A Model of Christian Charity

Is Winthrop’s demand for charity purely a religious sentiment, or does it have pragmatic goals as well? Detail Winthrop’s argument surrounding charity and include examples.

Winthrop’s concept of charity is radical by today’s standards. Do you think this level of charity would make the world a better place, as Winthrop claims? Explain your reasoning with examples of Winthrop’s arguments. What would a present-day example of Winthrop’s charity concept look like?

Read Ronald Reagan’s farewell address to the Nation, from 1989. Do you think his quotation of Winthrop’s sermon properly represents Winthrop’s goals for New England? Why or why not? Use examples from the text.