So I recently read the Diary of Cotton Mather, and I found it absolutely fascinating. I did some brief research on him (nothing intensive by all means, though I hope to have time for such in the future) and few seem to like him. I read a quote on Wikipedia (not the best source for info I know), where someone spoke about how he teachings against egoism, but lives egoism.
I think that is a somewhat pessimistic view of him. He does speak out a lot in his diary against eogism. But he freely confesses that he struggles with the same. I see nothing against teaching against something you yourself struggle with. In truth, the fact you are struggling against something gives you more incentive to teach against it, because you know the dangers.
I also found he could turn a pretty phrase when he wanted too. "Think on these things, O my soul. Soak thyself in the meditation of them."
Sometimes he actually got a giggle out of me... "I found my soul under strong distempers; and especially an idle frame of soul was a plague upon me.:" Yeah I feel you, dude. I had a lazy day yesterday too.
I want to read some of his other books. Is anyone familiar with him, that can recommend something? What are your thoughts on him? When I was researching him there was a lot of loud virtue signalling against his involvement in the Salem Witch Trials. I think few would say that is a good thing, but I for one do not expect perfection from those I respect. Humans are a complicated mess, and we all have things we look back on with shame and embarrassment.
But perhaps his involvement with the Witch Trials was not just a stained blotch on his life. Perhaps his writing was a shallow reflection of the skin he exposed to the world, and perhaps it was nothing but hypocrisy.
I think that is a somewhat pessimistic view of him. He does speak out a lot in his diary against eogism. But he freely confesses that he struggles with the same. I see nothing against teaching against something you yourself struggle with. In truth, the fact you are struggling against something gives you more incentive to teach against it, because you know the dangers.
I also found he could turn a pretty phrase when he wanted too.
"Think on these things, O my soul. Soak thyself in the meditation of them."
Sometimes he actually got a giggle out of me...
"I found my soul under strong distempers; and especially an idle frame of soul was a plague upon me.:"
Yeah I feel you, dude. I had a lazy day yesterday too.
I want to read some of his other books. Is anyone familiar with him, that can recommend something? What are your thoughts on him? When I was researching him there was a lot of loud virtue signalling against his involvement in the Salem Witch Trials. I think few would say that is a good thing, but I for one do not expect perfection from those I respect. Humans are a complicated mess, and we all have things we look back on with shame and embarrassment.
But perhaps his involvement with the Witch Trials was not just a stained blotch on his life. Perhaps his writing was a shallow reflection of the skin he exposed to the world, and perhaps it was nothing but hypocrisy.
What do you think?