljoy89@yahoo.com English philology, semester: 5
Matriculation number: 2828314
April 9th, 2012
1. Introduction 3
2. Jonathan Edwards 4
2.1. His Life and Calling
2.2. The Conversion Experience 6
3. Edward’s Disposition towards Science 10 3.1. Science as a Way to Know God
3.2. Book of Nature vs. Book of God 13
4. Is Empiricism Important? 14
5. Jonathan Edwards: A Scientist …show more content…
Evidence and empiricism are very important in the realm of science. Science is based on experience, findings and evidence. Without empiricism science would merely be speculation and not fact. Edward’s doctrine of conversion is important as it seeks for evidence of a true born again Christian. We can say that in order to identify a true believer one has to engage in scientific methods if you will. At first glance one might even come to see a contradiction between Edwards ‘view of conversion and his ways of looking at science. On the one hand Edward’s places strong emphasis on the signs and evidence of a person that has been born again by the spirit of God. One has to closely watch and examine such a person to truly be able to tell whether he is really saved or a false convert. On the other hand Edward’s seems to not place a lot of emphasis on empiricism and evidence in nature and scientific findings. Therefore one might ask: Why does Edwards stress the importance of empiricism and evidence in the area of religion and seem to ignore it in scientific …show more content…
He can now see things he could not discern before. A born again Christian now finds himself in the will of God and they begin a new life with God as their heavenly Father (Erdt 1980, p. 25; Knutson 2011, p. 1). By drawing parallels of a blind man receiving his sight and God opening s lost person’s eyes through conversion, Edwards is not only showcasing God’s graciousness, but also his power. However, Edwards did not put a lot of emphasis on the Puritan “strict order of preparatory stages” which many preachers of the generation before Edwards stressed. Instead, in Religious Affections, he tries to describe the different changes a converted soul undergoes and how he can understand his