Inner/Outer Circle Discussion Topics—Puritanism

1. Stephen Charnock, a noted Puritan clergyman, is quoted as saying, “A man may

be theologically knowing and spiritually ignorant.” What does this statement
mean? How would three of our above authors respond? Do you think any of these
authors are guilty of spiritual ignorance? How would you apply this quote to The
Crucible?
a. The statement means that a man may know the theology, study the bible,
etc. but not follow the teachings
i. Ex. Placing importance on worldly goods, committing adultery
b. Responses of authors
i. Olaudah Equiano would state that all slave owning Christians
would be guilty of spiritual ignorance
1. pg.65 “O, ye nominal Christians! Might not an African ask
you, Learned you this from your God who says unto you,
Do unto all men as you would men should do unto you?”
(phrase stated in the Bible, argues that Christians do not
heed God’s world if they practice slavery)
2. “Why are parents to lose their children, brothers their
sisters or husbands their wives?” (relating the cruelty which
adds to the “wretchedness of slavery” and referring to the
first quote, would the Christians want them upon
themselves?? Questions how people can claim to be
Christians while enforcing such injustices and instigating
such cruelty against mankind
ii. Anne Bradsreet would state that those who placed importance
upon material wealth and was attached to worldly goods would be
spiritually ignorant represented by flesh
1. in “Burning of Our House” states “And did thy wealth on
earth abide, Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust, The arm
of flesh didst make thy trust?” (scolding that wealth on
earth has no value, the arm of flesh will eventually decay,
nothing material on earth will last and has little value
compared to the wealth of God and heaven)
2. in “spirit”, “Thee as a foe still to pursue, And combat with
thee will and must Until I see thee laid in th’ dust”
(referring to flesh who is viewed as the enemy, battle
between spirit and flesh—battle against spiritual ignorance)
later says “Thy sinful pleasures I do hate, Thy riches are to
me no bait” (shows how little value she places on worldy
attachments, further seen when she thanks God for the
burning of her house in the first poem)
iii. Jonathon Edwards would state that a majority of people are
spiritually ignorant and are doomed for hell, even those Christians
who are trying to live a good life under the judgment of God
 1. “Natural men’s prudence and care to preserve their own
lives, or the care of others to preserve them, do not secure
them a moment” pg 4 (those who try to keep themselves in
good health are not free from God’s wrath, nor those with
wisdom “How dieth the wise man? Even as the fool”
2. “All wicked men’s pains and contrivance which they use to
escape hell, while they continue to reject Christ,a nd so
remain wicked men” pg 4 (men who try to outwardly live
good lives according to what theology defines as good
Christian behavior does not save them from spiritual
ignorance or the rejection of Christ, the paths that people
take to avoid damnation are useless
c. None of the authors guilty of spiritual ignorance
d. A majority of the Puritans seen in Crucible spiritually ignorant, killing in
the name of God only to cover the real motives of jealousy and greed,
using the cover of a good puritan and quoting theology to hid their true
selves
i. Abigail who starts the witchcraft nonsense to hide her affair with
John Proctor and her shameful acts in the forest, uses it to her
advantage to get rid of her one obstacle, Elizabeth Proctor who
says pg 58 “Spoke or silent, a promise is surely made. And she
may dote on it now-I am sure she does-and thinks to kill me, then
to take my place.” Abigail protects herself under the guise that she
is risking her life and doing God’s work
ii. Putnam who uses the witchcraft hysteria in order to gain more land
and power, Giles says pg 89, “If Jacobs hangs for a witch he forfeit
up his property-that’s law! And there is none but Putnam with the
coin to buy so great a piece.
iii. The Judges and officials of the court, who claim to be doing God’s
work and purging the land from the influences of the devil, later
realizing that they have committed a grave mistake but can no
longer admit to it without losing face, often using theology to
cover up for themselves
1. Cheever who tries to bring up much evidence against John,
all pointing that he is not a good Christian “He plows on
Sunday” pg 84 Parris, (the one who loses the most face
with the truth exposed) “Such a Chiristian that will not
come to church but once a month!”
2. “I think not, or you should surely know that Cain were an
upright man, and yet he did kill Abel” pg 85 stated by
Parris who is once again using theology to try to justify the
sentencing of a good Christian women, Rebecca Nurse