Analysis Of The Kingdom Of Mat

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Analysis Of The Kingdom Of Mat

In order to understand the ramifications of Matthias's formation of his kingdom, the social,financial, ethnic, and sexual conditions of the times must be realized as the catalysts that cause the cults to form. A whole series of evangelic congregations appeared in the early decades of the nineteenth century in order to serve the poor, the emotionally needy, those barred from the new prosperousness, hopefulness, forbearance, personal freedom and sensible thought of the business classes. Combining good narrative skills,excellent characterization, and historic detail, Johnson and Wilentz recreate the engaging tale of a hypocritical prophet and his erroneous followers in New York during the eighteen twenties and thirties. The main motif that dominated Matthias's and Elijah Pierson's actions involves the beliefs that were instilled in them when they were young,about the natural order of men and women. The patriarchy that ruled Matthias's kingdom originated in both men's thoughts from the Calvinism that was their first doctrine as youths around eighteen hundred. Elijah's Morristown First Presbyterian Church and Mathews Coila Anti-Burhgers church enforced the dominance of men through incorporating their domestic authority into church ritual. With Elijah men sat at the head of the pew and his father and uncles were church trustees. Even though Robert Matthew's church had an egalitarian dissolution of power and wealth , patriarchal roles were reinforced by men leading their families into church and

all the authority figures being male. They were taught that God governed the world through fixed relationships of dominance and subordination. It is because of Matthew's refusal to give up his position as male leader and provider for his family, even when they were destitute, that led to his descent into lunacy leaving his family in eighteen thirty one. This is why women and economic

despair play such an important role in the history of the kingdom. Margaret's rejection of Matthews after his continual attempts to exert his manly dominance through beating her and punishing the children started his resentment and hatred of women. This led to his condemning of all preachy Christian women who did act subservient to their husbands. "Woman is the capsheaf of the abomination of desolation-full of all deviltry';. Women also contributed a great...

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...hat was his initial impression walking in. A source that was actually interesting on its own was The Narrative of Sojourner Truth, which has many informative descriptions of the everyday life of the kingdom as well as a more detailed account of Pierson's and Matthias's first meeting. In the book, it is not mentioned that Isabella was present at that meeting or that she was avidly curious and sat in attentively. Johnson and Wilentz's narrative was

fairly fast paced and well sequenced, but I got the impression from reading part of the Sojourner truth's writings that there were many facts omitted. However, my own personal analysis of the book leaves me impressed with how the happenings of the kingdom were so tied in with many important people and events that have lasting legacies today. From Joseph Smith to Sojourner Truth, Matthias did not leave this world without making a profound affect on some important persons. Seeing how the Second Great Awakening was tied in with economic despair was very eye opening. The vulnerability of the impoverished, their susceptibility to strong vision and charisma is the real reason that cults will continue to pop up throughout the next millennium.

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