The Methods of Thomas Paine and Jonathan Edwards: Searching for a Spiritual Connection

Jonathan Edwards and Thomas Paine may seem, on the surface, to be completely unlike, but each pursued the same goal. Jonathan Edwards was the most famous of the early Revivalist preachers, shouting fire and brimstone to his rapt congregations. Thomas Paine, on the other hand, wrote in an almost philosophical style, convincing readers through logic. Both men desired that human beings would learn to have true belief, based on internal knowledge and revelation.

Jonathan Edwards attempted, in his Great Awakening speeches, to reconvert his congregation. He intended to convince people that it is necessary to not only understand religious ideals, but to be moved by them. It was not enough, in Edwards' eyes, to blindly follow the Christian doctrine. One must experience a fervent delight at God's sovereignty, in order to fully understand it.

One way in which Edwards attempted to change the belief of his congregation was to show them that their existence is entirely in the hands of God. Human beings are largely concerned with their own happiness and well-being, and do not consider the precarious position they are in, claimed Edwards. He intended to show his congregation the extremity of that position, and to frighten them into true belief, so that they would live their lives in a better fashion.

Edwards' work is filled with Biblical allusions, as would be expected. However, it is also riddled with complex language and concrete descriptions. It is these descriptions that remain the most moving part of the work. For example, Edwards says that "God holds you over the pit of Hell, much as one holds a spider or some loathsome insect over the fire." ( AL, p504) This is an extremely vivid image.