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Puritanism Notes

Puritanism Notes. PURITANISM. A movement within the Church of England, Puritanism called for the church's further reformation in accord with what was believed to be "the best reformed" tradition, which was taken to mean the doctrine and ecclesiology of traditional Protestantism. .

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Puritanism Notes

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  1. Puritanism Notes

  2. PURITANISM • A movement within the Church of England, Puritanism called for the church's further reformation in accord with what was believed to be "the best reformed" tradition, which was taken to mean the doctrine and ecclesiology of traditional Protestantism.

  3. History of Puritanism in America • 1620 - William Bradford came with a group of individuals from Europe and formed Plymouth Plantation.  In the Fall of 1620 there were 101 men, women, and children present.  By the Spring of 1621 there were only 50 survivors.  • 1620 – Pilgrims land at Plymouth, Massachusetts • 1628 - John Winthrop and followers came over from Europe in order to establish a “pure” religious movement. 

  4. History of Puritanism in America • 1636 – Harvard College Founded in Massachusetts • 1647 – Massachusetts establishes free public schools • 1650 – Publication (in London) of Anne Bradstreet’s The Tenth Muse – A collection of poems • 1692 – Salem witchcraft trials result in the execution of twenty people

  5. History of Puritanism in America • 1735 – John Peter Zenger acquitted of libel, furthering the idea of the freedom of the press • 1742 – The Great Awakening – a series of religious revivals begins to sweep the colonies • 1741 – Jonathan Edwards first delivers his sermon Sinners In The Hands of an Angry God.

  6. Puritanism dates from 1650 until about 1750 • Prior to the 1760s, Americans were satisfied with their lives • In the 18th century, the new idea was reason over faith • Writing developed in the first years was political and in journals, newspapers and almanacs • Common Sense, the Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence were the literary documents of the time • The colonial period ended around the 1800s. It had a narrow volume of literature, but it changed the course of history

  7. Basic Puritan Beliefs • Total Depravity - through Adam's fall, every human is born sinful - concept of Original Sin • Unconditional Election - God "saves" those he wishes - only a few are selected for salvation - concept of predestination • Limited Atonement - Jesus died for the chosen only, not for everyone • Irresistible Grace - God's grace is freely given, it cannot be earned or denied. Grace is defined as the saving and transfiguring power of God • Perseverance of the "saints" - those elected by God have full power to interpret the will of God, and to live uprightly. If anyone rejects grace after feeling its power in his life, he will be going against the will of God - something impossible in Puritanism

  8. Basic Tenants of Puritan Belief • The Puritans believed that God was working in their daily lives.  • The Puritans would “search” their daily lives in order to find any symbols from God. • The Puritans were educated and taught their followers to be rational thinkers. • The Puritans believed in effective business practices but they also preached a separation from worldly pleasures.  • The Puritans feared that humanistic learning would draw people away from the church.  They were right about this! • This fundamental Puritan belief became complicated because it had to be determined who belonged to the group of “chosen” people.

  9. How did Puritanism relate to literature? • There are many opinions about this question.  Some would argue that American literature simply grew out of changing historical factors that had little or nothing to do with the religious questioning done by the Puritans.  • Others argue that the Puritans’ practice of examining their lives for acts of good and evil naturally shifted into creative writing and imaginative expressions.  • Still, the question becomes whether Puritan writing should be seen as simply historic documentation, or does their writing have literary merit???

  10. The Function of Puritan Writers • To transform a mysterious God - mysterious because he is separate from the world • To make him more relevant to the universe • To glorify God • Puritan Values • Self-reliance – rely on oneself even if it seems impossible • Industriousness – work instead of pleasure • Temperance – moderation • Simplicity – simple everything

  11. Puritans in American Literature • Anne Bradstreet was the first American poet and wrote about her writing in her poem “The Author of Her Book” • Poor Richard’s Almanackwas written by Benjamin Franklin and included stories, calendars, quotes, and jokes

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