You can do little for the welfare of your children once you have lost your authority over them. Don’t allow them by your lightness, weakness, and folly, to trample upon you; but keep up so much authority that your word may be a law unto them. Nevertheless, do not let your authority be strained with such harshness and fierceness as may discourage your children. To treat our children like slaves, and with such rigor that they shall always tremble and abhor the idea of coming into our presence, is very unlike our heavenly Father.

Cotton Mather (1663–1728), Prediger, Theologe

Topics: Relationships & Family

Cotton Mather

Cotton Mather (1663–1728) war ein einflussreicher puritanischer Prediger, Theologe und Autor in Boston in der britischen Kolonie Massachusetts. Er verband ein umfangreiches kirchengeschichtliches und naturwissenschaftliches Werk mit dem Aufruf zu praktischer Nächstenliebe, ist jedoch wegen seiner publizistischen Rechtfertigung der Hexenprozesse von Salem sowie seiner Befürwortung der Sklaverei historisch stark umstritten. Heutigen Bibellesern begegnet er als Vertreter einer intensiven Schrift- und Gebetsfrömmigkeit, dessen Wirken zugleich die Gefahren und Schattenseiten religiösen Eifers vor Augen führt.

All quotes by Cotton Mather (4)

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