Puritans Beliefs

Puritanism was a major belief during the 1500s-1700s, Puritans believed that you are required to devote your whole life to the Lord. In order to be a Puritan you had to glorify God by attending church, report sinners, and show God’s grace through your own actions. In

The Puritans arrived in the New World in the hopes of “purifying” the Church of England. They practiced certain principles that they believed in and that centered around the idea of God. The main purpose of their journey to New England was to set an example to others how the Church should be, and so their motive for settlement was solely related to religion. The Puritans positively influenced the political, economic, and social development of the New England colonies from 1630 through the 1660s because they were a “city upon a hill” that served as an example to other parts of the world as a result of their strong belief in God.

The Puritans were a religious group in the New England colonies who wanted to purify the Church of England. The Puritans centered everything on God, even their judicial system. They had a theocratic system, which means they thought God had the overall authority. Their laws, court system, and punishments were all based on the Bible. The puritan era judicial system was a theocratic, unjust, and harsh system that enforced absurd laws; they practiced an unfair way of prosecution, and gave cruel punishments to the peccant.

In New England, the Puritans had a strong belief in frugality, believing money spent on entertainment or anything unprofitable was wasted. This directly affected the economy because of the large population of Puritans in New England; they were constantly working and rarely rested. Their work ethic influenced other groups in the area because they had to keep up with the business that the Puritans were doing. In Document I, Robert Keayne writes “…many spare hours to spend unprofitably away or to refreshe myself with recreations…but have rather stuyded and endeavored to redeeme my time as a thing most deare and precious to me…” This excerpt shows how a Puritan would do business. The Puritans made very humble livings in the early days of America. They typically made livings by being farmers and ministers. Others were merchants and sold goods. The merchants were the wealthier of the puritan people. Many of the women in Puritan society helped to make a living in society by creating clothing and food to sell to other villagers.

Advantages of Puritan beliefs outnumber the disadvantages; a couple of which include unity, loyalty, and discipline. erican Revolution was a moment in time where a large amount of people band up for a common goal. For the Colonial rebels, this was to be freed from British control. The same could be said for Puritan belief and morals. These religious people work very hard every day and attend church every Sunday, all for the God they all worship, love, and adore.  Much like those involved in the Revolution, all members are giving their all towards a single goal. Why? Because they strongly believe in what they’re doing it for, and aren’t willing to accept an alternative. They band together to please the all-powerful being. Someone who’s willing to work together in order to reach a goal is highly regarded, and this can translate into communities being very effective at carrying out tasks, and nations functioning without any problems. Puritanism unites people and makes the world better because of this trait. Some non-puritans will say that different will do the opposite effect, driving people apart because of different beliefs. However, while there may be some with opposing beliefs, there will always be a tolerance present in all groups, and will unify them through this mutual tolerance. Especially if Puritanism is an already established religion in a community or nation.  The togetherness and unification thus creates trust.

The Puritans were a religious group of people who came from England to America in the 1600’s. As Protestants, they relied heavily on the Bible as the guide for every part of their lives. They used these biblical principles as the basis for their laws and marriage. The Puritans had very strict rules about how men and women should act in a marriage and had very harsh penalties for those who broke these rules. According to Matthew Glass and Edward Queen, “During the Colonial Period, Protestant Americans viewed sex as a fundamental feature of married life, enabling reproduction as well as providing an outlet for feelings.” Because they felt this was an important part of marriage, the Puritan laws were meant to be followed. As society gained more people, sex became more widespread which made the officials of the church look for more ways to stop the desire to do anything. Overall, the Puritans had meticulous standards for individuals, immoderate laws and punishments, habits and daily life which were strictly formed by decisive ways.

1. "Describe the Puritans and their beliefs, and explain why they left England for the New World." What the Puritans desired was the purification of the English church. Puritans wished to simplify worship and control the regularity of its occurrence. The protestant reformation which seemed everlasting caused conflict with the Puritans. Some Individuals believed only “visible saints” would be allowed a house in the Church. King James threatened the persecution of the separatists so the fled in search of religious freedom inside of the new found colonies.

The puritans go create the Massachusetts Bay Colony. They didn’t have strict rules like England, people were not forced to go to church, it all seems great. However, there were many issues. Puritans believed in Calvinism, or predestination. This was the idea that everything is preset by God and nothing you do can change your fate. “Nothing a person did in his or her lifetime could alter God’s choice or provide assurance that the person was predestined for salvation with the elect or damned to hell with the doomed multitude.” (The American

The Puritans who came to America originally in 1620 sought religious reform instead of breaking off from the Church of England versus their counterparts the Pilgrims who had left ten years prior. Puritans were a large factor in establishing and founding the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Their influence in the New English region of America in these thirty years was truly mind-blowing. From their emphasis on organization, family life, education, and a great work ethic is admirable in each every sense. Organization in their towns were a key factor to their lifestyle, with the centralization of the more commonly used buildings show their importance on Church [Document B] which is centered in the town square.

