Nathaniel Hawthorne's attitudes toward organized Christianity.

In much of his writing Hawthorne discloses specific attitudes toward the forms of organized Christianity by which he was confronted during his lifetime. The purpose of this thesis has been to reveal his attitudes and his personal beliefs which are either quite similar to or are definitely contrary to the tenets of these forms of Christianity. While this study does reveal at least a part of Hawthorne's personal theology, its purpose has not been to be an exhaustive review of the religious aspects of his thought. Logically the first chapter in a study of this kind is a review of Hawthorne's attitudes toward Puritanism, for Puritanism was a vital part of Hawthorne's heritage to which he reacted quite prolifically. The next chapter treats Hawthorne's attitudes toward Unitarianism, the liberal denomination to which many were turning during Hawthorne's lifetime in reaction to the harshness of Puritanism. The third chapter deals with his attitudes toward Quakerism and Shakerism, minor sects to which Hawthorne responded in a few of his writings. Quite late in life Hawthorne came into close contact with Catholicism, and thus his attitudes toward it are treated in the final chapter of this study. Hawthorne's reactions to all five of these forms of organized Christianity reveal both positive and negative attitudes, and from these attitudes it becomes apparent that Hawthorne was not able to accept any form of organized Christianity as the embodiment of his personal theology.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Grantor

Baylor University.

Year dc:date.issued

1969

Author dc:creator

• Hammill, Mildred Agnes, 1944-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Leavell, Frank Hartwell, 1928-

• Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804-1864 -- Religion.

Statement dc:rights

• Baylor University works are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2104/14460

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/14460