Show The Herald Journal Logan Utah Thursday November 27 2003 — C3 Edwards BThiM©g5aiini itomaftltaini they may otherwise be" Yet on the tricenlennial of his birth theologians and historians warn not to sell Edwards short He was a thinker who belongs in the pantheon with 'the Founding " Fathers says Wheaton Col- lege's Mark Noll He's alfio generally considered the greatest theologian the nation has produced and proponents say many of his ideas remain pertinent in the 2 1st century ' His influence is great enough that the Library of Congress is sponsoring a weekend conference with 15 experts on Edwards and col- leges and churches also are' By Richard N Ostling AP Religion Writer Bom 300 years ago this Sunday the Rev Jonathan Edwards is little known to many Americans except perhaps as the answer to a trivia question: Who wrote the nation's most famous sermon ' “Sinners in the Hands of an ? Angry God”? Edwards' vision of torturous damnation seems a curiosity today though the address Caused an uproar at a 1741 ' revival meeting? “How dreadful is the state of those that are ' daily and hourly in the danger of this great wrath and infinite ' ' misery! Butthisis the dismal case of every soul in this conr ry holding observances The University'of Chicago's has been that not gregation Martin Marty once comment-'- 1 born again however moral ed that if a religious Mount and strict sober and religious Rushmore were ever created Edwards' would he the only image worth carving He’s "one of the most remarkable people in Ameri- -' " can history" says George M Marsdcn of the University of ' Notre Dame And at Yale where Edwards was among the earliest alumni Harry Stout says "no other religious figure in this country Uni-versi- ly biblical tradition and orthodox Calvinism against the many new challenges posed by Enlightenment liberalism Secondly he led and popularized the Great Awakening America's first major religious revival movement Stressing personally experi- - diced repentance and salva-- : lion through Jesus the evangelical movement permanently reshaped American religion Edwards then analyzed what had happened in "Religious Affections" a pit' - is ' : comparable" Stout will spend this year supervising completion of the Yale University Press's 27- volume "Works of Jonathan Edwards" series Half of these writings have nevtr been pub-lished before requiring experts to decipher Edwards' ' notoriously diflkult tiny handwriting Yale has also : neering work in the psycholoL ' gy of religionThen and now liberals dis- ’ ' dain those influences For instance the congrega-tio- n that Edwards led for 21" : " ' ' roDevairoti sGBDD years in Northampton Mass (now called the First Churches) posts faint anniversary praise on its Web site from member Ronald Story a Uni-versily of Massachusetts professor Story says Edwards' then-- logical interests are "of no ' great urgency for mainline churches today" Moreover he says Edwards' concept of human sinfulness appears "bleak if not lingenepius" d his approach “difficult" his fundamentalist sermons “disturbing" and his negative attitude toward Catholics ' Things were even frostier in Northhampton back in 750 when the congregation fired ' its famous but prickly pastor alter he excoriated some wellborn lajs in the congregation ' who were verbally harassing women In another unpopular ' Bible-centere- "non-ecumenic- 1 move he sought to restrict the Lord's Supper to those able to give "heartfelt" testimony to faith in Josui and to baptize only their children lie left for frontier Snick- ' bridge as a missionary to local Indians then brie 11 y served as president of the College of ' New Jersey (liklay 's Princeton University ) before dying from ' a smallpox vaccinaljon al age r ' 54 Marsden says Edwards didn't handle the Noiihamp- ton dispute well but at least ' set an example of standing on ' principle despite the cost s ‘ : i Issued Marsden's ed "Jonathan Edwards: A much-laud- Life" -" ' Though Edwards’ esteem has risen among scholars the he's ho popr-past half-centur- ularicon Marsden says one reason-i- s that educators seeking to dis- credit the nation’s conserva- live Protestant heritage have emphasized "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” and ignored everything else But while some of Edwards' Calvinistic views y may seem extreme even lib- erals often preached on hell in the 8th century Marsden says: The minister’s main themes were actually 'the love-- ' beauty harmony and majesty of God and his created cos- mos jie adds Edwards' other contribu- lions to national religious life are numerous For example he promoted four-pa-rt congre-- gational singing that became central to Protestant services and wrote a biography of a young missionary that helped inspire the 19th century surge in US Protestant foreign mis--' AT YOUR LOCAI JOHN DEERE DEALER! 