English Final Draft
9-24-00
Although
our country’s values have obviously changed a great deal since it was founded,
many of the original American ideals originated from the Bible, especially the
idea that America was the new Holy Land. Such religious values are exemplified
in many of the documents written in the mid-17th century, especially
John Winthrop’s “A Model of Christian Charity.” In his sermon, John Winthrop
preaches religious values that then come to form American ideals, ideals that
make up the “American Dream”- the belief that America has been chosen by God to
be the new promise land, a land full of opportunity and prosperity.
Winthrop begins his sermon by addressing the idea that all men are predestined by God to be of different classes, however, he states that all men, no matter the class, are dependant on each other. He preaches that although not all men are in the same position, each has an obligation to be charitable, and to be united in brotherly love. “From hence it appears plainly that no man is made more honorable than another or more wealthy, etc., out of any particular and singular respect to himself, but for the glory of his creator and the common good of the creature, man.” Winthrop is saying that God has a reason behind everything and that his will is for the good of mankind. This idea exemplifies the early American ideal that everything is predetermined by God. Because of their strong belief in predestination, people believed that America was truly chosen by God to be a model of Christianity throughout the world.
“For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us, so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause him to withdraw His present help from us.”
Winthrop
suggests that God has blessed the people by giving them this country and in
return, the people are obligated to spread Christian beliefs. “Thus stands the
cause between God and us. We are entered into covenant with Him for this work.”
The idea of a covenant between God and the people refers to the covenant
described in the Bible, where God promises a Holy Land to the people. The idea
of America as a city on a hill is indicative of American values, as our country
has always felt the need to set a strong example for the rest of the world. The
idea of our country as a promise land represents the idea of the “American
Dream,” as America has always been regarded as a land of opportunity, where
people have the ability to succeed in their pursuit of happiness.
Winthrop’s description of
the ways in which Americans must be “the model of Christian charity,” in order
to uphold their covenant with God are very indicative of American ideals.
Making references to the Bible, Winthrop states that every person that each
must love his or her neighbor, as the unification of the people is necessary in
order to succeed. “That every man might have need of other, and from hence they
might be all knit more nearly together in the bonds of brotherly affection.”
This quote stresses the American value that every citizen is unified in a love
for each other as well as a love for the country. Winthrop explains that not
only do the poor depend on the rich, but that the rich depend on the poor as
well, a large part of American culture. Winthrop also says “There are two rules
whereby we are to walk towards each other: justice and mercy.” Here he is
joining justice, a strong American ideal that also relates to democracy and liberty,
with mercy, which the Bible stresses as a strong religious value. It becomes
clear throughout Winthrop’s sermon that many American ideals were originated
from the Bible and that our country is built upon a very religious foundation.
Further proof of America’s
religious basis is found in Winthrop’s parallelism to the Bible. The idea of a
city on a hill produces the image of Winthrop looking out over America, the new
promise land; here the Biblical imagery reflects Moses looking out over the
Holy Land. Winthrop also says that if the people are selfish, and do not help
to promote the Christian faith, the Lord “will surely break out in wrath
against us; be revenged of such a perjured people and make us know the price of
the breach of such a covenant.” This too reflects the Biblical tale of Moses in
which the people are punished by God and as a result, do not receive their Holy
Land.
Religious values are still evident in present American culture as well. Although America is now formed by many different religions, the nation’s motto is still “In God We Trust.” Winthrop’s sermon is just one of the many documents that is indicative of both American and religious values. Although the same values that presided at the time do not necessarily apply in present day, they were the basis for many of today’s American ideals.