Purely Puritan Presentation

By Kevin Dunham

Religion and Church

• Religion was focus of lifestyle– Everyone was expected to attend Sabbath day

meeting without question.– If they did not read the Bible, it was assumed that

they were worshiping the devil.– Did not think music was appropriate in Church– Had hour long prayers and sermons that lasted 4

to 5 hours.

Beliefs

• In Puritan times, to be born on a Sunday was interpreted as a sign of great sin.

• Had a belief in predestination. Meaning God determines one’s salvation. Not their actions on earth.

• Several covenants were central to their faith. For instance the Covenants of Works, Grace, and Redemption.

Lifestyle

• Most of the Puritans settled in the New England area.

• In 1700, there was about 106,000 Puritans living in this area.

• Focused on acting good in their life so they could be chosen for the next eternal one.

• Thought man could only forgive by seeing some change, so actions spoke louder than words for Puritans.

Lifestyle Cont’d

• Believed the Devil was behind every bad deed.• First to offer free schooling to all children.• Puritans formed the first formal school in

1635, called the Roxbury Latin School. Four years later, the first American College was established; Harvard in Cambridge.

• The Puritans were the first to write books for children.

Works Cited

• Campbell, Donna M. "Puritanism in New England." Literary Movements. Dept. of English, Washington State University. 21 March 2010. Web. 07 March 2011.

• Kizer, Kay. "PURITANS." University of Notre Dame. Web. 07 Mar. 2011.