A NNE H UTCHINSON

Anne Hutchinson thought the enforcement of proper behavior from church members conflicted with the doctrine of predestination. She asked: "If God has predetermined for me salvation or damnation, how could any behavior of mine change my fate?" She would spread her ideas in gatherings with other women. Those ideas had an immense appeal for Puritans because she offered them certainty of salvation instead of a state of certain anxiety. However, her ideas posed a dangerous threat to orthodoxy. So in November 1637, she was arrested for heresy. She and her family, along with some followers were banned to Rhode Island.

This tells us that the Puritan life is in New England was very strict. Although they had higher life expectancy, children were born at twice the rate, and literacy rates were higher, the religious part of their lives was not so great. It was a mans world, women were not included in town meetings or other big decisions. Church attendance was mandatory from everybody, or else you were punished. The puritans felt no remorse about administering punishment. For people to ignore God’s work was unfathomable. Adulterers might have been forced to wear a scarlet “A” if they were lucky and they had a stockade where they humiliated the guilty. It was a very strict way of life, and it is understandable as to why one might rebel. However, There were celebrations and festivals. People sang and told stories. Children were allowed to play games with their parents' permission. Wine and beer drinking were common, so if you followed the rules, than your life was not so bad.