Jonathan Edwards Research Paper

Lesson Plans for Morality
In a math class, the students taught by proofing concepts might get the same grade on a test as students taught by rote memorization, however, the students taught by proofs will understand the information longer and more profoundly. During the eighteenth century, various attempts at morally reforming the people of the Americas were undertaken in drastically different ways. Preachers took the avenue of religion, while academics used the philosophies and logic of the enlightenment to teach people. Preachers often only cared that their followers were sin-free, while philosophers wanted their audience to come to a self-realization of their moral code. Jonathan Edwards, an austere pastor, and Benjamin Franklin, a Renaissance
Jonathan Edwards uses fear as a tactic to force his people to comply to the will of God. He uses threatening imagery like, “There is the dreadful Pit of the glowing Flames of the Wrath of God; there is Hell’s wide gaping Mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon” (Edwards 12). This makes his listeners feel like they had no choice. Edwards is okay with doing anything necessary in order to convert his followers. Because of this, the people receiving Edwards’ sermons might convert, but it would not be because they found a new goodness within themselves. They might put on an appearance of piety, but in reality it’s just a mask of who they really are. Immoral humans don’t just become moral people because of one sermon. If the threat of Hell were removed, Edwards’ audience would have no reason to continue their devotion. This is where Franklin diverges. He is in no way threatening in his teaching. Nowhere does he state an obligation to follow any of the rules he teaches. He presents the benefits of his method and makes his audience realize morality for themselves. Franklin’s only intentions are clear: “I wish'd to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into” (Franklin 146). Franklin wants to be moral for himself, not for fear of going to hell, but to strive to be a better person. People that followed Franklin may not immediately appear to be the perfect human being, but in the long term they will be more internally motivated to be better people than Edwards’