#dissertation chapter one

[lizziestudieshistory]

Update #3

Been absent recently but for a good reason... I've finished writing my first dissertation chapter. This one was on communion in the early 17th century for English puritans. I've thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm sad to stop working on it after this week.

I'm starting on preaching and the sermon next. Hopefully, my supervisor like the chapter and I don't get too many revisions to make!

[lizziestudieshistory]

Dissertation Chapter One

As I've finished writing the first chapter of my dissertation I thought I'd do a summary of my work so far.

This first part (which will probably be chapter three in the finished piece) deals with the emotional manipulation the godly used to prepare themselves for communion. Each 'stage' of the communion service was defined by some emotional preparation that ensured they had the 'correct' experience.

From this I am arguing the godly were actually using free will to influence their salvation - or ensure they believed they were saved. This contradicts the role of predestination in the practical application of English Protestant's soteriology. The exact nature of this relationship between free will and predestination in practical terms is something I want to do more work on. However, this idea of free will over salvation is under explored in the historiography and my supervisor and I are very excited by this new direction.

I don't want to say too much more over the rest of the argument until the rest of it is written, but I'm very excited about where my research is going! For those interested, my master's proposal is building upon this work to look at free will, predestination, and emotion in godly sacramental worship. However, more on this will be around when I'm set on which university I'm studying my master's at and I can get going on my research.

[lizziestudieshistory]

STUDY 2019: 17th Century Religion

I had a pleasantly productive day after my mini celebration break for finishing my exams yesterday. I spent most of today working on the first chapter of my dissertation, however, I did collect my final essay of this term.

My essay was on seventeenth century religion, particularly mainstream ‘puritans’ or, as I have rejected the label ‘puritan’, the mainstream godly and how they responded to the doctrine of predestination. I’m definitely against the ‘age of anxiety’ here and argued this was not a period of salvation anxiety. I loved this essay as it tied into my dissertation topic and overall I got a first (77%), so I’m very happy! Feedback was excellent and I had an enlightening meeting with my tutor to discuss where it could be improved further in detail.

Chapter One is now underway, I had hoped to have finished the outline by now but I had a few issues during my last attempt and had to change my focus and narrow down what I wanted to discuss. I am now focusing on godly emotions during Communion and how they expressed their ‘secret emotions’ during a public service. Definitely making progress! But I need to do a fresh lot of research to adequately explore this issue and equate the public and secret ‘spheres’ of emotional responses.

Overall today has gone well, I even got some reading in while I was travelling to and from uni! 

(Excuse the dreadful photos! I’m a history student and photography was never my strong point… I tried to resurrect them but alas nothing could save them! Although, you can’t make essays and notes look sexy…)