Religion is a Priority

Since the origin of civilization, people have been following a religion to give them guidance, to develop spirituality, and give them a sort of identity. Many writers since have been writing about God’s significance, power, and wrath. Other than books like the Bible, many writings have served the purpose of influencing people to become more religious and reform themselves so they can achieve Heaven and avoid God’s wrath.

In Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” he wants people to realize how completely sinful they are, and God’s anger with them for being sinful.  He wants them to be aware that it is only by God's salvation that any of them can be rescued from Hell.  He makes it seem that there isn’t anything his audience can do to reach Heaven and that the Congregation deserves damnation. He uses the emotional appeal of fear to convince them of their sins and give them a “Great Awakening.” Although a majority of this piece is negative, he does give good news at the end; if people embrace God and reform themselves to be pleasing to Him, they will be saved from the punishment of eternal damnation. In short, people are inherently sinners and that God is merciful, but only chooses to save few from punishment.

Early religious writers have left a legacy for the people and a precedent for future writers. Some still follow the Puritan themes Edwards discusses in “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” and continue to be religious, and some have dissented from their religion or totally abandoned it. The variety of religions that are followed today, although conflicting on some controversial beliefs, have achieved one prevailing goal—they have made people aware of both God’s undefined wrath and mercy.