1 ' : : ' ' " AP plioto ' This portrait of the Rev: Jonathan Edwards painted by John Ferguson Weir in 1910 is m the permanent collection of the Yale ' : University Art Gallery? : V There will be a Christmas Nutcracker’ Cache Valley Civic Ballet’s ' presents “The Nutcracker” at 7:30 pm Noy 28 29 arid Dec I At matinee will be Dec 1 at l pm Tickets range from $7 to $15 A family tick- -' et for five is $43 For informal Mitten Tree : tion visit the Ellen Eccles Theater 43S Main in Logan or call 752-002- 6 Novemberfest is from 10 i am to 7 pm: Friday and 10"am to 6 pm Saturday at the ' ' 42 or Charlene at 753-3Q- 61 Jewelry show A jewelry show is from noon to 8 pm Friday and -from 9:30 am to 6 pmSatur-da- y at SE Needham Jewelers' 141 N: Main Logan The show will feature antique jew- elry and European collectibles The public is welcome Gallery opening The AVA is holding its annual Holiday Gift and Gallery opening Born 6 to 8 Young Mansion There will be live music food and tours The public is welcome tion call Joan at The Mitten Tree has been" : wanning hands feet and V hearts for 15 years Residents are encouraged to donate new mittens hats scarfs and socks for Bear River Head Start and Child and Family Support Items may be donated through Dec 9 at: Bridgerland Applied Technology College Junior Girl Troop 32 at Prov- iderice Elementary Cache Val- ley Learning Center Faith and Fellowship Ceriter First Pres- byte rian Church Gossner Foods Inc: Hyclone Labora- - ' tones Inc Liquor Store Logan Library North Logan City Library Senior Citizens Center Shear Shack Hair & Nails Smithfleld City Public Library St John’s Episcopal Church St Thomas Aquinas Churchy USU Center for EPI Studies USU Child Develop ment Lab USU Children’s House USU College of Nat- - : ural Resources USU Comirai- nity Credit Union USU TSC tier Community Center The Mitten Tree is sponsored by the USU Women's Center Advisory Board : 797-17- 753-557- 5 CAPSAgift wrap CAPSA is sponsoring a gift wrap booth at the Cache Val-- : ley Mall from Nov 28 thra Christmas Eve The booth is in die west wing and is open during mall hours Volunteers win be happy to wrap your packages at minimal cosL Proceeds go directly to CAPSA Parkinson’s group The Pvtntson's Support Group win meet at 10 am Monday at the Copper Min :355N 1000 W joKMbFFRF Mbn-F- ri 753 - 192 Sal 8:00 - 2:00 Ijran 8:00-5:3- 0 1 A : offall Maternity! 40 ' 4 hours only! Century PACK ‘N PLAY (excludes clearance items): with changing tabic and bassinet m99 now $5499 Rcg 4 hours only! Vhilc supplies last Limit I per customer Century 1500 CONVERTABLE CAR SEAT Rear & Forward being for child 5lbs - 40lbs ' RgS”999 now$39 99 4 hours only! While supplies tut Limit 1 :a per customer- : ' Ty Merchandise buy! 28 Christmas book " Starting Over Single will meet at 7 pm Saturday for a video and pot hick Newcom- ers are welcome For informa- ' Carousel Square Valley Montessori School and Whit- pm Saturday at the Thatcher Singles meet : Precision Replicas : " “Hand in Hand” a book of holiday decorating activities for children accompanied by a CD of Christmas songs is available at Dillard's for $10 Proceeds will go to Ronald McDonald House charities' helping the families of seri- -' ously ill children GET 1 Also: Storewide FREE 4 hours only! ((Umit 5 FREE) Post-Mormo- ns The Cache Valley Support Grotf) is a group of former Mormons that meets for dinner and socializing al 6 JO Sunday at Touy Em every For information call 3 or go to Jeff at wwwpostniormonconi- Post-Mormo- ns non-sectar- ian 773-426- IVVtJUa N mWw Soft Top and Booh r Friday Nov 28 th 8:00am - 12:00pm : " Logari Recreation Center 195 S 100 West Admission is$K: iMany crafts arid other artifacts will be on display For more information call Nina at 752-81- Pedal Tractors and Trikes nw— Thanksgiving Sale! -- Noyemberfest Z H' musical program followed by ' a luncheon for $8 perplat£ ‘ Participants may attend either the program or the lunch or i i both Call Kathy at 245-403- 6 'or Betty at 753-312- 6 ' ' sions 'But he’s mainly remem- bered for two things Iriclas- sics such as "Freedom of the Will" “Original Sin” and “True Virtue’’ he defended Over loo iterm in stock Stem Hours: Monday - Friday lftOO to 8:00 HHM to 6KM PHONE 79-CHIL- D 792-445- 3 99 West Center Street Logan |