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 v
... Morality Race Relations Women's Rights 6. Ambassador - at - Large In Europe Global Tour viii ix xi 1 1 34 4 7 7 3333 13 30 41 41 59 81 89 89 111 134 143 143 155 162 181 187 188 194 7. Biblical Usages Jewish Scriptures The New Testament ...
... Morality Race Relations Women's Rights 6. Ambassador - at - Large In Europe Global Tour viii ix xi 1 1 34 4 7 7 3333 13 30 41 41 59 81 89 89 111 134 143 143 155 162 181 187 188 194 7. Biblical Usages Jewish Scriptures The New Testament ...
Page 3
... moral order in which God sees to it that the righteous get the riches and the rascals get the rags . Ecclesiastes is ... morality : " Pure religion ... is this , to visit the 15CT1 410 . fatherless and widows in their affliction , and to ...
... moral order in which God sees to it that the righteous get the riches and the rascals get the rags . Ecclesiastes is ... morality : " Pure religion ... is this , to visit the 15CT1 410 . fatherless and widows in their affliction , and to ...
Page 4
... moral code believed to be sanctioned by a divine power . Depending on the definition or definitions one selects , MT can be classi- fied as either " irreligious " or " religious . " The Approach of This Present Study For the past ...
... moral code believed to be sanctioned by a divine power . Depending on the definition or definitions one selects , MT can be classi- fied as either " irreligious " or " religious . " The Approach of This Present Study For the past ...
Page 5
... morality , read this study while it was in gestation and criticized much of it as being irrelevant to my topic because of ... moral actions that flowed from them . The chapter organization is mostly chronological , but a compendium is ...
... morality , read this study while it was in gestation and criticized much of it as being irrelevant to my topic because of ... moral actions that flowed from them . The chapter organization is mostly chronological , but a compendium is ...
Page 6
... moral tales . My scholarly inter- est in his works began when I was writing a book on The Wisdom and Wit of Rabbi Jesus . In it , I discussed some similarities of style and con- tent between Jesus and MT , showing that both used humor ...
... moral tales . My scholarly inter- est in his works began when I was writing a book on The Wisdom and Wit of Rabbi Jesus . In it , I discussed some similarities of style and con- tent between Jesus and MT , showing that both used humor ...
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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Adam admired African-American American became believe Bible biblical Bushnell called Calvin Calvinist Catholic century Christ Christian City claimed commented congregation culture death divine Elmira expressed faith father Genesis Gilded Age God's gospel Hannibal Harper Hartford heart heaven hell Henry Henry Ward Beecher holy Howells Huck Huckleberry Finn human humor hymn Jervis Langdon Jesus Joan of Arc John Langdon later letter living Livy Livy's Lord Mark Twain Matthew minister missionaries Missouri moral mother MT found MT noted MT told MT wrote MT's never novel Paine Park Church person pray prayer preacher preaching Presbyterian Church Psalm published pulpit religion religious Satan Scriptures sermon slave slavery special Providence spirit story Sunday school Susy teaching Testament theological thing Thomas Beecher tion Tom Sawyer Twain New York University Press visited William William Dean Howells words worship writing