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Puritanism Life in the New World
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Puritans Came from England as Pilgrims to escape religious persecution, circa 1620 Highly, highly (no, really—HIGHLY) religious people—think zealots and extremists
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Identity TODAY Today, many people believe individual identity is shaped by environmental factors, such as Culture Family Friends Education Geography Personal beliefs
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Puritanical Identity However, Puritans believed that every aspect was controlled and determined by God Emotions Thoughts Desires Behaviors Inclinations Intuition Abilities
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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
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Puritanical Identity Puritans searched themselves and examined their lives for evidence of God’s grace Looked for proof that they were going to heaven
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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
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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
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Puritanical Society The Bible was Law
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Puritanical Society No division between Church and State
Church had direct and EXCLUSIVE control over all colonial actions
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Puritanical Society CHURCH | STATE
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Puritanical Society CHURCH STATE
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Puritanical Society CHURCH = STATE
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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
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Puritanical Literature
All writing must be purposeful and benefit the society or families Literature was NOT intended for mere enjoyment
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Puritanical Literature
Explanation of Biblical texts Sermons Application to life in the colony How-to manuals
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Puritanical Literature
Explanation of Biblical texts Sermons Application to life in the colony How-to manuals
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Puritanical Literature
Novels were NOT written Not purposeful Distracted people from work, responsibilities, and worship
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Sermons Fire and Brimstone Meant to scare people to church
Preached of depravity/evil of men
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Jonathan Edwards Puritan minister
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
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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
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Poetry Anne Bradstreet, “Here Follows Some Verses Upon the Burning of Our House, June 1666” Purpose: Record personal history Denounce materialism Glorify God
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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
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Puritan Beliefs Too many possessions/valuing possessions too much is a sin Live a simple life Women belonged in the house/married young
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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)
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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
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Puritan Work Ethic Hard work leads to success (physically and spiritually) This eventually leads to the concept of The American Dream
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Hard Work and Good Character leads to Success
The American Dream Hard Work and Good Character leads to Success
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