Puritan Guilt

Puritan Guilt
Puritan Guilt in Nathaniel Hawthorne's Short Stories
Nathaniel Hawthorne's fiction is important to American literature in part because of the way he infused his stories with characters who struggle with
experiences to which all readers can relate. Hawthorne is so well–known for his powerful and complex characters that some of them, like The Scarlet
Letter's martyred Hester Prynne, manipulative Roger Chillingworth, and troubled Arthur Dimmesdale, for example, have become archetypal characters
for generations of storytellers' use after Hawthorne. Partially due to all his richly wrought characters, Hawthorne created stories that continue to inspire
thought and debate about these tales' questions, ideas, and themes. One such recurring theme connects to part of Hawthorne's own heritage, namely his
ancestor the infamous Puritan judge John Hathorne of the Salem witch trials. In many of Nathaniel Hawthorne's short stories, especially "The Gentle ...
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Indeed, there could be no other reason Hooper would be unwilling to share except some guilt which would remove him from his Puritan office.
Christopherson views Hooper and his guilt in this light, too, noticing, "Throughout his fiction Hawthorne . . . was preoccupied with the unconfessed
sin in the minister's breast" (595) and further that "Father Hooper in 'The Minister's Black Veil' goes to his grave wearing a symbol of guilt" (596).
Even if the veil's actual purpose is not guilt–related, which is unlikely, Hooper would still understand that his parishioners would see the veil as guilt
nonetheless, and by choosing to wear the veil regardless seems to indicate that Hooper is another of Hawthorne's guilty Puritan characters, though
Hooper is not the
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Puritan Beliefs
The Puritan Beliefs and Ideas on Adultery 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. The Puritans raised their families to be very reliable on themselves instead of others. As Puritan
children got older throughout their life they got taught to be dependable and to take care of themselves to prepare them for their future of being
responsible adults. Throughout the young puritan boys' and girls' lives, they were expected to take on many hardworking tasks to help their parents
and other family members in and outside the house. Puritan women were in charge of the household but were thought of as irrational because they
were emotional, but men were thought of as sane and reasonable (Dunklee et al.). Men may have had a lot of power, but "Women exercised
considerable power within their families, including the authority to divorce their husbands by setting their belongings outside the longhouse entrance"
(Lapsansky). The Puritan boys were accompanied to do outside chores such as hunting, crafting, and also learning carpentry. The girls were to do inside
the house chores such as cleaning, cooking, and helping their mothers in the house. The Puritan parents held their children to high standards to prepare
them to be proper husbands and

Puritans Values
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 "TheMayflower
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

Puritans Influence
The Influences of Puritan and Quaker Thinking on the American Experience
Puritans left England in large numbers during the 1600's with the goal of creating a God centered community where citizens worked together in all
aspects of life (Butler, Wacker, and Balmer, 2003). Likewise, as stated inReligion in America: A Reader (1998), William Penn planned for
Pennsylvania to be a place where people could serve the Lord and Quakers would be an example of Christian values. Although there were
differences in beliefs between the two religions, the basic moral values were very much aligned. Whereas the intolerance of the Puritans led to the
division of the religion and creation of new factions , the religious tolerance of the Quakers led to contention from within and outside of the
religion. It seems that America was founded on religious values and yet the multitude of beliefs led to a diverse culture which saw a diminishing
desire to seek and follow the will of God. Has religious freedom led to a stronger America or has religion become so splintered that many Americans
lack the desire to serve anyone other than themselves? As Americans we have the freedom to practice whatever religion we choose, but we are a far
cry from having religious tolerance as is evidenced by the abundance of hate crimes in the news every day.
Butler, Wacker, and Balmer (2003) described thePuritan religion as " the belief of God's omnipotence, salvation by God's grace alone, predestination,
and ........group

The Nature Of The Puritan
The Puritan Mind
The puritan mind is the motivation that led a group of people to take a chance to find freedom of persecution in America to live their lives in the ways
they believed were correct in God's judgement and in themselves. However, in such a gamble moving into an unknown world, they faced the beginning
of a new society, atrocities, and personal difficulties, which would make the humanistic mind question: Why would God allow this to happen? One
thing to understand is how the Puritan mind works. As Perry Miller would explain, God and the spirit within are real for Puritans. However, the
challenge for a Puritan is to defend their faith in God and overcome any doubt. In order to do this, Perry Miller would say, "The search for inward
meaning relies upon the power of creative imagination." Without creative imagination, how could one explain a death of a love one or catastrophic
event that left them in pain. Of course, another idea that is real to the Puritans, which at times seems like an escape–goat, is that "there is fallibility in
material existence and infallibility in spiritual existence." Life on Earth is temporary and imperfect; the goal is Heaven, eternal life. For the Puritan,
the pleasures of the world weren't their goal in life but to better improve themselves to reach eternal life. The motivation and creative energy behind
this idea is regeneration and piety. If a Puritan is going through a hard time, it would be his or her job to interpret why is God

Puritan Women
How Anne Bradstreet confronts puritan view of gender
The Puritans were a group of Protestants in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. They were reformed Protestants who wanted to purify the church
from its Catholic practices. They maintained that the Church of England was partially reformed. The puritans believed in the differentiation of roles
for both men and women. Men were considered superior by puritan women. They were the ones to be elected as community leaders and ministers. In
case of any decisions, men were the only one supposed to vote. It was wrong for a woman to sue in court, only men had such privileges (Kamensky,
2013). This means that married women were unable to file for divorce. Culturally, women were considered close to objects. Male children were of
better status than women and would even pass decisions that women could not interfere with. To the puritans, the role of women in the society was
attending to house duties, taking care of their husbands, producing and nurturing their children for the generations to come (Willen, 1992). Puritan
women had less freedom and had the lowest status in the community. According to Morgan (1966), despite the undermining of women in all other
areas, puritans believed that everyone had the right to read and understand the scriptures even in Church. Puritans believed in serving God and stressed
the role of community and family. Anne Bradstreet was the only woman poet during her time despite having puritan values. In

