美国宗教历史ppt .pptVIP

History of Religion in America and Its Effect on Education Americans—People of the Book Read and memorized, cited and recited, searched for meaning and quoted for authority To be Christian was to be learned John Calvin People should be able to read scripture for themselves And interpret for themselves Sovereignty of God Depravity of man Protestant Reformation Focus of Christianity shifted from sacraments to scripture, from the idolatry of images to the veracity of words Sola scriptura (“Bible alone”) Clergy became interpreters and teachers Printing press—gift from God Translators—saints Reading—means of grace Teaching Reading Act of nearly unparalleled piety Acquiring basic literacy became a religious duty Tin Man Faith To be Christian was to know and understand the Bible New World Experiment Depended on a population of educated people Social order depended on morality and morality on religion Bible reading would foster faith, which would foster ethical behavior, which would sustain social order 17th century Colonists passed a series of laws requiring apprentices and children to “attain at least so much, as to be able duly to read the Scriptures, and other good and profitable printed Books in the English tongue” (60). American Revolution Children needed to read not only to be good Protestants but also to be good citizens—to free themselves from the tyranny of popes as well as kings. The American experiment, which vested sovereignty in the people, depended for its survival on an informed citizenry. American Education Both religious and secular 17th and 18th century New England was “perhaps the most literate place on earth” (61). “Literary rates for whites were higher—for both men and women—in the colonies than on the Continent” (62). African Americans and Indians Literacy came slowly For African Americans—slave owners feared for their slave to learn to read the Bible for themselves W.E.B. DuBois: Only 5% could read on the eve of the Civil War King James Bib