“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards

1. What was your first reaction to this sermon?

2. In your opinion, is this a reasonable way to approach God and religion?

Why or why not?

3. Why do you suppose a sermon like this made “converts” (born-again believers) of people
during the Great Awakening?
He scared people, and they believed him because many of them could not even read, and he
spoke many languages, knew the Bible thoroughly, etc. So when he said they had to
convert, they trusted His word!

Read the following information on propaganda, which is a biased form of writing or speaking
intended to persuade.

Common Propaganda Techniques

 Band Wagon: “Everybody is doing it, so why don’t you get with it and join the crowd?” Example: “Eight
out of ten doctors prescribe TRANQUILITY as the best medicine to calm your nerves.”

 Expertise of the Speaker: This technique is often used in political endorsements. Example: A politician
leaving a long-held elected office and not running again for that office endorses one of the candidates now
competing for the seat; voters are likely to trust the judgment of the person they had elected numerous
times in the past. Or, someone with an impressive array of medical degrees and qualifications advertises a
particular medication.

 Card Stacking: In this approach the cards are “stacked” in favor of a candidate or in opposition to an
opponent or a suggested proposal. The facts and figures presented are those that support or deride a
candidate or a proposal. Example: A table of figures is displayed that enumerates all the “yes” votes a
congressman made that are in accord with his audience’s point of view. No other votes are tabulated in the
table—that is, votes that his listeners might not appreciate.

 Appeals to Emotion: This technique may be used to create feelings of fear or guilt in the audience.
Example: On an episode of The Simpsons, Homer is watching Public Television. A fundraiser for the
station comes on and says that anyone who is watching and doesn’t make a contribution to the station is
 stealing from it and will cause its ruination. Or, a company selling alarm systems pictures a family being
held at gunpoint while their home is ransacked, all because they didn’t have such a system installed.

 Name Calling: A label that is not complimentary is used to influence others to dislike a person or
organization. Examples: “Nit Wit,” “Snob,” and “Big Shot.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

4. What devices or techniques (bandwagon, appeals to emotion, etc.) did Edwards use to convince
people? Give specific examples from the sermon.

He uses Appeals to Emotion when he appeals to people’s fear of the unknown (the afterlife).
He uses Bandwagoning: everybody’s converting — don’t be left behind while so many
other people are being saved from Hell! People who were JUST LIKE the people in the
audience who have either died unconverted and gone to Hell or who did convert and are
now in a state of grace. He uses Name Calling saying they are sinners and like loathsome
insects.

Where may we see these techniques/devices used today?

Advertising (don’t be the only person to miss out on this great sale price!), many times in
politics, also sometimes religion.

Are they still effective? Why or why not?

Yes, because people do want to “keep up with the Joneses.” The appeal to fear in not as
effective because of the scientific knowledge we have today.