Benjamin Franklin was a smarty pants.

I think Benjamin Franklin's plan to arrive at moral perfection is a good example of why he was a good rationalist. Not only was his method of doing this very reasonable, it also had nothing to do with God. A Puritan would not have thought he could reach moral perfection because of the concept of original sin. It would most likely be considered blasphemous in Puritan culture to try and achieve moral perfection; only God is perfect. Benjamin Franklin, though, thinks he can attain perfection all by himself, with a well thought out plan. "It was about this time that I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wished to live without committing any fault at any time ..." He goes on to explain his method of doing this, "My intention being to acquire the habitude of all these virtues, I judged it would be well not to distract my attention by attempting the whole at once, but to fix it on one of them at a time, and when I should be master of that , then to proceed to another..." It's all very reasonable, except I don't think anybody can ever be truly faultless. everybody screws up. We're all flawed. I admire Mr. Franklin for trying though.

So if I just do all this stuff I'll be perfect?

1. Patience - Understanding that waiting for something is not the end of the world.
2. Moderation - Taking nothing to the point of excess.
3 Silence - Knowing when saying nothing says more.
4. Awareness - Knowing the situation that surrounds me.
5. Humbleness - Being modest and never boastful.
6. Caution - Thinking things through and understanding when something is a bad idea.
7. Obedience - Being willing to follow the direction and advice of others.
8. Honesty - Telling the truth and being sincere in my actions.
9. Discretion - Keeping things secret, being mindful of my speech.
10. Trust - Allowing others into my life without doubting them.
11. Spontaneity - Being able to act without, or outside of, plans.
12. Toughness - Being strong and resilient.
13. Sensitivity - Noticing those around me and how my actions may effect their emotions and well being.

Puritans! ...versus... Rationalists!

I think the biggest difference between the Puritans the the Rationalists is science. Puritans believed that God made the universe and we should just be happy with his handy work the way it is and leave well enough alone. While on the other hand, Rationalists strove to find out why things were the way they were. Science was the main tool Rationalists used to figure things out, there is pretty much no other use for science - it explains things. Puritans didn't believe in figuring things out, so they had no use for science and were actually against the use of it.
Examples of this same conflict can be found in many places today. Reason versus religion is a battle I believe could be fought for many years to come. Whether it's evolution, stem cell research, or just how far science should go and how much it should effect our lives; reason and science will always be up against religious standards. In many ways puritan ideas are still in place in the U.S. today, there is a ban on the sale of alcohol on Sundays in a number of states and the law against same sex marriage. I think rationalism has had a stronger impact on the world today though. The fact that I'm here at school, where science classes are mandatory to graduate, is proof of that. Our nation was founded by men of reason, and I think that the spirit of rationalism still has a heavy influence on us now.

Puritans, Puritans, Puritans...

In my opinion, the Puritans were pretty intense people. According to their beliefs, you're born a sinner, you will always be a sinner, God hates you quite a lot, and no matter what you do, you still might burn in hell. Puritans believed in God's unending and undeniable grace, but then that Jesus only died for a precious few. It almost seems more like God's grace is not something He wants to give us, but something He has to give us whether he wants to or not. The only word that I think describes the Puritan's outlook on life is bleak

The concept of original sin has always been interesting to me. Why should we all be blamed for something that Adam and Eve did at the dawn of time? It doesn't seem fair that everyone should suffer for the wrongs of two people who lived so long ago. It’s sad to think that sweet little babies are born tainted by sin and that they will eventually befall to their sin nature. Puritans did believe that you could fight your sin nature, but that you would most likely backslide and give into temptation at some point.

I always find so much of Puritan belief to be contradictory. They believe in God's undeniable grace, but also that He is just waiting around the corner to smite the heck out of them. Also, they believe that Jesus only died for the sins of some, and that only a precious few will be saved; this does not speak of grace to me. I can't imagine worshiping a God that hates me, is disgusted by me, and who might not even save my soul from eternal damnation and hell fire. If you're born a sinner, there's nothing you can do to make yourself pure, and all the do gooding and pleading in the world won't guarantee your salvation, than what's the point?! Puritan belief seems very hopeless to me, and also very, very oppressive.

I have a feeling that these people lived in intense fear. If I went to church every Sunday and heard things like Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, I would be terrified. In Jonathan Edward’s sermon he mentions that God is responsible for the torments of hell: “They are now the objects of that very same anger and wrath of God that is expressed in the torments of hell.” I was always taught that the devil was the mastermind behind hell, so I wonder if Edwards was intentionally trying to scare his congregation. So much of this sermon makes me wonder what Edwards’ intent behind this sermon was. He obviously meant it to be scary, but for what purpose? Was he trying to scare his church into submission, or was he simply attempting to be a good pastor and lead them away from wickedness? He warns them, “The devil stands ready to fall upon them and seize them as his own…” “The devils watch them; they are ever by them, at their right hand; they stand waiting for them, like greedy hungry lions that see their prey, and expect to have it…” but he also says some things that are just plain terrifying, “God has so many different unsearchable ways of taking wicked men out of the world and sending ‘em to hell…” and “God has laid himself under no obligation by any promise to keep any natural man out of hell one moment.” From my understanding the Puritans lived very simple lives adorned by nothing and pleasure was thought to be sinful. So having sheltered themselves from flowery writing, the images these sermons induced would be all the more alarming. The other Puritan literary works like Of Plymouth Plantation are very mundane and boring, but these sermons are full of imagery, and not all of it is pleasant.

The Puritan belief that I think is most heavily exemplified in Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God is total depravity. Jonathan Edwards opens the sermon with the verse "Their foot shall slide in due time." Deuteronomy 32:35, he goes on to explain that this verse is about how even God's chosen people are wicked. No one is free from sin, so, Total Depravity. The second Puritan belief that I think is exemplified perseverance of the "saints". The whole sermon is Edwards' interpretation of the verses he chose to preach. His words were rule in the Puritan belief, no matter whether they were accurate or not. The things he says in Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God seem over the top, I think he took things too far, but in those days, he could almost do whatever he wanted.