Arizona State University W11 Christian Family Discipline Today Discussion

In class this week, we will explore the denominational and theological changes that emerged from the First Great Awakening. In Packback, you will explore areas of American life today where Puritan social and political values and practices are still present.

1. Choose one of the topics below and study the source(s) the hyperlink shows you.

• Value of authoritarian leadership
• Christian family discipline
• Prosperity Gospel

2. Present a question that explores the following:

• Which aspect or aspects of Puritan culture are at work here?
• How is today’s version similar to what McLoughlin describes from the 17th century? -What is consistent from the past?
• How is today’s version different from what McLoughlin describes from the 17th century? -Do these differences seem to reflect changes from the First Great Awakening or possible later movements are present in today’s version?

3. Remember to use citations in your discussion, especially of you choose to write about more than one source.

4. Remember to respond to two of your classmates’ questions.

Source: https://www.google.com/search?q=Is+the+Puritan+religio-culture+still+present+today%3F&client=firefox-b-1-d&hl=en&biw=1536&bih=711&ei=PIY3YtaGBcaekPIPuKWqoAM&ved=0ahUKEwjWlIngu9X2AhVGD0QIHbiSCjQQ4dUDCA0&uact=5&oq=Is+the+Puritan+religio-culture+still+present+today%3F&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBwghEAoQoAEyBwghEAoQqwI6BwgAEEcQsANKBAhBGABKBAhGGABQ4wVY4wVgmwhoAXABeACAAcIBiAHCAZIBAzAuMZgBAKABAqABAcgBCMABAQ&sclient=gws-wiz 

first student:

Is the value of authoritarian leadership in American borrowed from Puritanism?

The reason why I believe that authoritarian concept of leadership in America is as a result of the influence from Puritanism. One of the values passed on by the Puritans is individualism which is a characteristic of an authoritarian form of leadership in America. The Puritans for instance valued self- reflection and personal growth which in part led to the aspect of individualism. Americans therefore took up the value and therefore most of them tend to ensure that they mind their own business. This while at the same time, they are not open minded nor are they keen in taking up suggestions from someone in directions on what to do. They are keen to personal growth from personal experience hence the concept of individualism linking it to authoritarian leadership.

Second student:

Has Christian discipline changed over time or stayed the same?

I followed the first link which led me to an article entitled, “Five Characteristics of Biblical Discipline” from Focus on the Family. For context, this organization lobbies against LGBT rights and has been criticized for misrepresenting research to further their political agenda.

One of the ways discipline hasn’t changed is explained in the article as “short-term pain and long term gain”. From the puritan viewpoint, allowing a child to shift their dependence from their parents to god was a big step that wasn’t without struggle (McLoughlin 49). This created a situation of short term problems but eventually the situation became a valuable lesson for all involved.

An example of where disciple has changed is how parents may approach some aspects of discipline. My interpretation of the article is that parents should discipline their children in a way that doesn’t destroy their will. However, in a puritan approach this is the direct opposite. Puritan parents would seek to break the will of their children in order to achieve obedience with god (McLoughlin 48).

Just because there are these key differences, does it mean that discipline has fundamentally changed? Could it be argued that these differences are relatively minor?