Mark Twain's ReligionMercer University Press, 2003 - 386 pages Although there are many studies of America's most famous literary figure, this thorough investigation provides not only new information on Twain's religion, but also a different approach from anything published before. Interpretations of Twain over the past century have been largely the province of literary critics. By skillful textual analysis they have produced an abundance of nuanced studies, but they tend to have little interest in, and knowledge of, the broad religious context of Victorian society, which both angered and intrigued Twain. Phipps provides perceptions often overlooked into the way Clemens's religion was related to such significant issues as racism, imperialism, and materialism. This study takes a close look at his growing up in the slave culture of Missouri Protestants and his subsequent involvement in the radically different abolition culture in which his wire was raised. Like Twain, who aimed at communicating with the common person, Phipps has written in a style that will attract the educated public while providing fresh insights for Twain scholars. His research has taken him to Hannibal, Elmira Hartford, and to the Twain archives in Berkeley. Mostly chronological, the book makes extensive use of Twain's works and, often neglected in such studies on Twain, the Bible, his most important literary source. |
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Page 6
... church , my church expressed scorn toward the savage heathen abroad , the idol - worshiping Catholics , and the Yankees , who had the mis- fortune of having been born north of the Mason - Dixon line . I shared with him an inordinate ...
... church , my church expressed scorn toward the savage heathen abroad , the idol - worshiping Catholics , and the Yankees , who had the mis- fortune of having been born north of the Mason - Dixon line . I shared with him an inordinate ...
Page 8
... church in Florida . It had slab benches with no backs , resting on a floor of flattened logs ; sounds and odors came through its unfilled cracks . When the hogs that slept beneath the church were disturbed by dogs , the preacher paused ...
... church in Florida . It had slab benches with no backs , resting on a floor of flattened logs ; sounds and odors came through its unfilled cracks . When the hogs that slept beneath the church were disturbed by dogs , the preacher paused ...
Page 9
... church and never spoke of religious matters , and had no part nor lot in the pious joys of his Presbyterian family , nor ever seemed to suffer from this deprivation . " Sam likely overstated his father's alienation from churches and ...
... church and never spoke of religious matters , and had no part nor lot in the pious joys of his Presbyterian family , nor ever seemed to suffer from this deprivation . " Sam likely overstated his father's alienation from churches and ...
Page 10
... Church could show among its communicants . " More gen- erally , he commented , " It is at our mother's knee that we ac- quire our highest and noblest and purest ideals but there is seldom any money in them . " 11 Sam's mother , Jane ...
... Church could show among its communicants . " More gen- erally , he commented , " It is at our mother's knee that we ac- quire our highest and noblest and purest ideals but there is seldom any money in them . " 11 Sam's mother , Jane ...
Page 14
... Church , Sam and his siblings followed their mother to the Presbyterian Church where , on February 18 , 1841 , she became a Presbyterian " upon profession of faith in Christ . " 38 The baptism of the children of members was not recorded ...
... Church , Sam and his siblings followed their mother to the Presbyterian Church where , on February 18 , 1841 , she became a Presbyterian " upon profession of faith in Christ . " 38 The baptism of the children of members was not recorded ...
Contents
Tpe AntiImperialist | 196 |
Biblical Usages | 215 |
Jewish Scriptures | 216 |
The New Testament | 235 |
Scriptural Affusions | 242 |
Theological Journey | 257 |
Views of Jesus | 271 |
Evil anb Freedom | 275 |
Travel Reflections | 75 |
Amid Liberal Caivmists | 83 |
In Hartforb | 105 |
Relations with Cable | 128 |
Justice m America | 137 |
Political Morality | 149 |
Race Relations | 156 |
Womens Rights | 175 |
AmbassaboratLarge | 181 |
In Europe | 182 |
Global Tour | 188 |
Versonal Immortality | 293 |
Final Quest | 307 |
Search for Healing | 315 |
Bittersweet Last Years | 322 |
Conclusion | 345 |
Ethics and Truth | 353 |
Humorist and Treacher | 357 |
The Tolerant Monotfest | 362 |
Bibliography | 371 |
Index | 377 |
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