Dr. Bernstein's Intro to John Winthrop's A Model of Christian Charity (Part 1)

[@angelacolehenry]

I found the explanation of the reasoning behind Winthrop's piece to be most useful. It is a pre-game pep talk by the coach alongside a commercial using the bandwagon approach to urge the audience to it's side. I imagine that encouraging individualism, while forming an overall sense of community was a delicate dance.

[@caitlinhunt253]

These notes are going to be very helpful with the reading of "A Model of Christian Charity." Knowing information about the writer's lifestyle and background are always helpful in understanding where their ideas are coming from and drastically help the reader understand their goal of writing. Thanks for the all of the info! :)

[@Shineslewis]

Very Informative video and history lesson about John Winthrop! For some reason I never put two and two together with the words "Protestant" and "protest". Winthrop's lay sermon to the masses to continue worship as community can be considered a reflection of modern day Sunday worship. Even though we must work out our own soul salvation and come to know God for ourselves, it is still good to come together on one accord and worship in unity.

[@jessicashobe3964]

I think is video was a great way to open and explain some of the more confusing things about the religious difference and similarity about the Protestants. I cant wait to start reading. thank you very much

[@cathryngriffith9052]

It is so cool that last fall my husband and I visited Plymouth Rock and many historic sites on Cape Cod and Boston. I knew Winthrop was the Governor but I had no idea about his writings. I find things about the origins of this country and our forefathers fascinating! Thanks!

[@ProfessorBernstein]

Derrick, You make an important point that raises all sorts of complicated issues. First, let me note that "A Model of Christian Charity" isn't an historical narrative. Rather, it was a lay sermon intended to establish a model for their lives in the new colony. As you probably noticed, Winthrop emphasizes the importance of the bonds between the Christians themselves, so they were definitely focusing on themselves and their particular community.

[@monicahinty1]

Hello Dr. Bernstein, I found your video to be very informative and thought provoking. I'm commenting regarding what you said about the need for group cooperation. A couple weeks ago, I listened to an NPR podcast about religion being evolutionarily beneficial. The commentator suggested religion actually shaped social groups to work towards cooperation and social good, while extinguishing unwanted behavior (even when the individual isn't being watched). Very interesting!

[@SoleilRoseM]

I liked the background information you gave about the puritans/protestants. It really put the literature into perspective.

[@jamessheffield4173]

Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul by John M. Barry For four hundred years, Americans have wrestled with and fought over two concepts that define the nature of the nation: the proper relation between church and state and between a free individual and the state. These debates began with the extraordinary thought and struggles of Roger Williams, who had an unparalleled understanding of the conflict between a government that justified itself by "reason of state"-i.e. national security-and its perceived "will of God" and the "ancient rights and liberties" of individuals.

[@christypardee6754]

Your videos really helped me understand the background of this story before I read it. Especially what took place do many years ago, within the different religions.

[@drsjwhitman45]

Excellent addition to my American History I college course; particularly to a class that is 90% RC...U.S. branch campus in Ecuador. Every little interpretation helps clarify unfamiliar concepts.

[@ProfessorBernstein]

+Jim Whitman - Thanks for letting me know! I'm always happy to hear how the videos are being used and what makes them helpful.

[@tymethe1st]

I have never seen so many commas used in a reading in my life. I will definitively have to review both the videos and the reading to gain a clearer understanding.

[@lawannasmith3836]

The informatioon aout John Winthrop helps understand why he wrote in this particular and it enlightens one to a better understanding of how he think and his opinion about God. It also provides one with information a little history on how this where and definitely on puritians.

[@dgmisal1979]

Interesting video... nice use of secondary sources (Harry Stout, for example). One of my intro class students (I teach in the American Studies department at my university) brought this up in class when we were reading MoCC today. This student found your video quite helpful in contextualizing the sermon, and thought it would be nice to share it with the class. After watching, I hope that they come check it out, too.I might just do one of these contextual pieces for Samuel Danforth's election day sermon (Errand into the Wilderness sermon, the one on which Perry Miller based his famous essay).

[@SlabCityTelevision]

9 years later....thanks for the video...im working on a research paper

[@dottyday1]

As always love the videos! Looking forward to the reading as it sounds interesting and thought provoking.

[@ProfessorBernstein]

You might also want to check out the work of John Eliot and Roger Williams who learned Native American languages and were in greater relation with the Native Americans. In many anthologies (like the Norton Anthology), there are Native American creation stories that might also interest you.

[@asrr66]

Prof Bernstein, Is it true that John Winthrop proclaimed "thanksgiving day" in 1637 after the massacre of Pequot Indians?

[@ysteintovsland3008]

This is a great into video! Really got me started on Winthrop. Like you said, there is much to say about him. (The city upon a hill myth, his use of lawyer lingo in his speech aso.) but then we'd be here for hours. 😊👍

[@BrandMath-ns5yc]

This is a great video, I have to read this piece for my "American Political Thought" paper. I will most definitely cite your videos as a source in my references page.

[@ProfessorBernstein]

+Brand.Math - I'm glad you found it useful! Good luck with your essay. :)

[@ProfessorBernstein]

Thanks so much for posting a comment. Were you listening to Krista Tippett's "On Being"? I'd love to listen to the podcast and refer to it in my classes!

[@mariahgaitan8700]

A very helpful resource for my political science end of term essay!!! :)

[@monicahinty1]

It was actually produced by NPR's All Things Considered. I tried a couple times to post the link for you, but a message error keeps popping up. If you Google "Is believing in God evolutionarily advantageous", it should be the first link!

[@tommybrownlee2920]

I thought the video was very helpful thanks, it should make the reading easier. Will help us get more ot of therading I think.

[@nurulmaru]

I am sorry, folks!! But the teacher is really a beautiful woman. Intelligence and Cultura enhances her charm even more. 😊✌️

[@aleph5411]

What the Puritans were trying to purify was the Roman Catholic aspects in the Anglican Church. They were absolutely not trying to purify an individual's relation to God. The Puritans were radical Calvinists, and they believed in the utter and total depravity of man. And they included themselves as totally depraved. The only hope a Puritan had was the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

[@9786oof]

They didn't even have that hope bc they believed grace was predetermined and that nothing you did on this earth mattered

[@mrsmilyface3779]

He's related to me so of course he's a Christan

[@243STREET]

jk

[@9786oof]

My prof had us read this and then he told us who puritans were and that was it. He's the worst.

[@ProfessorBernstein]

+Audrey Lukas - Well, that's not a very inspiring way of teaching! So you decided to do some of your own research? That's a good thing. :-)