Brittany Ulman

Prof. Linares
ENG 345.1
December 12, 2014
Edwards and Paine: The Correlation
Throughout the examination of opposing literature, there has always been numerous
underlying questions concerning the author, topic, theme, and meaning of each piece. One of
those points has been the head of many deliberations, and that would be the idea of the author.
In countless debates over literature, it is often asked what two different authors would discuss if
they were to be placed in a room together. Now even though this would be physically impossible
to do with the writers included in The Heath Anthology of American Literature, it is still
interesting to think about this concept. Because many of these authors do not have coinciding
opinions, it seems fairly plausible they would hold a rather compelling debate. In particular, a
discussion between Jonathan Edwards and Thomas Paine would definitely have stirred up some
emotions and core beliefs. With one man being an extreme supporter of religion and its position
in education, while the other being a vehement sponsor for the separation of church and state, a
rather thought-provoking debate would have been brought about.
Addressing subjects that have been frequently mentioned in the literature for this course,
the two main issues that have been talked about are those of religion and education. The
majority of early American writers held a strong belief in some form of religion. Whether it was
the Native Americans belief of several gods or the Puritans idea of one God, religion was a
widely addressed topic for the early writers. However, the most common belief went along with
the Puritans concept of Protestantism. Because of their views, the Puritans believed religion

should be taught to all children; some even questioned whether that should be the only thing
taught in schools. It was central to the idea of Puritanism that religion be an integral part of the
furthering of childrens education. Since these two concepts are such contradictions, it would
only seem possible that there would be some stipulation as to what is actually correct. Now as
time progressed, more people began to wonder if religion and education should be separate.
Others were also questioning the foundations of Christianity and delving deeper into individual
faiths. No longer were Christians so readily to accept everything as Gods work or purpose, but
as the workings of the universe and their own personal decisions. Some of the early writers such
as Anne Bradstreet began to do just that, and examine whether religion should be such an
integral part of everyday life.
Since we encountered more of this change of ideals towards the end of the semester when
we read works from the eighteenth century, it was more evident that there was a slight change
happening amongst the people of the new world. Religion was no longer the absolute center
of everyday life, and the Enlightenment began to bring about more scientific approaches. And
because this change was indeed happening, a debate was beginning to come to lightwhether
education and religion should be one. Two people with opposing viewpoints on the ideas of
religion and education and their connection to one another, Jonathan Edwards and Thomas Paine
would have had a rather thought-provoking discussion concerning the subjects. With Edwards
being a Puritan preacher of Calvinism and Paine being a Newtonian political activist, it is most
likely neither man would have agreed with the other on much of anything when it came to
religion and its integration into education.
On the one hand, Jonathan Edwards believed the worlds magnificence was the result of
Gods handiwork; The immense magnificence of the visible world, its inconceivable vastness,

the incomprehensible height of the heavens, etc. is but a type of the infinite magnificence, height
and glory of Gods work in the spiritual world (Images of Divine Things 704). To
Edwards, there was only one explanation for the worlds creation. On the other hand, Thomas
Paine agreed with the Newtonian understanding of natural laws, harmony, and order being the
central rulers of the planet (Harris 1045). So to begin the debate, neither man would have agreed
with the other on the subject of how this world works. Edwards would have consistently
argued that there is no other adequate justification that any one besides God is responsible for
Earths existence. By using Bible verses to support his reasoning, Edwards would have most
likely referred back to the book of Genesis to defer Paines side of the argument. And in
response to these rebuttals, Paine would have refuted with one of the concepts he wrote about in
The Age of Reason, I have a right to believe them or not to support the idea of a
persons free will (1061). Because one can believe whatever he/she so desires, Paine would have
simply stated that he could believe whatever he wanted no matter what Edwards forced upon
him. Paine indeed did believe a supreme being had created this world, but he did not see that
being as controlling it. In his mind, the world was governed by what Sir Isaac Newton illustrated
through reasoning.
The two authors would have also differed on the opinion of whether an individual should
even know God or if he/she would even want to know God. Edwards believed that a believers
main goal should be to go to Heaven, and the path to that ultimate goal would be to do
everything good and pure (Sinners 734). But if one did not acknowledge individual sin and
accept Jesus, that person would have to face the wrath of God in the end. Because Edwards said
it is by the will of God that each person is alive, he understood that humans would be nowhere
without God (724). In contradiction, Paine questioned whether knowing God was actually

important or if anyone would want to know God. He even went on to speculate the Bibles
sincerity and genuineness, In fine, do we want to know what God is? Search not the book
called the scripture, which any human hand might make, but the scripture called the Creation
(The Age of Reason 1064). Even though Paine did believe in a Creator, he did not hold the
same opinion as Edwards in the fact that God is ultimately in control of what happens in the
world. Both men held strong opinions that support each side of the debate, and neither one
would be likely to budge in their viewpoints.
Therefore, since Edwards was so adamant towards everyone coming to Christ and Paines
ideas were more centered on a world run by reason, it would only seem plausible that neither
man would have agreed on the subject of religion being a vital part in education. Because it was
common Puritan practice to instill a strong sense of Protestantism into education, texts such as
The New England Primer and The Bay Psalm Book came about to help children learn. Puritan
children were taught their alphabet through The New England Primer, In Adams Fall/We
Sinned all. Thy Life to Mend/This Book Attend. The Cat doth play/and after slay (477).
Literature like this was used as a warning device to all children to show them what would happen
if they sinned or did not accept Jesus. Due to the fact that Edwards was a strict Puritan preacher,
he would have been a strong advocate for including religion in education due to the fact that it
taught children the consequences of going against God. In his sermon Sinners in the Hands of
an Angry God, Edwards warned all of those who had not yet converted and were still chronic
sinners. Because it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that hold you up, the world
would not exist and humans would be in the pits of hell without God (728).
In contrast, Paines questioning of wanting to know God and stating he has a right to believe or
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