Many know of the radicals in religion. From acts by members of the Westboro Baptist church to the Puritans in the Salem Witchcraft Trials, religion has greatly influenced people throughout all of history.
During the colonial period in America, the Puritans emerged as the dominant religious group. All aspects of life back then were focused around fearing God and obeying him. In "Sinners of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards, it can be seen that most people of the time truly believed that they must be born again in order to go to Heaven. Trying to keep themselves pure, people in this era were forced to follow the commandments or else be punished to public shame or death. An example of this is shown in an excerpt from "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hester Prynne commits adultery and is hated on by the public. One mistake against God's word leads to a world of shame that cannot be undone.
Today, religion still plays a role in how we live, but arguably it affects us much less than it used to. With America being "the land of the free," there is a multitude of religions that are prevalent. From Christianity to Islam, religion affects everyone differently depending on how zealous one is. Although religion is a major factor in the decisions we make, humans should still treat others the way they want to be treated. As Equiano writes, "Do unto all men as you would men should do unto you" (Equiano).
I liked your references to the colonial literature we read! The connection to the modern-day Westboro Baptist Church is a good comparison to the colonial intolerant mindset. Do you know if Equiano coined that phrase? It seems to be well-known everywhere, even if people don't always follow it.
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