"If we had more hellfire preaching in the pulpit, then we would have less hellbound people in the pew."

- Leonard Ravenhill

Fear Appeals for Good?

People have been using fear appeals really since forever. And our ancestors (cultural if not biological) were masters at it. Let's take a look at some background information on this group of people, who were so fun loving they pretty much got kicked out of England.

Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God - by Johnathan Edwards

This sermon is probably the most famous example of a "fire and brimstone" composition. Fire and Brimstone is a term that basically means - divine punishment - where Satan and other terrible people were cast, not just into hell, but specifically into a burning lake of fire and brimstone. Puritans believed that God moved the hand of the minister, so that the words weren't actually written by the person but directly by God, who moved the minister's hand. This made them irrefutably true.

What you are about to read is a excerpt - the full text of this speech takes about 6 hours to listen to when spoken aloud. Edwards was said to read the speech in an even, unemotional, almost monotone voice, which added a definite level of creepiness to this speech. On some occasions when Edwards preached this sermon, some members of the audience would burst out weeping, cry in anguish, and even faint.

Sounds awesome, right? Let's read it!

First Draft Read Directions:

Read the speech. Notice how the speech makes you feel. Think about how it would make a Puritan feel, knowing what you know about their world view. Finally, identify what you think Johnathan Edward's purpose is in writing this speech and putting his audience through listening to it. Write down your thinking on this Google Doc.

Second Draft Read Directions:

On a the same Google Doc, take three columned notes, annotating the page number, identifying the different fear based rhetorical devices that are being used, and then describing the effects of the device and how it helps support Edwards's purpose for his speech.

Theme Drawing:

After reading, you will be tasked with completing a theme drawing. Theme drawings ask you to transfer the knowledge you have about the piece into a visual representation. The theme drawing should capture the message of the piece in a visual way and consider how to represent key details and rhetorical devices visually - organizing them in such a way as they portray the theme .

Here is an example: