Question

Why does Edwards claim that nonbelievers are akin to spiders in "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God?

Answer 1

answer:  (B) II. Spiders are powerless should a rockfall on them.

Explanation:  The passage from the story claims that a spider's web would not be strong enough to hold a falling rock. which means that in the process its home would be demolished and would have to resort to making the web all over again.

(A) Spiders are considered to be errors of God's creation - This can not be correct, because spiders exist with a purpose.

(B) Spiders are powerless should a rockfall on them. - This option makes the most sense because it is stating a fact.

(C) Spiders are considered the lowest form of life and thus expendable        

- This option does not prove any point or have any correlation towards nonbelievers being akin to spiders.

Answer 2

Answer:

II. Spiders are powerless should a rock fall on them.

Explanation:

Edwards uses this comparison of non-believers to a spider to show that should God decide to send someone to hell, he or she does not have the power to stop it. Even if the non-believer felt assured and arrogant about it, he would still not have the ability to keep himself out of Hell. Option I is incorrect because Puritans, like Edwards, did not believe that any of God's creations were a mistake. Option III is also incorrect because the purpose is not to show the expendable nature of the spider, but rather the almighty power of God.