Importance Of Puritans
Strict Puritan beliefs have been around since the late 16th century. Puritans believe in predestination, which is the belief that God already has a plan for
the people living on earth. Puritans believe in intolerance towards others which includes religious beliefs that differ from their own. Unification of
church and state is a significant part of Puritan belief because nothing is more important to a Puritan than God and getting into heaven. Puritans valued
education because people need to know how to read in order to read the bible. Even though the reasoning of importance may be different from a
Puritan's perspective their beliefs still exist today. Puritan beliefs still exist today through intolerance towards others through the ... Show more content
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Religious wars are still present today, which proves that worldwide people have a difficult time accepting new religious beliefs. ISIS members are
Muslim extremists who do not accept other people's religious viewpoints, similar to the Puritans, muslim extremists believe there is only one right
way to worship God and that is the Muslim way. Members of ISIS are starting a holy war because they are trying to carry out deeds in the name of
God because they believe that is what God wants. Intolerance towards others is exhibited in today's society through the failed attempt of the First
Amendment, and through the occurrence of a holy war. Unification of state and church has decreased significantly over the last couple centuries but is
still around in today's society through laws, failed attempts at trying to keep the church out of school, and through US currency. As much as people do
not want to admit that laws come from the Bible, no one knows who decided that killing people is wrong. The Ten Commandments are ten standards
that Christians believe God set for people on earth, and in order to proceed to heaven after death, people must follow all ten of the commandments.
Each species follow their own customs, for example, female praying mantises eat male praying mantises which is normal for praying mantises.

The English Puritans
The English Puritans were a group of reformed Christians looking to escape for England and its religious persecutions. With reformed beliefs and
ideals, the Puritans came to the New World forming new behaviors and strengthening unity among believers in God and worship. Causing controversial
conflict and laying persecutions of their own, the Puritans will subse–quently transform early America by laying the foundation for political, social and
religious plat–forms.
During the 16th century, King Henry VIII would come to find himself in a bit of a pre–dicament. His first wife, Catherine failed to produce a son
which was unacceptable since there was such precedence in having a male heir as a successor to the throne. King Henry's answer to this would be a
divorce. However, this was strictly forbidden under the laws of the Catholic Church so King Henry would start a reformation leading to the Church of
England. Most of the beliefs and religious structure will stay the same apart from divorce. These shifts in religious re–form would bring about many
who disagreed with the fundamental beliefs of the Church of Eng–land and they would come to be known as the Puritans. The Puritans were of
Protestant faith and found the reformed Church of England to be still too true to the Catholic Church. This group of Protestants believed in a more
simple and pure way of life with a closer relationship with God. Thus, being deemed with the title, "Puritans." They felt that the Church of

Puritan Beliefs
American Puritanism formed when the Puritans thought the Anglican Church still had much residue from the Catholic Church– so they sought to start
their own religion. Because the Puritans felt this way, they moved to America to start a new life with new beliefs. These beliefs– which they thought
were the truest form of Christianity– shaped the way the Puritans lived. They wanted to be an example for everyone (it was denoted as the "City on the
Hill.") In, "The Scarlet Letter," Nathaniel Hawthorne takes a trip back to the 1640's where he sets the mood around the way the Puritans lived. One of
the reasons the Puritans left the Anglican Church was that they wanted to bring back the old beliefs the Anglican Church did not teach. Many believed
in unconditional election– or the belief that only God gets to pick who is given salvation. In Hawthorne's, "The Scarlet Letter," there are many
examples which contradict this belief. Some people believed that Hester's forehead should have been branded with a hot iron because her punishment
wasn't efficacious enough. (49) If the Puritan society truly followed their laws, they would have let God decide what or what was not a true punishment.
Another belief, total ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In various ways, he sets the tone by the way the characters speak. "No, my little Pearl!" said her mother. "Thou must gather thine own sunshine. I have
none to give thee!"(94) No one in this day in time uses that type of language. A lot of imagery that brings the reader to the Puritan society was used in
the making of this book. "The rust on the ponderous iron–work of its oaken door looked more antique than anything else in the New World." Just the
descriptions in that sentence make it look like a movie in the readers head. Not only does this give the reader a mindset for the whole book, it takes
them back to the

Comparison Of The Puritans
King Philip's war lead the Puritans into a horrifying situation with the Native Americans. These Native Americans took lives of those of the Puritans by
burning down houses, taking them into captivity and separating them from their own family and their own religion. Mrs. Mary Rowlandson was one
of the Puritans that was taken into captivity, and drug from her own family including her three children. The Puritans have a culture unlike anyone else
especially unlike the Native Americans, or the "Indians" as Rowlandson would call them. Because of the drastic differences between the Indians and
the Puritans culture, it was hard for them to gain strength to stay alive after the captivity. The Narrative of the captivity and restoration of Mrs. Mary
White Rowlandson tells today's readers about the Puritans culture, including Christianity, strength, and family values. To begin with, Christianity plays
a big role in the Puritan's life. Rowlandson would read the Bible and worship God everyday no matter what she was doing or how bad she was
feeling. When she got captured by the Indians she had no one that was a Christian nearby, because of this she felt alone. Rowlandson kept faith by her
side through the whole journey and believed God would help her through it, as she quoted, "God was with me in a wonderful manner, carrying me
along, and bearing my spirit, that it did not quite fail." (Rowlandson) The Puritans didn't know any better than to stereotype the Indians as

The Puritans And The Separatist
The Puritans and the Separatists were two Protestant groups that disagreed with how King Henry VIII's Anglican Church was being practiced. The two
groups are different in the fact that one group just wanted to reform the Anglican Church, whereas the other group wanted to break away altogether.
The Puritans believed that the Anglican Church had strayed too far from its roots, and that it needed to be purified from the Roman Catholic Church.
They practiced the principles of Calvinism, and believed in the idea of predestination. They didn't believe in the hierarchy and ceremony of the
Anglican Church. However, the weren't radical enough to want to split away from the Anglican Church. They believed that it could be saved and
reformed from within.

