JOURNAL ARTICLE

Archive: Cultural Transformation in Samuel Whiting's Harvard Oration of 1649.

  • Published In: Early American Literature, 2025, v. 60, n. 2. P. 253 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Whiting, Anthony 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on Samuel Whiting's 1649 Harvard commencement oration, which utilized Arabic proverbs to convey moral teachings aligned with Christian doctrine. Whiting, a pastor in Lynn, Massachusetts, was selected as the speaker during a pivotal time when the Westminster Confession of Faith was adopted as orthodox doctrine in New England. His address included three Arabic proverbs, which he interpreted to emphasize the importance of avoiding sin, the necessity of repentance, and the value of good deeds, reflecting the cultural dynamics of mid-seventeenth-century New England. The article also explores the transformation of these proverbs from their original Arabic context into a Christian framework, highlighting the interplay between cultural transmission and religious interpretation. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Early American Literature. 2025/05, Vol. 60, Issue 2, p253
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Religion and Philosophy
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0012-8163
  • DOI:10.1353/eal.2025.a966557
  • Accession Number:187145630
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Early American Literature is the property of University of North Carolina Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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