PuritansPuritans Definition: Group of Protestants who Definition: Group of Protestants who

wanted to “purify” the Church of wanted to “purify” the Church of England.England.

Believed religion was a “personal, Believed religion was a “personal, inner experience” and that clergy or inner experience” and that clergy or government could come between God government could come between God and the individualand the individual

Suffered persecution in England.Suffered persecution in England. Small group led by William Bradford Small group led by William Bradford

came to the New World in 1620.came to the New World in 1620.

Puritan BeliefsPuritan Beliefs Most of humanity “damned” by Most of humanity “damned” by

sin of Adam and Eve.sin of Adam and Eve. Select few would be saved. Select few would be saved.

Those people could be identified Those people could be identified by their saintly behavior. When by their saintly behavior. When God bestowed his grace on them, God bestowed his grace on them, they were “reborn”.they were “reborn”.

Values: self-reliance, hard-Values: self-reliance, hard-working, moderation, and simple working, moderation, and simple livingliving

Doctrine of Election / Doctrine of Election / Predestination:Predestination:

Man is innately sinful; Man is innately sinful; original sin means that we original sin means that we are capable of any are capable of any depravitydepravity

Only those who are Only those who are chosen by God (the elect) chosen by God (the elect) are saved; salvation is not are saved; salvation is not based on your beliefs or based on your beliefs or good worksgood works

The grace of Christ allows The grace of Christ allows the chosen the strength to the chosen the strength to follow the will of Godfollow the will of God

The chosen will follow the The chosen will follow the path of righteousnesspath of righteousness

Predestination Predestination continued…continued…

No one knew who was or No one knew who was or was not saved. Puritans was not saved. Puritans believed that you must believed that you must have a conversion have a conversion experience in order to be experience in order to be accepted by God. God’s accepted by God. God’s grace was given to the grace was given to the chosen, and this grace was chosen, and this grace was demonstrated through demonstrated through one’s behavior. Puritans one’s behavior. Puritans would, therefore, reflect would, therefore, reflect upon themselves (self-upon themselves (self-examination) for signs of examination) for signs of this grace. So, even though this grace. So, even though they did not believe good they did not believe good works helped one get into works helped one get into heaven, they believed that heaven, they believed that living a godly life was living a godly life was evidence of being chosen. evidence of being chosen.

As a result of their belief in As a result of their belief in predestination, Puritans:predestination, Puritans:

Were always looking Were always looking for signsfor signs

Scrutinized daily Scrutinized daily events events

Thought there was Thought there was always a reason for always a reason for everythingeverything

Felt that God’s hand Felt that God’s hand was in everything, no was in everything, no matter how matter how insignificantinsignificant

Puritan Beliefs & Values:Puritan Beliefs & Values: Puritans believed in a literal interpretation of Puritans believed in a literal interpretation of

the Biblethe Bible They believed in explicit readings of the Bible, They believed in explicit readings of the Bible,

as opposed to church doctrinesas opposed to church doctrines They did not believe in excess worship; they They did not believe in excess worship; they

wanted no rituals, adornments, no stained glass, wanted no rituals, adornments, no stained glass, no cushioned pews, no singing, and no musicno cushioned pews, no singing, and no music

They wanted to keep things simple so that they They wanted to keep things simple so that they could concentrate on God could concentrate on God

There is a constant struggle between the forces There is a constant struggle between the forces of God and Satanof God and Satan

God rewards the good and punishes the wickedGod rewards the good and punishes the wicked

Education & Work Ethic:Education & Work Ethic: They believed in living a virtuous, They believed in living a virtuous,

self-examined lifeself-examined life They believed in strict discipline They believed in strict discipline

and had a strong work ethicand had a strong work ethic They felt that qualities that led to They felt that qualities that led to

economic success were virtuouseconomic success were virtuous They valued educationThey valued education Harvard was founded in 1636 to Harvard was founded in 1636 to

train ministerstrain ministers They wanted their children to get They wanted their children to get

far away from the evils of Englandfar away from the evils of England Children were not allowed to play Children were not allowed to play

games; boys were taught to go games; boys were taught to go hunting and fishing, while girls hunting and fishing, while girls were taught how to run a householdwere taught how to run a household

Women were considered less Women were considered less capable intellectually, physically, capable intellectually, physically, theologically, and morally (Eve was theologically, and morally (Eve was the first sinner)the first sinner)

Literature for pleasure was highly Literature for pleasure was highly censoredcensored

Puritan PoliticsPuritan Politics

Contract or covenant exists Contract or covenant exists between God and humanity.between God and humanity.

Idea of contract between people Idea of contract between people and government stems from that and government stems from that idea.idea.

Rather undemocratic - felt that Rather undemocratic - felt that the “saintly elect” should have the “saintly elect” should have great influence in politicsgreat influence in politics

Religion played an Religion played an important role in Puritan important role in Puritan life. The Puritans felt that life. The Puritans felt that they were chosen by God they were chosen by God for a special purpose and for a special purpose and that they must live every that they must live every moment in a God-fearing moment in a God-fearing manner. Every man, manner. Every man, woman, and child was woman, and child was expected to attend the expected to attend the meeting on the Sabbath meeting on the Sabbath without question. Puritans without question. Puritans were required to read the were required to read the Bible which showed their Bible which showed their religious discipline. If they religious discipline. If they did not read the Bible, it did not read the Bible, it was thought that they were was thought that they were worshiping the devil. worshiping the devil.