The Influence Of The Puritans
Just how "pure" were the Puritans? The Puritan era in the United States during the early 1600's proved to be a controversial time period. As settlers
to the new land were escaping the grasp of the British monarchy, they brought with them new religious, cultural, and fundamental ideals. Among these
ideals is a rather peculiar belief. Would you believe that the Puritans were against celebrating Christmas? Yes, it seems odd for such a "pure"
Christian society to oppose the celebration of their Savior's birth; they even banned it! Accordingly, the fact that the Puritans were opposed to the
Christmas holiday is absurd. First and foremost, the Puritans viewed Christmas as a holiday that was observed with more revelry than piety and in
that regard was not proper in the eyes of the Lord. It was –in their eyes– a commercial celebration rather than that of actually celebrating the birth of
Jesus. However, the bottom line is that even on a materialistic note, the holiday provoked Christ–like behavior. Even if people became distant from the
actual intention of Christmas (the birth of Christ, that is), it was... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Once they had officially cancelled Christmas in 1647, they further imposed unnecessary retributions on any person who dared to celebrate Christmas
in the slightest. "Not only were traditional expressions of merriment strictly forbidden, but shops were also ordered to stay open, churches were shut
down, and ministers arrested for preaching on Christmas day" (Schnepper). A man named Blue Richard Culmer is notoriously known for busting the
stain glass windows of a church for celebrating. Is it necessary to reiterate the fact that it was a CHURCH? This is wrong on all levels. People faced
prison sentences, fines, and extreme harassment for celebrating. This was all completed at the notion of simply enjoying Christmas. The excessive
penalties were clearly

Essay On The Puritans
The puritans were a religious group made up of people who wanted to "purify," the Church of England. The puritans were activist that wanted to get rid
of the catholic system within the church. However, people in England sought out to remove these groups of people from the area because they saw
them as a threat to their religion. This is how the puritans ended up in Massachusetts Bay Colony. The puritans moved to this colony in hopes of
recreating and ideal community, a "utopian" society that others could look up to. The puritans ideal community consisted of peace and partnership;
they wanted to remove all evil and improve the quality of life. The puritans then became strict to ensure that every person was equivalent in the eyes
of God. I think the religion puritans created casted a fear in other people especially in England because they are so used to being ruled under one king.
The ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Puritans viewed religious and civil affairs at the same level. They did not separate the two. Even though the Establishment Clause of the First
Amendment stated that church and state were separate, the Puritans held them close together. The Puritans' strict beliefs influenced politics during this
time period. In the early stages of the puritans journey to purification, they opened a new church and slowly they were evolving into their own beliefs.
The puritans wanted to break away from the norms, and expectations of Christian society. I believed that the puritans had the idea that by creating a
new church, they could essentially purify their life, along with others, and the way the church ruled. The spiritual belief of the puritans was so strong
that it influenced communities, laws and customs. In the ideal world for the puritans, God is above all. The puritans, I think, wanted to remove the
idea of having a ruler, or dictatorship in control of the people, and their

The Colonization Of Puritans
The Plymouth was colonized by people who were seeking religious independence called Puritans. The colony established a government that stop its
inhabitants from leaving the Puritanic ways. Anyone who didn't flow was being punished. After giving thought decided that Puritanism lifestyle, was
not the lifestyle wanted to lead. Plymouth Colony was the first colonial settlement in New England. Those settlers, sailed on the Mayflower in
Massachusetts. The strangers questioned where or not the separatist had the authority to established a govern colony. 41 men sign men signed the
Mayflower Compact, a document that allowed all male settlers to elect a governor and make decisions for the colony in town meetings.
The early life in the colony was incredibly

Hypocrisy In Puritan
Church was the cornerstone of the Puritan society in early America. In their efforts to create the ideal Christian society, their rigid religious beliefs in
Old Testament methods was the basis for many of their harsh laws and punishments. Their everyday lives were dedicated to God and was seen as a
struggle between God and the devil. Any act against God was considered a crime and public shame, humiliation, and punishment was used as a
powerful tool for social conformity. Just as not following the Ten Commandants was punishable by law; a person could be subject to various forms of
punishment for unacceptable social behavior such as having long hair, skipping church, swearing, sleeping during a sermon, gossiping, disrespecting
your parents, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Today, too many of politicians, community and religious leaders lead double lives without feelings of shame or care of the consequences. Most have
a "public face" and a "private face" that are usually contradict or are in conflict with each other. In The Scarlet Letter, the hypocrisies of thePuritan
society are revealed when Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, a highly respected member of the community is actually an adulterer and the father of
Pearl, Hester Prynne's child. Even after he delivered the best sermon of his life where he admitted how horrible of a man he was; acknowledged his
hypocrisy through the statement "a remorseful hypocrite that he was;" and vaguely revealed his true self. The community still refused to believe that
someone in such a great position of power could commit the sin of adultery although they were quick to condemn Hester with shame, a common
punishment tactic of the Puritan society. Not only was this sin of hypocrisy was present in The Scarlet Letter, but it was also revealed in The Devil
and Tom Walker, where Tom Walker portrayed himself as a pious member of the community, even though he sold his soul to the Devil. He was not
only a hypocrite; but like his wife, who often lied about her whereabouts, he too was

The Puritan Dilemma
Superficially Puritanism was only a belief that the Church of England should be purged of its hierarchy and of the traditions and ceremonies inherited
from Rome. But people who caught the fever knew that it was much more than that. Once a person got the fever, it changed their whole life.
Puritanism was too powerful to be denied. It did great things for England and America, but only by creating in the men and women it affected a tension
which was at best painful and at worst unbearable. Puritanism required people to live life searching for salvation, but told them that they were going to
do evil. Puritanism required they trust in God but that they would go to Hell unless God had given them salvation before they were born. Puritanism
required people to avoid sin but told them that they would commit sin. Puritanism turned a person into a living contradiction and this was the dilemma,
the Puritan Dilemma. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
By March 1630, 17 ships funded by the Massachusetts Bay Company left London to establish a new colony with Winthrop as their leader. Once they
arrived in America, the new society was established under the the will of God. They lived their lives according to the Scriptures. The Puritans, along
with all other nations, had formed a covenant with God, in which they promised to obey his every command. And when God let them safely travel
safely across the ocean, they knew that God had sealed the covenant. The leaders of the colony punished any and everyone who committed a Scriptural
sin, unmarried men and women were required to live with their families until they started their own, and Church was now a requirement. The society
was now reformed into the image of God's holy kingdom and it would lead the Puritans to a straight path to

