DocOC brought up a very interesting point in the middle of this, he compared the conversion experience to the college application process. And after thinking about it for a few days, it makes complete sense. In every single college essay, a person is writing a story about themselves, trying to explain what separates them and makes them unique. If their essay is "good enough" (as well as other things like grades and standardized test scores) then a person is accepted into the college. It's much the same with the Puritans conversion experience. The Puritans would tell a story, hoping it would spark something in the minds of God's Elect, in order to allow them to be "accepted" as an additional member of God's Elect.
It seems that today a majority of students I talk to have been told that it's necessary to get into the "right" or "best" college because that's what is going to make their lives easier as they get older. I think that people also seem to think that a person who graduates from Yale is much more respected than a person who graduates from a community college. This is probably very similar to what the Puritans were told, or what they saw: that the lives of people who were part of "God's Elect" were superior to those who weren't, and that they were given more social privileges, like sitting in the front pews at church. The fact of the matter is that there is more than one "right" college so one college's admissions board shouldn't determine your future, and "God's Elect" was a group of people judging another human being to determine his or her fate.
Carolyn,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. In our society, everyone is so concerned about going to the "best" colleges or else they think they will be unsuccessful in life. This is totally untrue. Everyone should go to the best college for THEM,not what is the best by everyone elses standards. There are over 3,000 colleges in the United States, and each one has its pros and cons, that as a person you need to decide between and weigh your options. To be honest, I think a degree is a degree, whether it is from Yale or Oakton Community College. Both are valid and require hard work, so why should society lessen the accomplishment of graduating from one school over another?
While I see your point, I also think that the Puritan system of "God's Elect" (and how one of these elected is more respected than one not elected) makes total sense. For the Puritans, God was the most important thing. They lived for God, and if they were not accepted by God, they were clearly less in the eyes of the society than someone who was accepted.
ReplyDeleteLooking at your college example, let's say you were a musician. You would try to get into a music school, but only the top musicians would get into the best schools. If they had more musical talent than you do, it's only fair that they get this privilege. And if music was your whole entire life, you would obviously treat an extremely talented musician with more respect, based on your beliefs.
This is so similar to the idea of highly respecting "God's Elect". If one so strongly worships God, they will respect an Elect as well.