Puritans PDF

The Puritans  Who were the Puritans? Puritans were a branch of the Protestant church Their movement began in the 16th and 17th centuries Although they preferred to be called “the Godly,” they were given the name “Puritans” for their struggle to reform or purify the Church of England  Two...

The Puritans  Who were the Puritans? Puritans were a branch of the Protestant church Their movement began in the 16th and 17th centuries Although they preferred to be called “the Godly,” they were given the name “Puritans” for their struggle to reform or purify the Church of England  Two Types of Puritans: Separatists Non-Separatists Held irreconcilable Held less extreme views of differences with the the Church of England Church of England; they Believed in church reform thought the church was rather than an overthrow corrupt and that they must of the church distance themselves from Came to America in 1630 it and founded the Were persecuted under Massachusetts Bay Colony various monarchies in England First fled from England to Holland Later, came to found the Pl ymouth Colony in America in 1620  Doctrine of Elect / Predestination: Man is innately sinful; original sin means that we are incapable of any depravity Only those who are chosen by God (the Elect) are saved; salvation is not based on your beliefs or good works The grace of Christ allows the chosen the strength to follow the will of God The chosen will follow the path of righteousness Predestination continued… No one knew who was or was not saved. Puritans believed that you must have a conversion experience in order to be accepted by God. God’s grace was given to the chosen, and this grace was demonstrated through one’s behavior. Puritans would, therefore, reflect upon themselves (self- examination) for signs of this grace. So, even though they did not believe good works helped one get into Heaven, they believed that living a godly life As a result of their belief in Predestination, Puritans: Were always looking for signs Scrutinized daily events Thought there was always a reason for everything Felt that God’s hand was in everything, no matter how insignificant Puritan Beliefs & Values: Puritans believed in a literal interpretation of the Bible They believed in explicit readings of the Bible, as opposed to church doctrines They did not believe in excess worship; they wanted no rituals, adornments, no stained glass, no cushioned pews, no singing, and no music They wanted to keep things simple, so that they could concentrate on God There is a constant struggle between the forces of God and Satan God rewards the good and punishes the wicked Education & Work Ethic: They believed in living a virtuous, self-examined life They believed in strict discipline and had a strong work ethic They felt that qualities that led to economic success were virtuous They valued education Harvard University was founded in 1636 to train ministers They wanted their children to get far away from the evils of England Children were not allowed to play games; boys were taught to go hunting and fishing, while girls were taught how to run a household Women were considered less capable intellectually, physically, theologically, and morally (Eve was the first sinner) Literature for pleasure was highly censored  Puritan Literature & Writings: They did not write for pleasure or entertainment. They were struggling to build their settlement. They considered works of fiction frivolous and possibly immoral. Types of texts: historical documents: preserving their history and offering justifications to relieve the guilt they felt over leaving relatives behind in England personal journals: as tools for self- reflection/ examination and as a way to look for signs of salvation poetry, but highly inspired by religious beliefs religious tracts  Puritan Plain Style: Plain Style: a mode of expression characterized by its clarity, accessibility, straightforwardness, simplicity, and lack of ornamentation. In early America, the plain style aesthetic had broad cultural relevance, shaping the language of prose and poetry, the design of furniture and architecture, painting and other visual arts. Rejected ornamental flourishes and superfluous decoration as sinful vanity Plain stylists worked to glorify God in their expressions, rather than to show off their own artistry or claim any renown for themselves. This aesthetic appealed to both