PURITANISM The birth and development of a new religious movement

ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT  Puritanism = a protestant movement within the Church of England. It developed during XVI-XVII century.  It was founded by some Marian after the accession of Elisabeth I, especially influenced by Calvinism  A movement against the corruption of the Catholic Church  its ‘superstitious symbols: statues, stained-glass windows and sacerdotal vestment

 It developed especially among the Middle Class and anti-royalists people  Utmost moment of supremacy when Puritans came to power (1642) following the English Civil War

PURITANS AFTER THE CIVIL WAR  After the victory of the round- heads (anti-royalists), in the Civil War (1642) Puritanism became a powerful force  Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan, founded the Commonwealth (name based on the idea of Puritanism, which believed in common richness) bringing moral and religious changes in England Oliver Cromwell

After Cromwell’s death (1658)  restoration of monarchy  Puritans lost their power  great Persecution of Puritans began Most Puritans took refuge in New England (USA) The «Mayflower», ship used by Puritans to escape persecutions

NEW TREND OF THOUGHTS  Main aim = purifying the church  Desire to reach salvation  The Bible considered as God’s true law  Belief in the Parable of the Talents PURITANS  predicted austerity  entertainment considered immoral (theaters were closed in 1642) The Bible

PARABLE OF THE TALENTS The Parable of Talents is one of the well known parables Main points:  God gives talents to people  Everybody has to use talents correctly  He who is unable to bear talents will commit a sin as do poor people who cannot exploit them  He who is able to produce goods and wealth will improve his/her social condition and he/she will reach God’s blessing (reason why the Middle Class was mainly Puritan)

PURITANISM TODAY  As a result of persecution, Puritans left England and extablished mainly in the New World (USA) Puritanism =  based on the idea of the increase of wealth,  laid the foundations of consumerism in USA  America became one of the most important world powers

PARABLE OF THE TALENTS IN ARTS Parable of the Rich Man by Rembrant (1627)

PARABLE OF THE TALENTS IN ARTS JAN LUYKEN

PARABLE OF THE TALENTS IN ARTS MATTHAEUS MERIAN

John Milton ( )  The most famous Puritan poet and the best known poet after William Shakespeare in English literature  Supporter of freedom and republicanism  He wrote poetry in Latin, Italian and English (he received a Classic education)  His most important works are Paradise Lost and Areopagitica

PARADISE LOST  Epic poem in blank verse with Biblical references (e.g. Adam and Eve)  It is about the fall of man because of his desire to have knowledge  The main character is Satan, the hero who disobeyed God, because he wanted to be more powerful than him  The poem real aim is to celebrate God by making references to deeds of the hero (as each epic poem)