Puritan Beliefs
The Puritans lived an austere life that focused on hard work and obedience towards God. This harsh lifestyle conditioned them to never give up and to
endure the harsh elements they faced in the new world. Although they forbid many things such as dancing or gambling, the Puritans embraced writing,
and the works of several Puritan authors provide a glimpse into everyday Puritan life. William Bradford, John Winthrop, and Cotton Mather each
convey a unique aspect of Puritan thought and, combined, the authors provide a detailed account of the core Puritan beliefs and the struggles the
colonists faced in their quest to be a city upon a hill that perfectly modeled Christian ideals. William Bradford provides a detailed record of Puritan
life, starting all the way back at their arrival in "Cape Cod, the 11th of November" (134). Much can be gained from reading his account of the
Puritans first arrival in Massachusetts, as it describes the inception of the Plymouth Colony and gives background to the history of the Puritans.
Bradford clearly states that the Puritans have arrived in the New World "for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith," an indication
that the colonists focused not on this life but on preparing for the next (138). The Puritans were a people who had their entire cultural identity
wrapped up in their religion, and so every piece of Puritan literature or aspect of Puritan life has a Christian focus. When the colonists narrowly
escaped a conflict

The Puritan Colonies
The Puritans encountered many hardships during the 17th century. These included traveling to the New World, fighting in King Phillip's War, and
questioning their belief in God at times. The Puritans were one of the religious groups who believed The Church of England needed purification. The
other group representing this notion called themselves Pilgrims. The Pilgrims differentiated themselves from the Puritans because the Pilgrims
believed The Church of England corrupted itself too deeply, and could not be purified from within. The Pilgrims wished to separate themselves from
The Church of England, causing the Pilgrims to also be called separatists. The Puritans, however, wanted to purify The Church of England from within.
Consequently, the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
She questioned the miracles written in the Bible. Bradstreet thought these miracles were made up, because she had never seen firsthand
experience of a miracle. Bradstreet actually dreaded coming to the new world, until she was convinced it was the way of God. Bradstreet believed
she was there, in the new world, because God wanted her to be there. Bradstreet believed God was merciful and caused suffering to lead His
followers back to Him and the righteous path. Anne Bradstreet also though God was forgiving and omnipresent. In many of her writings one sees
her asking God for forgiveness and mercy. Bradstreet seeking mercy from God is seen in her writing "Before the Birth of One of Her Children,"
where Bradstreet writes "[t]he many faults that well you know I have Let be interred in my oblivious grave; If any worth of virtue were in me,
Let that live freshly in thy memory" (120). Here Bradstreet is writing God and herself know she has flaws and has made mistakes, but Bradstreet
would like to be buried with these mistakes. Anne Bradstreet does not want to be remembered by the wrong she has done in his life, and is asking
God for mercy when she passes away. In these two lines Bradstreet implies if there is still a quality of righteousness left in her, God should let that
quality live on if she dies. Anne Bradstreet's

Puritan Beliefs
The Puritans were immensely spiritual, stern, and god–fearing to the point that they believed solely on a theocracy. The second generation of Puritans
began to lose sight in their principles as Puritans, and writers were used as vessels to communicate the consequences of not following God. Both
Bradstreet and Edwards thoroughly demonstrate Puritan thoughts through writing; however, the tone in each varies between the two. Using sensitive
detail in writing appeals to a reader's emotions. Bradstreet creates a poem where her home was burned to the ground, which resulted in the loss of her
possessions and husband. Her explanation was the fact that she put her material possessions over God as a way to warn other Puritans. In her depiction
of eternal life, Bradstreet states, "The world no longer let me love/ My hope and treasures lie above" (53–54). This is regarding to the simple fact that
all of her belongings are in heaven waiting for her even though she cherished them more than her religion. As for her relationship with God, she prays
to him through her time of desperation by saying " And to my God my heart did cry/ To straighten me in my distress/ And not to leave me succourless"
(8–10). Even though everything was destroyed, she keeps her faith in God as all Puritans should. Through her writing she allows her readers to see
an example of how to react: pray and do not turn your back on God. Her strong relationship with God gives her the ability to accept what

Enlightenment and Puritans
The Enlightenment period, also known as The Age of Reason, was a period of social, religious, and political revolution throughout the 18th century
which changed the thoughts of man during this "awakening" time. It was a liberation of ignorant thoughts, ideas, and actions that had broken away
from the ignorant perception of how society was to be kept and obeyed thus giving little room for new ideas about the world. Puritan society found
these new ideas of thought to be extremely radical in comparison to what they believed which was a belief of strong rational religion and morality.
Enlightened society believed that the use of reason would be a catalyst of social change and had a demand of political representation thus resulting in a
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Because of ideas that the Enlightenment brought forth from writing they also made a significant impact on how politics would transition from the old
theocratic view of government into a democratic institution. Next, the new ideal of government started bringing new ideas of how the government
should be ran. The old theocracy of the Puritans gave power to the ministers of the older settlements which limited all power from the people. An
example of political philosophy ideas that were proposed was the introduction of empiricism by John Locke which profoundly influenced American
society to the thought that government had an emphasis of a social contract which created a consistency between society and the laws of nature. This
meant that power would reside with the people rather than the state. The Puritan government, before the Enlightenment, was shrouded in myth and
radical religious rule where they believed that God had everything to do with how they should rule society and decisions that had to be made.
Enlightenment philosophers that would eventually come to be, such as Thomas Jefferson, introduced the Constitution which stated that the
government would be "for the people, by people", resulting into equal rights for all and giving power to the people to make decisions. These ideas of
equality and other ideas of political freedom would give way to changes in the social philosophy of the Puritans.

