The Rationalists

The Puritans and Rationalists were almost completely different. The Puritans believed that God controlled everything and decided everything. The Rationalists believed that there was a God but we shouldn't live in fear of him. The Rationalists believed in natural law which was that people could improve their lives through science. Puritans believed you couldn't improve your life. Rationalists believed that through science we could find most of the answers to the universe. Puritans believed that only God has the answers and it would be an insult for us to try and understand the world.



I think a good illustration of Puritan thought would be how many Christians and other religions believe that what is going on in the world today is prophecies being full filled and that the end times are coming soon. This would also be a good illustration of Rationalists thought because scientist believe that what is going on today is just due to the Earths position and pollution putting holes in our atmosphere or that its all science related.

A good example that Benjamin Franklin is a rationalists is his list of 13 virtues to achieve moral perfection. This is a good example because if he was a puritan he wouldn't believe that he could achieve moral perfection without praying to God for moral perfection but Franklin believed he could do it in a logical manner.

13 Virtues

1. Tranquility - Be calm when others are angry.
2. Respectibility - Show respect to anyone that deserves it.
3. Patience - Don't rush things and they will come.
4. Truthfulness - Be real with everyone.
5. Joy - Be happy and it will make life better.
6. Labor - Always have a job as something useful.
7. Justice - Don't commit crimes.
8. Optimism - Think of the best an not the worst.
9. Compassion - Show love to everyone even if they are different.
10. Devotion - Be dedicated to someone or something.
11. Determination - Finish what you start.
12. Humble - Be modest, don't boast.
13. Obedience - Do as your parent and elders say.

Reading summary

The book begins after the battle of Farthen Dur and everyone is helping clean up the bodies an search for any urgals left behind. Ajiahd, Murtagh and the twins were in the tunnels when they were captured. they found Ajiahad dead. The council of elders had to meet so they could choose a new leader of the varden an to make eragon swear fealty. Nasuada was chosen as the new leader. Then Eragon, Saphira, Arya, and Orik began their journey to Ellesmera (the elf city).
The story goes back to Carvahall where Eragons brother Roran is. The Ra'zac come to Carvahall to find Roran but Roran hides in The Spine before the Ra'zac are able to find him.
The story goes back to Eragon when he arrives at the Dwarf city Tarnag. When he gets their a Dwarf clan called Az Sweldn rak Anhuin see him an are outraged because he has been adopted as a Dwarf so they insult him an threaten him. Later that night the chief of the city has a big feast for Eragon.

Puritans' beliefs

The Puritans mainly believed in four things Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, and Perseverance of the "saints". Total Depravity is the concept of original sin or since Adam an Eve's sins we are all born with sin. Unconditional Election is the belief that god selects who he wants for salvation. Limited Atonement is the belief that Jesus didn't die for everyone just the chosen and that you couldn't earn Gods grace it was freely given. Perseverance of the "saints" is the belief that only those chosen by God could interpret the word of God.

The Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God video made me think the way these people lived are stupid because they believed that everyone was born with sin so then everyone is going to hell. In the video it said that everyone was born with sin so everyone is going to hell. That would mean they most likely lived in fear all their lives which is no way anyone should live. The video also said that no one could earn gods grace. I thought it also was stupid that they thought you couldn't earn Gods grace. Everyone should be able to earn Gods grace if they choose to. I think these people just believed the first thing that they were introduced to because they lived in fear of God for their entire lives. William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation made me think that that way these people lived were smarter because they were able to befriend the Indians and form a treaty with them. It was also evident that they were smart because they made the treaty so that it would mainly help them. For example that neither he nor any of his should injure or do hurt to any of their people. It doesn't say that their people cant hurt the indians. It also made me think the way these people lived were old fashion or harder than the way we live today. During thier Thanksgiving they had to fish for cod an bass an hunt for wildturkey and grow their own crops when now we just go to the store an buy the things for Thanksgiving.