Compare and contrast religion in colonial times with religion today. did the treaty of hellfire promote better morals? reconsult the wrathful old testament god of jonathan edwards with the new testament concept of god is love

Religion, specifically Christianity, in the 21st century America is a different landscape than in colonial times with a wider gamut of beliefs; Americans today have incorporated concepts like spirituality, a personal relationship to God and personal reflection into the faith. In colonial times, a strong figure and his teachings were persuasive and not to be questioned. Religious speakers and clergy were generally educated better than laypeople and respected in the community. Clergy as a dominant figure is seen in figures like Jonathan Edwards who were able to gain a great number of supporters by travelling a great deal and growing support from town to town. He used his position to advocate his version of God. God and going to Heaven were linked with morals and behavior and God was often vengeful to those who strayed. In the current times, religious figures are often more human and less public figure. Most pastors want to feel relate able and down to earth rather than scary. There is more of an emphasis on finding ones own path to God through prayer, scripture and rituals. God is more often portrayed as forgiving and loving rather than wrathful. The church has a different role is society as well and is a community gathering place rather than just a place to learn as it was in colonial times. Though not true for every practice, God has shifted from condemning those who stray to accepting and forgiving that behavior.