The World Is The Best

In the beginning Bradford referred to the Native Americans as savages but later on people chosen by God. In the text it states “ five or six persons with a dog coming towards them , who were savages “ (Bradford 9). Bradford is saying that the Native Americans are unruly , unkept non-human beings. He doesn’t really see them as humans or up to his standards of living. In the text it states “ was a special instrument sent from God” (Bradford 18). Later on in the text you can see that Bradford has change his mind and now sees them as special people. Bradford now sees the Native Americans as people being sent from God to help them on their journey. In

Religion had a powerful impact on Puritans lives. Many Puritan people had faith in a supreme being, God, and the teachings of his Divine Son, Jesus Christ. They’d assume that if you weren’t a good Christian they would suffer in hell, but if you were one would be saved by god. An example would be in the sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” the speaker strongly describes about how being a bad Christian has its consequences and the good things that come of being a good Christian. “Many that were very lately in the same miserable condition that you are in are now in a happy state, with their hearts filled with love to him who has loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God.”(152)This explains how they had a strong feeling towards god’s ways. By being concerned about their religious life and being good Christians.

What is now called science, emerged around 4 centuries ago. The hard work of scientists brought new ways of interpreting the world. They no longer relied on the deliberate word of God. The scientific revolution put individual curiosity, inquiry, reason, and experiments above religion. Throughout the Renaissance, the increased advancements in science forced the Catholic church to execute “rebellious” researchers who opposed their religious views. When scientists were sentenced to death they were charged by the church for denying the divinity of Jesus Christ and questioning the church’s authority. The 19th century, also known as the Age of Reason, had brought many new great minds who challenged Christianity, forcing the church to step down. Great thinkers such as Darwin removed the argument for God’s main existence. All making science the biggest challenge Christianity will ever have to face. If this ongoing revolution of science

William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation gives insight to typical seventeenth century Puritanical thought. The Puritans believed that God’s will directs and guides all aspects of the universe. Puritans further believed the Bible could help them understand God’s will in their personal lives. Bradford’s writing was meant to express an understanding of God in everyday life and to teach future Puritans how to see God in their lives.

According to Bradford, the lusty seaman dying of a horrible disease is not merely a random but just occurrence. It had divine origins and intentions. Prescribing divine purpose to a disease is reflective of the general pre-scientific thought on which the puritan religion was based. The scriptures were not only a moral code and a theological explanation of man’s purpose and origin, but also an explanation for phenomena like weather, disasters, and disease. This allows Bradford to fill in the gaps in his understanding with God’s unknowable will. Bradford again shows his views on how God exacts His will when the pilgrims send out the first exploring party under Captain Standish. “And here is to be noted a special providence of God, and a great mercy to this poor people, that here they got seed to plant them corn the next year” (Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation). The pilgrims took the seed from the homes of Native Americans, who happened to be absent at the time.

William Bradford said he believed, “Plymouth people were the chosen people to live out their last days in the earthly church” (Daly pg 560). Puritan settlers came to the new world seeking a better life and to get away from the rule of the Catholic Church they wanted to become a primitive Baptist church like in the Old Testament. The Puritans wanted to live their lives in Old Testament biblical way of life; when the settlers came to the, “New England they thought they had landed in God’s country” (Callicott). They thought they were the chosen ones the new

Ships the Puritans sailed on contained sails, which means if there was no wind, then the ship could not move. After a few days of no wind, “they put to sea again with a prosperous wind, which continued divers days together, which was some encouragement unto them;” (Bradford 74). Bradford transcribes how the wind gave the Puritans encouragement that their journey will continue on. Only through respecting God’s Covenant and believing in God will the wind continue. Bradford continues on about a storm the Puritans were caught in, but “they resolved to bear up again for the Cape, and thought themselves happy to get out of those dangers before night overtook them, as by God’s providence they did” (75). Bradford writes of God’s providence, or special care, meaning God took special care of those who believed in Him and follow the Covenant. In this passage, the colonists believed they were in grave danger, or death was near, but just as the colonists were starting to lose hope they saw the Cape. The Puritans believed God rewarded them for believing in Him. Throughout his writings, Bradford shows his belief that God is just but also of mercy, and is omnipresent. Betrayal to either God or the Covenant will receive just