Puuritan And Puritan
Throughout history God has had a place in society, by either being the divine leader, the creator of everything or even a non existent character. The
Puritans were an English Protestant group in the late 16th and 17th century that believed God was the divine leader. With their strong beliefs and strict
laws controlling their followers, the Puritans lived a simple life praising the lord to one day get into Heaven. In the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel
Hawthorne a descendant of early Puritan settlers; a story is told based in a Puritan community following the life of Hester Prynne and her Puritan
community around her. We see in this novel how the life of the Puritans are deposited. Another story that shows the Puritan life is The Devil and Tom
Walker by Washington Irving. He brought a new voice to literature by writing The Devil and Tom Walker a dark story with the devil. After reading
these two stories we see how both authors showed the Puritan lifestyle in both. Also how Puritanism affects the characters in both stories and how each
author had their own opinions on the Puritans. The authors show the life of the Puritans and their belief of heaven and hell through these chilling
stories. Washington irving and Nathaniel Hawthorne show the Puritan lifestyle in both if their stories. They may have depicted the puritan lifestyle in
similar different ways but overall Puritanism is shown through the stories. Religion was a substantial part of the puritan lifestyle and this is

Puritan Beliefs
Puritan view of Religion
God directed all the events by the exercise of his will and aimed at directing all these events to an intelligent end.
Puritans placed emphasis on the righteousness and sovereignty of God.
Human beings were sinners who were not able to attain salvation and be pure in the eyes of God.
Puritans believed in predestination and that all human beings were to conform to divine law.
The Puritan role in society was to be the people of God and create another form of Jerusalem.
An individual should have an intimate relationship with God in order to redeem themselves from harmful sin.
Puritans should become holy and set the example for those who remained in England to change their sinful habits.
Puritans needed to associate themselves with the predestined elect (Puritans who were guaranteed their way to heaven) to become an official member
of the church.
Strictly avoided witchcraft related practices, as it went against God's expectations.
Believed in the Devil and his possession of members in society who did not withhold Puritan religious views (specifically women and children).
Believed in the strict interpretation of the Bible, as it was God's work.
Winthrop, John. "Reasons for the Plantation in New England." The Winthrop Society, 1682, https://www.winthropsociety.com/doc_reasons.php
This source is credible because it is a primary source from John Winthrop who was a Puritan lawyer, as his reasoning conveys his motivations in
migrating to

Puritans Hardships
The Puritans encountered many hardships during the 17th century. These included traveling to the New World, fighting in King Phillip's War, and
questioning their belief in God at times. The Puritans were one of the religious groups who believed The Church of England needed to be purified. The
other group representing this notion called themselves Pilgrims. The Pilgrims differentiated themselves from the Puritans because the Pilgrims
believed The Church of England was corrupted to deeply, and could not be purified from within. The Pilgrims wished to separate themselves from The
Church of England, causing the Pilgrims to also be called separatists. The Puritans, however, wanted to purify The Church of England from within. For
this reason, the... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
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

Puritans Beliefs
Puritanism arose in the late 16th century, when a religious reformation was going on with the Church of England. The Puritans believed that society
should be pure and they strove to live for God. The Puritan culture and way of life was heavily based upon what the Bible said and the word of
God. Puritans were a very strict group of people in every aspect of their lives, from the way they held church, to what they did on certain days of the
week. As a whole, the Puritan society emphasized the righteousness and the sovereignty of God, moral values and the belief of predestination, and
lived their lives according to the scripture in the Bible as Godly examples in society. Puritans believed in the righteousness of God and his
sovereignty, that God is more powerful and more holy than anyone else. In the eyes of the Puritans, God was omnipotent and untouchable. There
was never an obstacle too large or a situation unsolvable for God. They believed that God controls and directs everything happening in the
universe. God's holiness was highly admired by the society of the Puritans. It was an assurance of God's love and concern for the Puritan people.
God's righteousness was believed to change the character of individuals. God worked through the hearts of people, and from changes of the heart,
developed a new and more holy individual. It was seen as being renewed by God's loving grace. God touched and affected every aspect of a Puritan's
life. Puritan culture saw themselves as

Puritans Characteristics
Puritans: Forming the Character of Colonial New England A division of English Protestants, called the Puritans, wanted to purify the Church of
England's unbiblical ways. When their efforts only led to persecution, their desire to worship God biblically compelled them to leave England. They
had to brave the fierce Atlantic Ocean so they could reach the New World where they could worship freely. Once there, they founded thePlymouth
Colony and later the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Puritans shaped the New England colonies through their democratic assemblies, hard work ethic,
and God–fearing communities. The Puritans based their form of government upon democratic assemblies. Ordinarily, one could find a sizable
building called the Town Hall in the center of each town. Its convenient location made it accessible to all the residents of the town. Inside this
building, the Puritans held meetings to decide what to do about almost all aspects of colonial life. These democratic assemblies allowed everyone to
have a say in the government of their town. Moreover, one can also see their idea of democracy in the way they refrained from giving too much
power to their leaders. Wisely, the Puritans concluded, if their leaders had too much power, their strength would tempt them to use it selfishly instead
of for the good of the colonies. John Cotton stated, "Let all the world learn to give mortal men no greater power then they are content they shall use–
for use it they will....No man would think what desperate deceit and wickedness there is in the hearts of men." In addition, the Puritans' desire to
promote unity in their communities also affected the government. John Winthrop expressed this when he said: "We must be knit together, in this work,
as one man." Because they aimed to work together, the governors would listen to the citizens' ideas during democratic assemblies. In addition to
developing democratic institutions, the Puritans formed their entire economy around a hard work ethic. To survive in a New England colony, one must
work hard, but the Puritans embraced toiling diligently as a virtue in itself, more than just a practical means to an end. Stated in the Enlarged Salem
Covenant of 1636, the

