Where Not To Base Your Faith Nathaniel Hawthornes Young...

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. You of little faith, he said, why did you doubt? (Matthew 14:31) The manner in which Goodman Brown based his faith is a very good example of how not to base one’s faith. The strength of Goodman Browns faith was based on his wife’s faith, his trust in his neighbors, and his personal experiences. The strength of one’s faith is one of the most important aspects of any person, and it is especially important in the story Young Goodman Brown. The definition of faith according to Merriam-Webster.com is, â€Å"Strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.† In order for one to closely examine the story â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† it is†¦show more content†¦This is made more evident at the end of the story by the way Goodman Brown avoids, doubts, and distrusts his neighbors (455). Goodman Brown’s actions at the end of the story we re the opposite of any religious teachings when he forsakes his faith after such a small and controversial event. The author Thomas Connolly explains Goodman Brown’s situation on the completely opposite side of the Christian religion. Connolly believed that Goodman Brown made the correct choice by turning his back on his neighbors because he had been in similar situations and had chosen the same path as Goodman Brown and believed that the end result made him better than a person that would have chosen to remain faithful (153). Connolly’s belief is a perfect example of incorrect theology. For example, Mark 11:25 states â€Å"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you of your sins. Had Goodman Brown remained faithful regardless of the situation he, according to the Bible, would have been a great example of a faithful and steadfast man, which according to scripture is the final goal that God desires for all His people. The next point to bring to light is the amount of faith Goodman Brown had invested into his wife. It is possible to assume that Goodman Brown had placed a majority of his spiritual faith in his wife Faith. Even the story explains that FaithShow MoreRelatedThe Salem Witch Trials Started When â€Å"Two Girls Got A Strange1749 Words   |  7 Pagespoint right before Brown decides to go walking into the woods. First, how does Salem witch trials have a relation to Brown before walking into the woods? From the beginning, there is some hesitation when Brown is deciding to walk into the forest. Although he says â€Å"What a wretch am I to leave her on such an errand† (Hawthorne 3). Then he still thinks that leaving is something that he has to do. Goodman is caught between the thought of sinning or staying committed to his faith. If sinning is appealing