"The Kingdom of Matthias"

Paper Summary:

Johnson and Wilentz's book, "The Kingdom of Matthias: A Story of Sex and Salvation in 19th Century America", gives a detailed account of a unique 19th century American episode of religious revivalism, during which time a simple carpenter, Robert Matthews, claimed to be the prophet Matthias. This paper analyzes the core theme of the book and describes how this period, known as the Second Great Awakening, impacted the lives of the men and women of American society during that time.

From the Paper:

"Taking advantage of people's religious inclination and their search for prophecy, Matthias succeeded in getting many New York businessmen to join his "kingdom" which he established on one of their estates in Sing Sing. Utilizing the vulnerability of people, the fanatical ravings of Matthias captivated many intelligent people. His kingdom was based on the concept of prosperity, optimism, tolerance and freedom. He advocated claims of abundant food for all, naked bathing, wife swapping and complete obedience. He propagated the concept of the inferiority of women and damned wives who worked."

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• Book Review # 11216 : "The Kingdom of Matthias"

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