Persecution Of The Puritans
During the late 16th and 17th centuries, the Puritans, or sometimes referred to as 'precisionists', were members of a religious reform who cast away
the religious ideals of the Church of England under Queen Elizabeth's rule. The Puritans planned to regulate a different way to worship, along with
censorious moral beliefs, often disregarding the beliefs of the entire English nation in order to instill their own, leading to their persecution. A blog
dated 2008 on the topic of the Puritan persecution states: "They were forced out because they wanted to reform human civilization through religion, to
wipe out poverty, and to make a heaven on Earth in which everyone was free to discover God's will for themselves". It is evident that the Puritans, who
believed in a more Protestant variation of the Anglican Church, were persecuted and fled, but the exact reasons for this are often disputed. The most
popular trail of thought is that due to the backlash they received, the Puritans could not be maintained and thus escaped. Other people are entertained
by the thought that the Puritans had been banished but in result, had only a sole thought in mind – to reform human civilization through religion
somewhere else, as stated in the blog above. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
They complained of that the recent application of the Anglican Church, was still too similar to the Catholic Church, despite it being a substitution to
the Catholic Church with slight modifications due to King Henry VIII. The Protestants who thought as such had been deeply influenced by John
Calvin, who revolutionized against bishops holding too much power within the Church. The

Puritan Duality
In The Wonders of the Invisible World, Cotton Mather sums up Satan's goal for the Puritan people in the New World saying that "when he
perceived such a people here accomplishing the promise of old made unto our blessed Jesus, that He should have the utmost parts of the earth for
His possession" (Mather 328). The biblical beliefs in this passage reveal how Puritans saw the New World and, as a result, decided to live according
to the Bible in hopes of gaining salvation after death. Living life in such a manner proposed a bitter struggle because while the Puritans wanted
salvation, they also considered themselves unworthy of it. The experience produced a favorite theme of duality in Puritan literature, which can be found
in Anne Bradstreet's poem ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
"Flesh," is recognized as "Evil" for she "had her eye / On worldly wealth and vanity" (5–6), tries to persuade "Spirit" into temptation, and the poem
mentions that her father is Adam. "Spirit," is considered the essence of "Good" for she "did rear / Her thoughts unto a higher sphere" (7–8), avoids the
temptation of Flesh, and is considered the daughter of God. The Puritans want Spirit to win this eternal battle between her and Flesh because they
believed it would enable them to descend into Heaven after death. For the Puritans, the New World offered a second chance at life and the
opportunity for the people to construct how they would live their lives. None the less, they used the Bible as the manual to guide how the people
should live their lives according to God. They referred to it for everything that occurred in their lives to make sense of their new surroundings. For
example, in John Winthrop's journal he wrote July 5, 1632, about the mouse who became victor of its battle with a snake (178). The event was
interpreted to be a sign from God representing a sign of the Puritans triumphing Satan (Winthrop 178). To accomplish God's will it was best believed to
withdraw from materialistic values and live simply, which is why the poem's narrator is crying because they could be experiencing that struggle of
wanting pleasure but not wanting to risk their

The Puritan Era
There is no doubt in history that the Puritan era was a fascinating, and remarkable time. The Puritans indeed shaped young America, and the early years
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Puritans had deep pride in their community, and even greater pride in their faith, and their beliefs.
Religion was the most important aspect of their community, and they wanted it to be the center focus of the society that they were building. Their faith
was continuously practiced, and preached from the time they were a newborn, and continued upon the day that they passed. They found that literature
was the most ingenious way to teach their faith. In order for everybody to be able to master the religion, they set up classrooms, and hired teachers....
The Puritans greatest value was without a doubt– their religion, and their faith. They valued trying to enforce an education for the children, in order for
the practice of their religion to be sought out, and carried on for generations to come. The importance of education was shown in the first educational
law in Massachusetts which was called, "The Old Deluder Act of 1647". This law stated that, "It is therefore ordered that every township in this
jurisdiction, after the Lord hath increased them to fifty households shall forthwith appoint one within their town to teach all such children as shall
resort to him to write and read, whose wages shall be paid either by the parents or masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in general, by way of
supply, as the major part of those that order the prudentials of the town shall appoint; provided those that send their children be not oppressed by
paying much more than they can have them taught for in other towns." ("The Old Deluder Act (1647).")This law showed the magnitude of how
important education was for their community. The importance of family was also a strong value amongst the Puritans. Puritans such as, Anne
Bradstreet truly showed the emphasis, and importance on family life within the lines of her poetry. Her poetry truly gave insight on the community,
and what was important for the families. One poem in particular that shows what family meant to a mother during the Puritan era is titled, "In Reference
to Her Children." Bradstreet' strong emotions towards her beloved children are shown in lines such, "That did what could be done for young / And
nurst you up till you were strong / And 'fore she once would let you fly / She shew'd you joy and misery, / Taught what was good, and what was ill,
/ What would save life, and what would kill. / Thus gone, amongst you I may live, / And dead, yet speak and counsel give. / Farewell, my

The Puritan Views Of Puritans
The Puritans led their lives according to a strict moral code, centered around religion, which they had followed and conformed to. In addition
conformity, Puritans believed, was crucial to uniting the community, and therefore resulted in anti–individualistic beliefs. However, when they
deviated from the religious code they were threatened with banishment from the community and often experienced public shaming. Also the Puritans,
whom had come to the colonies seeking religious freedom for themselves, cultivated a society that was intolerant of the practice of religious freedom
for others. The Puritan influence enabled conformist tendencies based around a religious moral code which did not tolerate for deviation of Puritan
beliefs that ultimately sacrificed individualism. The banishment of Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams, due to beliefs that differed from the
Puritan's, exemplified the intolerance of individualism as accounted for in The Journal of John Winthrop. Roger Williams had been "condemned"
(Winthrop 106) by "the most judicious ministers" (106) who ordered that Williams should be "convented at the next court to be censured" (106).
Ordering Williams to be censured demonstrated the Puritan leaders demand of conformity, as the leaders censured him for his presumption that did not
follow their anti–individualistic views. In fact, Williams had "drawn above 20 persons to his opinion," (Winthrop 107) conveying others had similar
opinions, that allowed for

