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Puritanism

Puritanism. Life in the New World 1620-1800. Puritans. Came from England as Pilgrims to escape religious persecution, circa 1620 Highly, highly (no, really—HIGHLY) religious people—think zealots and extremists. Identity TODAY.

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Puritanism

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  1. Puritanism Life in the New World 1620-1800

  2. Puritans • Came from England as Pilgrims to escape religious persecution, circa 1620 • Highly, highly (no, really—HIGHLY) religious people—think zealots and extremists

  3. Identity TODAY Today, many people believe individual identity is shaped by environmental factors, such as • Culture • Family • Friends • Education • Geography • Personal beliefs

  4. Puritanical Identity However, Puritans believed that every aspect was controlled and determined by God • Emotions • Thoughts • Desires • Behaviors • Inclinations • Intuition • Abilities

  5. Puritanical Identity All abilities, skills, words, and actions were to be directed for God’s service and glorification • Speakers - Ministers • Scholars - Theologians • Carpenters - Church builders • Parents - Home missionaries • Teachers - Christian instruction • Artists - Christian Painters • Song writers - Hymn writers

  6. Puritanical Identity • Puritans searched themselves and examined their lives for evidence of God’s grace • Looked for proof that they were going to heaven

  7. Core Beliefs • Absolute sovereignty of God • Complete dependence on divine grace for salvation • Stressed the importance of a personal religious experience* *but would harshly judge those who did not publicly attend church

  8. Puritanical Society • Commonwealth officials insisted that they were God’s elect (Divine Right of Kings) • National affairs were conducted according to God’s will, as interpreted from the Bible

  9. Puritanical Society The Bible was Law

  10. Puritanical Society • No division between Church and State • Church had direct and EXCLUSIVE control over all colonial actions

  11. Puritanical Society CHURCH | STATE

  12. Puritanical Society CHURCH + STATE

  13. Puritanical Society CHURCH = STATE

  14. Puritanical Society • Believed that God sanctioned the solidarity of society • That is, they believed it God’s will for Puritans be separated from non-Puritans • This is argument for class systems/segregation

  15. Puritanical Literature • All writing must be purposeful and benefit the society or families • Literature was NOT intended for mere enjoyment

  16. Puritanical Literature • Explanation of Biblical texts • Sermons • Application to life in the colony • How-to manuals

  17. Puritanical Literature • Explanation of Biblical texts • Sermons • Application to life in the colony • How-to manuals

  18. Puritanical Literature • Novels were NOT written • Not purposeful • Distracted people from work, responsibilities, and worship

  19. Sermons • Fire and Brimstone • Meant to scare people to church • Preached of depravity/evil of men

  20. Jonathan Edwards • Puritan minister • “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

  21. Hands of an Angry God Purpose: • Scare people toward holiness Themes: • Men are intrinsically evil • That they aren’t already in hell is the grace of God

  22. Poetry • Anne Bradstreet, “Here Follows Some Verses Upon the Burning of Our House, June 1666” Purpose: • Record personal history • Denounce materialism • Glorify God

  23. Burning of Our House • Anne Bradstreet, “Here Follows Some Verses Upon the Burning of Our House, June 1666” Themes: • Treasure lies in heaven • Triviality of material goods • Acceptance to God’s plan

  24. Puritan Beliefs • Too many possessions/valuing possessions too much is a sin • Live a simple life • Women belonged in the house/married young

  25. Puritan Work Ethic • Idle hands are the Devil’s playground • One must work hard to get to heaven • Men worked their jobs and maintained property (an overgrown field or unkempt farm was a sin)

  26. Puritan Work Ethic • Hard work was necessary for happiness • Likening laziness/idleness to a sin and valuing hard work were ways to cope with/justify difficult lives

  27. Puritan Work Ethic • Hard work leads to success (physically and spiritually) • This eventually leads to the concept of The American Dream

  28. The American Dream Hard Work and Good Character leads to Success

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