Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia makes a bold effort at challenged the previous accepted notions of difference in the races as purely nature caused, or genetic, and forces his peers to face their own ideas of difference between races, and how much accuracy their is behind their previous theories that had been accepted as social norms and scientific facts. It is interesting to think of Jefferson's audience, the British elite, and how they would receive his notes about the North American colonies. His audience probably thought that his new theories were some what audacious. Jefferson believes that the Indians the the Europeans are different only because of the environment in which they live. He claims that the Indians would be just as thriving of a race as the whites had they the same opportunities that were granted to the white people. This probably caused much controversiy among his peers.
His notes make strong suggestions that question his societies ideals of superiorty and inequality among races. Jefferson offers advising for how to help the Indian's "better" their lives. I find it fascinating that he thinks that the natives need to better their lives. He fails to note the well organized and civilized societies that the natives already have in place, although they are different from the European life.

Week of Jan 15-Jan 19 2007

Jonathan Edwards's A Devine and Supernatural Light focuses on the signs one should look for to tell if they are truly a saint of God and are touched by God's graceful light. Edwards hopes to reiterate that not all "lights" are those of the Holy Spirit, rather, at times men are just are being touched by their own conscious, or that the light of the Holy Spirt works with the more human conscious and nature to influence individuals that are not saints.
It is interesting to note that Edwards moves away from a more philosophical arguement that most ministers of his era would have used, but instead, he hopes to create a more concrete argument with strong evidence, almost in the same manner of a scientist. He forces his patrons to fully examine every aspect of their daily lives, and question whether or not those moments of guilt or a sense of enlightenment were signs from God, or just our conscious and laws of nature getting involved. According to Edwards, all thoughts, feelings, and ideas flow from God through nature and our consciousness, but only those truly blessed have a direct relationship and connection to the Creator.

English 122

Hey everyone! I'm Heather and I am a junior from Greenville, NC. I am a psychology major. I love english classes and reading literature. I am excited about this course