Puritan Past
Puritan Past vs Present
On a cool crisp day in 1609 a ship filled with new settlers landed in Massachusetts to start a new life. They have left their country for religious
freedom and wish to have a religious based life. Strict social and religious laws are set in place to make this happen. These new settlers are the
Puritans. Their lives will revolve around God and the teachings of the All Mighty. When the American Revolution ended in 1783 and the British left
the colonies the idea of freedom and individualism would reign. With these ideas came freedom of religion. Freedom to follow any religion or not
follow one at all. As the years went on with new social behavior, and new styles of life came along, putting values started to lose interest in people due
to their strict rules and values. Now in the modern age with new technology and styles, puritan values and religion in general have lost interest in many
people. Their laws are just too ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In the times of when the puritans were founded they had strict marriage laws. Source A says this Cleary. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester and Pearl
were talking about the black man in the forest and said that he is like the devil and shouldn't be associated with. Also if Puritans were ever to
marry outside of their race they would surely be an outcast. With new progressive ideas coming to age now such as legalizing gay marriage and
marrying outside your race, this would be unheard of in a puritan society. They would probably be punished for even questioning puritan ideas.
Source D clearly shows the shift away from puritan values. "The number of interracial married couples has soared more than 667% since 1970 in the
U.S." These numbers will continue to rise throughout the next decades to come. More and more Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics have been marrying
other races. If this was still a puritan society then there would not even be any interracial

The Significance Of The Puritans
The Puritans were a religious doctrine of English reformers that believed in "purifying" the Church of England from Catholicism. People who
practiced Puritanism in the western and eastern of England basically worked as wool traders. As a result, of the economic depresssion that affected
their employment stability they were wishful to leave England. However, their principal cause to fled England was the sufferings they had due of
religious persecution.
The Puritan's theology was related and based on Calvinism. It was founded by extremely moral rules and traditionalist principles. Their lifestyles
influenced the society and the government entirely. Only church members known as "freemen" were eligible as cadidates in the government.
Nonbelievers

Puritans And Puritans Essay
The most known acts of cruelty in the power of the people are the various punishments dealt out by the Puritans. Then you have the Quakers–they
weren't just men appearing on labels of oatmeal bins; they were chosen to be on the label because the Quaker faith projected the values of honesty,
integrity, purity, and strength. However, the Puritans and Quakers both traveled to the New World to escape religious prosecutions. John Winthrop,
leading the Puritans, wanted a more "purified" state and society, giving them the name, Puritans. William Penn, leading the Quakers, wanted to spread
their beliefs through themselves. They questioned leaders, resulting in leading themselves. Both had different views of reconstructing a new society,
religion, and government. Religion was important to the Quaker and Puritans, but how far they took it made them different. Instead of fighting to
purify the Church of England, the Puritans just traveled to the New World. They settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which is Boston today.
They were able to start over and do it the right way, but everyone had to practice the bible or be punished. In their purified eyes, the Church back in
England was embracing too many Catholic beliefs. Puritans had zero tolerance and took religion very seriously, making them a theocracy after leaving
that in the first place.They were led by John Winthrop. On the other hand, the Quakers were known as "the friends." They believed everyone had their
own inner light

The Puritan Dilemma
[H]e which would have suer peace and joye in Christianitye, must not ayme at a condition retyred from the world and free from temptations, but to
knowe that the life which is most exercised with tryalls and temptations is the sweetest, and will prove the safeste. For such tryalls as fall within
compasse of our callinges, it is better to arme and withstande them than to avoide and shunne them. –John Winthrop There, in Winthrop's own words, is
the Puritan dilemma of which Mr. Morgan speaks here, "the paradox that required a man to live in the world without being of it." Superficially
Puritanism was only a belief that the Church of England should be purged of its hierarchy and of the traditions and ceremonies inherited from Rome.
But those ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The first question concerned how the colony was to be governed, how "democratically" as we would say now. Here, the Puritan concept of the
"covenant" with God, which bound them to His laws, led naturally into the idea that the people so bound should have a covenant among themselves
about how to enforce God's laws. The second, a classic form of separatism, arose most spectacularly in the person of Roger Williams, who thought it
necessary for the members of a congregation to "make a public declaration of their repentance for having communion with the churches of England,
while they lived there." Thus it was sufficient in his eyes to have banished that Church's errors from Puritan congregations; it was even necessary to
renounce the Church. Winthrop understood the danger of Williams's ideas, that they might/must lead one to keep withdrawing further and further from
the world and burrowing deeper into oneself, in the ultimately mistaken belief that only one's own vision of God's truth is pure. Third, in the
confrontation with Anne Hutchinson, Winthrop faced the sins of Arminianism, the belief that one could influence God and secure salvation by
"preparing" oneself to receive it, and of Antinomianism, the belief that since God has predetermined who is to be saved one's behavior here on Earth
does not matter, that one's sinfulness or

Puritans Influence
The Puritanism passage in the textbook has two key themes laced throughout its paragraphs and those are the influence that the Puritans had on
America, and that the Puritans are misunderstood and remembered for all the wrong reasons. When the Puritans came over to America they brought
with them so much more than the supplies to last. The Puritans brought their new ideas and their desire to achieve success. The Puritans, thanks to
their successful mindset, allowed for their influence to reach far beyond what they would have imagined. The Puritans are the ancestors of over 8
million Americans today ("Puritans"), and their established cities are still some of the oldest most successful cities in America ("Puritans"). Not only
have the Puritans been a part of our gene pool for... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
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