When the first wave of European immigrants faced the hardships of the voyage across the tumultuous Atlantic Ocean, these English Puritans had hopes of a future free from the harsh persecutions and injustices they were subjected to in 17th century England. Puritans values were documented in the writings of such immigrants such as “A Model of Christian Charity”, written by John Winthrop while aboard the Arabella in 1630, and “The Mayflower Compact”, a constitution-like document drafted and signed by the men on board The Mayflower in 1620. In the former, Winthrop emphasized the significance of maintaining unity under God and sharing in the struggles of one another so that the burdens and hardships of one are those of the community as well as the Puritans arrived in the New World. Similarly, “The Mayflower Compact” encouraged unity and equality through the formation of a civil political body to enact governing laws and constitutions that would uphold their societal and religious values to promote equality and justice for all. Despite such principles that the Pilgrims believed they were instating during the formation of the New World, I believe these values were quickly distorted, leading to a biased and prejudiced society that prevails today. Through the analysis of the history of early America, it is evident to me that though the Puritans left England as the persecuted and claimed to aspire to a just society, they arrived in the New World as persecutors of those whose beliefs

Morgan organizes The Puritan Family into six different main topics. “Puritanism and Society” begins with insight on the behavior, thought processes, and ideals of a “good” Puritan, in addition to how they functioned within their own society. “The Education of a Saint” details the beliefs and morals a Puritan is surrounded by as a child. Lastly, “Puritan Tribalism” introduces claims involving the cause of the Puritan downfall. The remaining chapters “Husband and Wife”, ”Masters and Servants”, and “The Family in the Social Order” are all self-explanatory to their respective titles.

The significance of themselves was to realize the value of themselves and hardworking. They knew that their mission was to save the whole world. Also, God gave them the lands. So that Puritans should work hard to reply to and reward God. They would like to thank God for their lands and glorify God. They proved their salvation by the industrious work. In the seventeenth century, the economy was depressed and society in turmoil, but the doctrine of Puritans led people to get rescue. That’s because the personal discipline of Puritans and the molarity Puritans ask for, helped and encouraged ordinary people to persevere in studying and work harder in the early seventeenth century. (Alan Taylor, Colonization in New England, 162) As a consequence, the doctrine of Puritans led people to get rescue. The religious value of Puritans also helped the colonists with developing the demanding land, and even making

The Puritans also wanted to have a system where everyone's voice could be heard, so they set up "congregational" and later knew them as "town meetings" ("Puritanism"). In America today we also hold "town meetings" to create a voice for the American people. The Puritans also believe in the idea of original depravity, or that everyone is full of sin-that sin was transferred to everyone from Adam. They believed that were predestined by God and only grace could save them- no good works, no baptism, and no prayers ("Puritanism"). While most Americans have adapted the theological belief of Christianity, some of the Puritan ideas such as; having an open and honest relationship with those around you, keeping no secrets, and relying on friends and family to help with religious and societal issues have transferred into the American society ("Puritans"). However, the Puritans are only remembered for their brash beliefs and their strict governments but that is not solely the

Prior to religion, North colonies were stricter than South colonies. They used to put their religion over anything. "Although Puritan couples worried that affection they felt for a spouse might turn their thoughts away from God's perfect love, this was a danger they were willing to risk" (Brands, 59). Puritans believed that by doing good Godly behaviors that they will attain salvation. They didn't have a private life, because the used to look out for their neighbors, and that means they constantly observe their neighbors to know what they have done or going to do, to make sure that what they're doing is nothing sinful. So it was a part of their religion to help anyone who went to an ungodly path (Lecture, Puritan Women & Religious). Everyone

Puritanism could be defined by many as a huge turning point of the history of our culture. When we hear the word, “Puritan” it invokes a sense of religion, of strict values and correctness that laid the raw foundation for the different branches of churches today. Not only did they play a monumental part in the growth of Calvinism, but of early colonial government and the movement and spread of people across North America. Although their values and ideals are radical in terms of modern beliefs, our culture would not have formed the way it did without the early influence of Puritans. Most confuse the group of Puritans that escaped England with the Mayflower separatists, but that is not the case. Their cause was not to destroy the Church of England or forsake it, nor its reformed beliefs that they were unhappy with, it was to sculpt and whittle their own place of worship in an area where they could no longer be punished for it, while still clinging tightly to the essentials of Calvinism. This is where their journey starts, with the group of 900 that docked in the New World on June 12, 1630. Due to the group of Puritans lead by John Winthrop, we would eventually come to have an early American culture lead by strong austerity and obedience, and in time those that resulted from the downfall of this harsh society. In the absence of these strict settlers, we would not have such a strong sense of congregationalism and