Preparations for Preparations for the Sabbath began the Sabbath began the day before. All the day before. All of the food had to of the food had to be cooked and be cooked and clothes ready. No clothes ready. No labor, not even labor, not even sewing, could be sewing, could be done on the done on the Sabbath.Sabbath.

The Sabbath The Sabbath began at sundown began at sundown the night before, the night before, and the evening and the evening was spent in was spent in prayer and Bible prayer and Bible study.study.

The Puritan WayThe Puritan Way

Strict Order in the Strict Order in the ChurchChurch

The church was usually a The church was usually a small bare building. Upon small bare building. Upon entering people would entering people would take their appropriate take their appropriate places.places.

The men sat on one side, The men sat on one side, the women sat on the the women sat on the other, and the boys did other, and the boys did not sit with their parents, not sit with their parents, but sat together in a but sat together in a designated pew where designated pew where they were expected to sit they were expected to sit in complete silence.in complete silence.

The deacons sat in the The deacons sat in the front row just below the front row just below the pulpit because everyone pulpit because everyone agreed the first pew was agreed the first pew was the one of highest dignity. the one of highest dignity.

The servants and slaves The servants and slaves crowded near the door, crowded near the door, into a loft, or a balcony.into a loft, or a balcony.

The service began with a The service began with a prayer given by the prayer given by the minister that usually minister that usually lasted around an hour.lasted around an hour.

Puritans did not like Puritans did not like music in their services. music in their services. They also felt that music They also felt that music and celebrating were not and celebrating were not appropriate in the appropriate in the church meeting house. church meeting house. It was many years before It was many years before any musical instruments any musical instruments were allowed in the were allowed in the church.church.

Strict Order in the Strict Order in the ChurchChurch

After the prayer, the minister would After the prayer, the minister would continue with an emotional sermon. The continue with an emotional sermon. The minister's sermon would last for two, minister's sermon would last for two, three, even four hours at a time without three, even four hours at a time without restroom breaks or intermissions. The restroom breaks or intermissions. The Puritans listened intently to the terrible Puritans listened intently to the terrible warnings of sin and punishment.warnings of sin and punishment.

Church Deacons, such as this one, kept Church Deacons, such as this one, kept

strict order in the church. Using this strict order in the church. Using this "staff," deacons would poke anyone "staff," deacons would poke anyone misbehaving in church. In this illustration, misbehaving in church. In this illustration, the boy is being punished for turning the boy is being punished for turning around to talk to his friend.around to talk to his friend.

Churches were unheated and for many Churches were unheated and for many months of the year and in the winter were months of the year and in the winter were unbearably cold. Women carried small unbearably cold. Women carried small foot-stoves from home full of hot coals foot-stoves from home full of hot coals which were used to warm their feet during which were used to warm their feet during the church service.the church service.

Characteristics of Characteristics of Puritan WritingPuritan Writing

Bible provided model - individual life is Bible provided model - individual life is a “journey to salvation.” Connections a “journey to salvation.” Connections between Biblical events and own lives.between Biblical events and own lives.

Used writing to explore their inner and Used writing to explore their inner and outer lives for signs of God’s work.outer lives for signs of God’s work.

Diaries and histories most common.Diaries and histories most common. Plain style stressed clear expression Plain style stressed clear expression

and avoided complicated figures of and avoided complicated figures of speechspeech

Puritan Plain Style:Puritan Plain Style: Plain Style Writing:Plain Style Writing: clear, accessible and straightforwardclear, accessible and straightforward Simple, no ornamental languageSimple, no ornamental language Biblical referencesBiblical references Wrote to glorify God rather than show off Wrote to glorify God rather than show off

their talentstheir talents Wrote as a way to find their path to God Wrote as a way to find their path to God

Puritan Literature & Puritan Literature & Writings:Writings: They did not write for pleasure or entertainment. They did not write for pleasure or entertainment.

One reason was the fact that they were One reason was the fact that they were struggling to build their settlement. Another struggling to build their settlement. Another reason was the fact that they considered works of reason was the fact that they considered works of fiction frivolous and possibly immoral.fiction frivolous and possibly immoral.

Types of texts: Types of texts: GERNE (means type of)GERNE (means type of)- historical documents: preserving their history - historical documents: preserving their history and offering justifications to relieve the guilt they and offering justifications to relieve the guilt they felt over leaving relatives behind in Englandfelt over leaving relatives behind in England- personal journals: as tools for self-reflection/ - personal journals: as tools for self-reflection/ examination and as a way to look for signs of examination and as a way to look for signs of salvationsalvation- poetry, but highly inspired by religious beliefs- poetry, but highly inspired by religious beliefs- religious tracts- religious tracts