The Puritan Beliefs
The Puritans left Europe to seek a new lifestyle unmediated by any ruler they had previously had. They risked everything, including their lives to live
the way they wanted. They had strict and prudent looks. They had an even stricter religion. Their politics were simple and often overshadowed by
their family lives. But despite all of their hardships, the Puritans did very well for themselves in America. A new land for them meant building
everything from the ground up, and they were about to waste time on meaningless things. This is most obviously reflected in their behavior and
clothing. The lifestyle and religious values the Puritans were required to live by heavily reflected the characteristics of their clothing and behavior.
Puritans wore... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Initially the Puritans wanted to reform the Church of England, but after many trials they decided their only solace would be to go to The New World.
"This venture also failed and the Puritans were left with no choice but to break away from the Church of England all together so that they could pursue
their own beliefs"(The Puritan Beliefs).Contrary to the Church of England and Catholics, the Puritans thought that God was an absolute independent
good. They believed in predestination or that everything that will ever happen in the world has already been decided by God. "This predestination of
sorts was a mainstay in the Puritan religion. Believing in predestination, they explained that all human beings were pledged by the covenant of works
to adhere to the divine law and were justly condemned for failure to adhere to it"(The Puritan Beliefs). The Puritans also were very serious about the
sanctity of the Sabbath. For the whole day, they would only learn and teach Scripture. "...they held the Sabbath in true Old Testament fashion; only
reading and learning of the scriptures were permitted. When other religions were playing and gambling on the Sabbath, Puritans were at home quietly
gaining a better understanding of God"(The Puritan Beliefs). The Puritan's religion affected almost every factor of their lives, with their politics not
being any

The Importance Of The Puritans
The importance of the Puritans, their ideas, their literature led to the foundation our American culture, pride, and values? The Puritans were not just
poor religious people that came to the New World to practice their faith freely. It is true that they were forced out of England for their religious
beliefs; additionally, they were not wealthy and very low in the social class, due to there being many political problems in England. They came to the
New World and formed a new society that eventually became the United States of America. The Puritans became the first Americans and had the
mindset of a true American. They are also responsible for the mindset of working hard and living the American dream. This is American pride, culture
and values, the dream of improving ones current condition. Regardless of the Puritan's lack of wealth or social class, their writings and ideas were the
foundation of American pride and culture. The Puritans were very poor people and did not have much when they came to the new world. Most of
them did not have much for money and really did not have a way to work themselves up to a better situation. Not only were they poor, but they also
were at the very bottom of the social classes. The elected officials and royalty were at the top. They believed that the English liturgy was too Catholic
and that ecclesiastical courts were corrupt that put them further down on the social class (God in America). They wanted to purify the Church and
recognized that

Hypocrisy Of The Puritans
Hypocrisy of the Puritans
All societies and people have secrets. Everyone has another side to them that they do not show in the eyes of the public. Hawthorne uses the symbol of
darkness to show throughout his literary works that all people sin. Archetypally, darkness represents chaos, mystery, death,evil, fear. Darkness in the
novel, The Scarlet Letter, shows the author's point of view on the Puritan society. Hawthorne's use of archetypal symbolism of darkness to describe
Puritans suggests Hawthorne's view on Puritan society was anything but pure and that all societies should be less critical of their members.
Through the dark description of the forest and prison, Hawthorne shows the hypocrisy in the society due to the fact that the Puritans are sinful. The
very first descriptions of the town are a prison and a graveyard, the two most essential things the society needs. The society has "a grass–plot, much
overgrown with burdock, pigweed, apple–peru, and such unsightly vegetation, which evidently found something congenial in the soil that had so early
borne the black flower of civilized society, a prison"(Hawthorne 2). Prisons represent crime and the punishment in society, which grows fromsin.
Hawthorne compares the prison to a "black flower" which implies the growth of something evil in society. The Puritans know they are all but pure
when the first structure they agree to put in the society is a prison. They should not be as judgmental to those who sin because the

Contributions Of The Puritans
The 1630s marked a period of large migration to the New England region, particularly the Massachusetts Bay colony of people mostly of English
background. By taking a look at and trying to understand who these people were, why they came to North America, and what they did when they
arrived, T. H. Breen and Stephen Foster look at the Puritans analytically. They base their assertions on hard numbers and sources, speculating only
about the few migrants who may have slipped through the records. By tracing the lives of this group, we gain insights into what the immigrants
actually had to contend with once they left England and made their lives in America. When discussing the Puritans leaving England for the New
World, many people assume it was solely based on religious persecution. I was certainly guilty of this assumption; however the settlers' motives for
leaving England are far more complex. To determine motive, Breen and Foster take a closer look at who these people were, their professions, where
they came from, and their economic status. One quality of the 1637 emigrants in particular that stands out is that they were almost entirely from urban
environments and they were mostly middle class tradesmen. A large number of these emigrants were contending with a temporarily failing cloth trade,
further encouraging them to look abroad for opportunity. However, the number of Puritans who actually left England for the New World is relatively
small compared to the ones who stayed on

Generalization Of The Puritans
"It will pay us to keep an open mind to the possibilities that we have been seriously mislead regarding the Puritans." That being said, it is obvious to
anyone who has a genuine understanding of the Puritans, to know that they were not a group of individuals who opposed sex, education, and money. In
fact, they relied heavily on their individual liberates. Despite the fact that, it is generally accepted by most, that the Puritans were an inundating society.
This is merely a hasty generalization. That being said, Leland Ryken does an outstanding job of explaining the Puritan's true motives during their
duration in history. Regardless of how outsiders viewed and treated the Puritans, they accomplished remarkable deeds and did not stray from their ...
This is a misconception. Why did people think that the Puritans main objective was for financial wealth? Well, the Puritans constant endorsements
of money and property helped bring people to this inaccurate conclusion. However, regardless of what people thought, the only reason they saw
money as such a good thing is because it was viewed as a gift from God. Therefore, spiritual relationship with God was the most important factor to
the Puritan's, not money and personal property. Nevertheless, the Puritan's had a different outlook on money and material goods, as a hole, than any
other domination. In fact, they viewed the idea wealth and prosperity as potentially dangerous to one spiritual health. For example, one source
stated that, financial wealth makes it more difficult for a person to become saved by God. That being said, the Puritan's did believe that money was
socially acceptable. To better elaborate, money was not considered to be a worldly possession to these people, but prosperity for everyone a part of
society. An example of how the Puritan's might use their money to better the community would be by donating finances to a charitable group in need.
All in all, the Puritan's were not obsessed with financial greed; they were blessing others with their money, as God blessed them. Many people view
the Puritan's hard work

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