54 pages • 1 hour read
Paul E. Johnson, Sean WilentzThe Kingdom of Matthias: A Story of Sex and Salvation in 19th Century America
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1994A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
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Explain the story of the Prophet Matthias in the context of religious revivalism. What impact did the Second Great Awakening and social reform movements have on Matthews?
How did Elijah Pierson become one of the first members of Matthews's cult? Explain why was he both a likely and unlikely candidate.
Discuss the factors that the authors identify as the driving forces behind Matthews’s misogyny.
What role did the African Methodist Church play in the formation of Matthews’s Kingdom of Matthias?
Who was Sylvester Mills, and how did he figure in the Kingdom of Matthias? Create a profile of Mills, emphasizing his impact on the public perceptions of the Kingdom.
Discuss the relationship between Benjamin Folger and Robert Matthews.
What is Finneyism, and why did men like Matthews react so negatively to it?
What was the outcome of Matthews’s murder and assault trial? To you, does his punishment fit his crimes? Explain why or why not and provide textual evidence for your opinion.
Name four rules that Robert Matthews instituted at Mount Zion. Why did Matthews perceive each of these rules as vital?
Discuss the role of the penny press papers in downfall of the Matthews’s Kingdom of Matthias.
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