John Winthorp - Assertion Analysis #8
The Puritan religion was one that allowed no such thing as freedom of your own thoughts. Puritans were extremely strict and often used fear tactics regarding sin and Satan to keep their followers on the path they believed was right. To be a Puritan meant you could make no mistakes and must be seen as, of course pure, and perfect. John Winthrop was an English Puritan Lawyer whom expressed and established his view on Puritanism in his statement, "City Upon a Hill".
John Winthorp explains how Puritans are viewed in his statement. He shows concern for the way Puritans will be perceived in the new land they've acquired if they all don't act properly and follow their religion to perfection. He places Puritanism on a pedestal using a Biblical Allusion , interpreting Puritanism to a City Upon a Hill. In the statement he says "We shall be as a City Upon a Hill, the eyes of all people are upon us" he uses that as a way to say that all eyes are on them and every move they make is constantly being watched, which allows judgment, and in order to prevent that they'd have to be impeccable. Winthorp also made his point in one very long sentence, not giving the reader or listener time to process or think about the information they just received. He uses the appeal to fear when he explains what will happen if the Puritans fail to be perceived as a perfect community. He implies that if they commit a faux pas everyone will immediately curse them, and doubt not only them but their God.
The tactic of fear that John Winthorp used ,in the 17th century, in his "City Upon a Hill" statement has unfortunately become a common concept in the modern world. Individuals whom are stubborn to become leaders resort to inflicting fear upon the general population in order for them to stay in their believed right path, or simply to get some type of agreement from the people or for the people to feel some sense of safety by putting that one individual in power. They provide solutions to the same fear they imposed upon the people so they earn trust. Sadly it is a tactic that has proved to still be successful as time has passed.
John Winthorp explains how Puritans are viewed in his statement. He shows concern for the way Puritans will be perceived in the new land they've acquired if they all don't act properly and follow their religion to perfection. He places Puritanism on a pedestal using a Biblical Allusion , interpreting Puritanism to a City Upon a Hill. In the statement he says "We shall be as a City Upon a Hill, the eyes of all people are upon us" he uses that as a way to say that all eyes are on them and every move they make is constantly being watched, which allows judgment, and in order to prevent that they'd have to be impeccable. Winthorp also made his point in one very long sentence, not giving the reader or listener time to process or think about the information they just received. He uses the appeal to fear when he explains what will happen if the Puritans fail to be perceived as a perfect community. He implies that if they commit a faux pas everyone will immediately curse them, and doubt not only them but their God.
The tactic of fear that John Winthorp used ,in the 17th century, in his "City Upon a Hill" statement has unfortunately become a common concept in the modern world. Individuals whom are stubborn to become leaders resort to inflicting fear upon the general population in order for them to stay in their believed right path, or simply to get some type of agreement from the people or for the people to feel some sense of safety by putting that one individual in power. They provide solutions to the same fear they imposed upon the people so they earn trust. Sadly it is a tactic that has proved to still be successful as time has passed.
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