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PURITAN/COLONIAL LITERATURE

PURITAN/COLONIAL LITERATURE. NOTES. WHY DO WE BOTHER READING THIS?. AS THE FIRST COLONISTS, THEY LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR AMERICAN CHARACTER MORAL, ETHICAL, AND RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS PURITAN VALUES ARE PART OF OUR AMERICAN CHARACTERISTICS. PURITAN VALUES. SELF RELIANCE INDUSTRIOUSNESS

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PURITAN/COLONIAL LITERATURE

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  1. PURITAN/COLONIAL LITERATURE NOTES

  2. WHY DO WE BOTHER READING THIS? • AS THE FIRST COLONISTS, THEY LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR AMERICAN CHARACTER • MORAL, ETHICAL, AND RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS • PURITAN VALUES ARE PART OF OUR AMERICAN CHARACTERISTICS

  3. PURITAN VALUES • SELF RELIANCE • INDUSTRIOUSNESS • SIMPLICITY IN ALL THINGS • LANGUAGE • CLOTHING • LIFESTYLE • TEMPERANCE • MODERATION WITH ALCOHOL AND FOOD

  4. A BRIEF HISTORY OF PURITANS AND THEIR BELIEFS • THE TERM PURITAN REFERS TO A GROUP OF PROTESTANT REFORMERS WHO SOUGHT TO PURIFY THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND (NAT’L GOV’T RELIGION OF ENGLAND—HEADED BY KING/QUEEN). • EVENTUALLY SOUGHT TO SEPARATE THE CHURCH FROM THE GOV’T COMPLETELY • FACED PERSECUTION AND TORTURE IN ENGLAND FOR TREASON • They called themselves pilgrims • Pilgrim: one who goes on a physical or spiritual journey to a holy place for the purposes of salvation

  5. Why did the Puritans come to the Colonies? • WANTED A SIMPLER FORM OF WORSHIP • WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD • WANTED TO EXPUNGE ALL CORRUPTION FROM THE CHURCH

  6. Arrival in American Colonies • Led by William Bradford, the Separatists, a group of pilgrims, try to find religious freedom in Holland • Left Holland after 12 years for American Colonies • Established a theocracy in Massachusetts Bay Colony • Theocracy: a form of government in which a single religion and it’s laws and rules are enforced by the government • Bradford is elected governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1621—held position for next 30 years • Wrote “Of Plymouth Plantation” for the express purpose of inspiring future generations of Puritans • Understanding what their ancestors had endured for religious freedom • Maintain the faith

  7. KEY BELIEFS • PROVIDENCE: DIVINE DIRECTION OR GUIDANCE; THE WILL OF GOD • BRADFORD ATTRIBUTES SEVERAL EVENTS, BOTH GOOD AND BAD, TO PROVIDENCE • SQUANTO’S ARRIVAL • DEATH OF THE PROFANE SAILOR AND THE RESCUE OF HOWLAND

  8. Key Beliefs • PREDESTINATION: The doctrine that God has foreordained all things, especially that God has elected certain souls to eternal salvation. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy1IOIlpKaw • THIS WAS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT FOR PURITANS, BECAUSE THEY NEVER REALLY KNEW IF THEY WERE SAVED OR DAMNED • IF YOU WERE SAVED…. • YOU WOULD “FEEL” GOD’S GRACE • YOUR OUTWARD BEHAVIOR WOULD BE A LIVING MANIFESTATION OF GOD’S GRACE—YOU ARE “REBORN” AND BEHAVE LIKE A SAINT

  9. Problems with Predestination? • SINCE NO ONE EVER REALLY KNEW IF THEY WERE SAVED OR DAMNED, SOME WOULD “FAKE IT” FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS • LED TO CLOSE SPIRITUAL EXAMINATION OF DAILY LIFE, LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE OF GOD’S GRACE • ALSO LED TO THE JUDGING OF OTHERS AND THE CONCERN ABOUT HOW YOUR NEIGHBORS PERCEIVED YOU

  10. CHARACTERISTICS OF PURITAN WRITING • BORING…DRY…BLAH! • WHY? • USED GENEVA BIBLE AS A MODEL • DIRECT, SIMPLE LANGUAGE • PLAIN STYLE STRESSED CLARITY OF EXPRESSION AND AVOIDED COMPLICATED FIGURES OF SPEECH

  11. CHARACTERISTICS OF PURITAN WRITING • SAW EACH INDIVIDUAL LIFE AS A JOURNEY TO SALVATION (OR DAMNATION) AND DREW PARALLELS BETWEEN THEIR OWN LIVES AND STORIES IN THE BIBLE • EXPLORED BOTH THEIR INNER, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND THEIR OUTWARD BEHAVIOR FOR SIGNS OF GOD’S GRACE • BECAUSE THEY SPENT SO MUCH TIME IN SELF REFLECTION, THEIR WRITING COMES IN 4 FORMS • LETTERS • DIARIES AND JOURNALS • HISTORIES • CAPTIVITY NARRATIVES • These are considered to be PRIMARY SOURCES because they offer direct, first hand knowledge of events

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