《樸利墨斯開拓史》中的「天命論」與政治操控

The Politics of Self-Prescribed Destiny as Manifested in William Bradford's of Plymouth Plantation

在美國歷史上，「神意的彰顯」或「天命昭彰」（Manifest Destiny）一詞雖然出現於十九世紀中葉，並被刻意利用作為版圖擴張或大一統的藉口，但「願你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上」的正統宗教思惟早在中世紀之前已經穩居基督教教義中心位置。類似「天意昭示」的邏輯在十七世紀殖民時期即已為新英格蘭的清教徒領導人所熟悉，同樣用來將一元化思想箝制的高壓統治合理化，行「新英格蘭之道」（The New England Way），藉以排斥異己，助長權力擴張，意圖強勢片面主導歷史及時代走向。這種「天命」的閱讀，自成一種辯證邏輯，在信仰和價值觀相近的社群中容易產生共鳴，更可以被操控作為政治口號或公共目標。本文要探討的是十七世紀初期避難來到北美洲東北的英國清教徒領導人如何在一本良知下善用或利用「天命」的概念來奠定政治基礎和操控社群命運；「天意」又如何被小撮人壟斷，用來強勢主導法制，甚至規範團體行為，排除異己。

The first Pilgrims to Plymouth took with them the conviction that God wanted them to settle in America to build 'a shining city upon the hill.' Fulfilling this sacred destiny as previewed or suggested in the Old Testament became a mandate for the 17th-century Separatists led by William Bradford. But the New England Way was not without challenge. In the end the Separatists prevailed because they were convinced that theirs was a historic mission architected by the Creator and that the use of harsh measures to rid all obstacles was justified. Of Plymouth Plantation documented the early Puritan's use of this argument as a dialectic for self-justification as well as to solidify their rule.