Mary Rowlandson, William Bradford and Equiano all had their own views and beliefs on religion. During the period of the 16th and 17th century, people relied very heavily on the presence of God. For example, Mary Rowlandson and William Bradford were puritans. They were dependent upon God. Puritans believed that the Bible was God’s true law, and it provided them with a way of life. They would praise God with the positive attributes that comes in their life and acknowledge God with the sorrow and despair. Mary believed that it was an act of God that provided her with a bible, gave her the strength to resist tobacco, prevented her foot from getting wet in the cold water, which would play a part in her weakened body and gave her the resilience to

Influence of the Puritan faith existed massively in social development of New England and brought great changed in the social standings. This can be seen through the emphasis on church and education. Visible in Doc B, a map of a colonial New England town shows the center of a average Puritan town, containing a village green surrounded by multiple buildings. Prominent in the surrounding buildings are the church and the school. The church was the religious and ultimately social center of a Puritan town. Puritan followers strived to comprehend the ways God. This belief also caused the Puritans to think themselves better by destiny; as stated by William Bradford, following the Pequot War, “…and they gave the praise thereof to God…who had wrought so wonderfully a [victory]” (Doc D). Some

God and religion made a long lasting impact in the New England colonies. Many of New England’s political views were greatly influenced by Puritan beliefs in what they thought was sinful or did not agree with. They believed that no decisions should be made without god (doc. A). Puritans also said “…we will willingly do nothing to the offence of the church…” (doc. C), which meant the puritans would never do anything that went against the church. This included actions that they thought were morally wrong such as premarital pregnancies. A preacher by the name of Roger Williams, believed god did not require

William Bradford’s writing displays his Puritan faith by including many of their ideals throughout Of Plymouth Plantation. Bradford’s beliefs give his writing a simple and unembellished style, like that of Puritan dress. Furthermore, He demonstrates his faith by including the Puritan concept of election. Foremost, Bradford displays his faith by incorporating providence into his writing. For example, he infers that their trip across the Atlantic ended safely only through God’s intervention. Throughout Of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford exhibits these aspects of his Puritan faith and lifestyle through his simplistic writing style.

Throughout William Bradford’s “Of Plymouth Plantation”, his attachment to his religion was very strong and very verbally shown throughout his work. Bradford was between the age of twelve and thirteen when he had first heard his first sermon by a minister named Richard Clyfton and he later joined with Clyfton in the year 1606. Bradford begins with “…some godly and zealous preachers, and God’s blessings on their labors…” God is already being praised in the first few sentences of this work to bless the labor of their works and throughout the land. The goal of this paper is to bring into light three different sections throughout the work, where Bradford uses his religion to prove a point and to show how his religious faith is freely expressed by leaving England.

In of Plymouth Plantation William Bradford talks about how the Puritans left England to relish in their own religion beliefs and how things should be handled. While doing so they went through tough

William Bradford wrote, ‘Of Plymouth Plantation’ written sometime between the years 1630-1651 serves as an historical account of the Pilgrims’ voyage and colonization in America. Bradford was born in England but became a separatist, and in 1620, sailed with his wife for America aboard the Mayflower in search of religious freedom. Bradford was a prominent member of the colony, even becoming governor for many years. His written account is still largely considered one the most important historical documents of the Colonization period. However, although viewed as an established historical piece, Bradford exhibits some bias in his historical accounts. His main purpose in writing the book was to convey his world-view/ideology of the Puritan lifestyle and to demonstrate his belief that the establishment of the colony was directly carried out according to God’s divine will. His religious beliefs were demonstrated in the language of the text through the use of a plain-style, third person narrative writing along with his use of biblical illustrations.

William Bradford and his fellow Puritan Separatists fled their native country in the pursuit of religious freedom. They believed that God was imploring them to escape the persecution in England and they made it their chief goal to follow his will. When discussing the reasons for why the Puritans departed Holland after about a year’s stay Bradford writes, “A great hope and inward zeal they had to laying some good foundation, or at least to make some way thereunto, for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the Kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world; yea, though they should be but even as stepping stones unto others for performing of so great work (Bradford 4). This quote exemplifies the emotions of the pilgrims as they embarked on their journey across the