Dr. Bernstein's Intro to John Winthrop's A Model of Christian Charity (Part 2)

[@beingrandomisawesome]

These two videos gave me such a clear insight on the background about the sermon. I can't wait to read the sermon. Very informative video

[@Shineslewis]

I gave myself mental "high fives"while reading your feed back responses to the correct answers on our quiz! Winthrop was a great persuasive writer. He played on the spirituality of the Puritans to achieve true altruistic behavior in order to get them to transition from individualism to holistic collectivism. We are to model ourselves after Christ and set ourselves as examples. The wrath of God is definitely a reinforcement to motivate the colonists to follow the model of Christian charity.

[@lawannasmith3836]

The video gave highlights and an outline of key points about the reading of John Winthrop.

[@mharrisgoodwin]

The videos helped me understand Winthrop's writing a lot more clearly than if I had read it without watching the videos first. This type of writing is sometimes harder to comprehend but with your introduction and overview of the piece, it was much easier to read. If I had read it without watching your videos, it would have taken me a lot longer to identify all of the ways that Winthrop supports his argument.

[@243STREET]

The introductory videos were very helpful to me as I read John Winthrop's "A Model of Christian Charity". I wrote down the five questions on a sheet of paper and referred to them as I read Winthrop's lay sermon. Without having viewed the videos before reading the text, I probably would have become lost in the biblical quotes and missed the main themes. Winthrop says "love is the bond of perfection", and sounds almost like a drill sergeant trying to hammer a group of individuals into a team.

[@pdlowder]

The video gave me a historical point of reference. It reminded me that the people who came to set up this community were not originally from one group, but from many groups and backgrounds. I believe that Winthrop was a masterful "community organizer" and understood the power in the religious trappings that could bind these people together and cause them to behave in a way that would increase the likelihood of success. The videos help set up a clearer understanding of the imagery as I read.

[@mindyparish6214]

This video helped me not only before I read the material but also while reading the material. It made the material easier to understand or put together, rather than me having to look up certain parts of the passage to understand. I feel that this video did a great job of going deeper into the meaning of the passages, which helped me, because I would have not read as much into the material if I had not watched the video before hand.

[@Rygoodvibes]

The introduction videos really helped me to understand the deeper meaning that Winthrop was leaning to create in the sermon. Without the background, I believe I would have been more likely to skim over the text and not break down each part, and look for the specific details that have made this work last throughout time. I believe it was the videos that allowed me to really enjoy this reading. Looking forward to the rest of the semester.

[@pickelsimer70]

The first helped me prepare for reading the sermon. Both of the videos made, “A Model of Christian Charity” something I wanted to read. I felt the videos gave me inside information about John Winthrop, the Puritans and the sermon from John Winthrop. If I had not watched the videos before reading, I think I would have been confused.

[@dgmisal1979]

An interesting point to consider is the relationship between commonwealth theory (being discussed extensively in England at this point) and this sermon. The communitarian basis upon which Winthrop wants the Bay to be founded is as far from modern American society (and even the later colonial/Revolutionary period) as it could possibly be. Bruce Barton's "The Man Nobody Knows" makes a great companion piece to read with this text if you are interested in changes in the economic philosophy of American Protestantism. It's fascinating to look at the areas upon which Winthrop and Barton would agree, and the areas that they would find contentious.

[@caitlinhunt253]

Awesome Awesome video!I love having an overview of the text before reading it so I know what to look for while reading. I am about to pick up the book and get started and I am excited to see how his model persuades the community to become one! Im also very excited about checking out your website for the in depth analysis and will most definitely use the study guide before the quiz!

[@christypardee6754]

I was able to concentrate on the key points within the story after watching your videos. Thank you.

[@muphin73]

It was most helpful to me to have this first reading sort of "summed up". I think it may be from having a bible thumper of a grandmother, but when I have to read or hear about anything religious, my brain goes numb. So it was good to have an idea of what this reading was about and what to really pay attention to before I got into it.

[@TheSaraBlain]

As often as I've heard the phrase "city on a hill" I never really understood its implications to Americans. I always knew it originated from the Bible and understood it within that context; however, applying this idea to our own American history really helps me understand how influential Winthrop's "A Model of Christian Charity" was and is to our attitudes about our country.

[@cpayne3000]

It was interesting to understand how the community had to come together.

[@EF4437]

Thank you for filming this wonderful video. It helps me a lot when I read the tests.👨‍❤️‍💋‍👨

[@ProfessorBernstein]

+Fang Yu Wu Thank you! :-))))

[@claytonscoble4271]

This is fascinating. Great videos - thank you! I have always heard the references to the "city upon a hill" as intended to bolster the concept of American exceptionalism - chosen, unique, special, even EXEMPT - but have just read the actual text for the first time, and I get no sense of that! It simply seems to me to be a threat. eg: that the colonists will be held to account should they fail to live up to God's expectations. Was it really Winthrop's intent to imbue the colonists with a "special" quality, or did he just want to give them more motivation (in the form of fear) in order to better the chances of the survival of the colony? Leave it to Americans to bend the meaning to suit our vanity!

[@ProfessorBernstein]

Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback! It is really interesting to finally see the full context in which that phrase/concept appears. It seems to me that Winthrop's rhetorical work to make them feel special was part of how he motivated them.

[@hilibofas]

Loved the information on this video. Great information the I will use when I take my quiz!

[@bloodspilla55]

Love the video Professor, thank you!

[@bobtatro6853]

I thought "City on the Hill" might be a reference to Augustines book City of God?

[@dgmisal1979]

+Bob Tatro Actually referring to Matthew 5:14

[@farazlotfi1991]

Who else here for homework.. @Ms. Lashley's 11th grade Lit class

[@243STREET]

post

[@fijiluke8533]

Mega-boring.