Puritanism/Colonialism

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Puritanism/Colonialism

• The Search for Religious Freedom

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Historical/General

• Time span of mid-1500s to late 1600s
• In 1608 Christian separatists traveled to
  Netherlands to escape religious persecution.
• Growth of trade and commercialization of
  agriculture marked the beginnings of modern
  capitalism
• Great need felt for social order,
  intellectual/moral certaintyand spiritual
  consolation

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Pilgrims travel to New World

• In Europe,the English government and Church
  deeply intertwined.
• Puritans represented a threat to Church and
  society with criticisms and Calvinistic theology
• Rather than face religious persecution, Pilgrims
  sailed to American in 1620
• Pilgrim

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What is a Puritan?

• Refers to a number of protestant sects which
  sought to purify the established Church of
  England
• Firmly against the idea of a national church
• Believed clergy should NOT act as intermediary
  between individual and God
• Stressed certain values inherent and helpful in
  the New World.

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Biblical Proportions

• Story of creation, fall, wanderings and rescue of
  the human race
• For the Puritans the Bible was viewed as the
  literal word of God and became the foundation of
  Puritan writing and life
• Believed that God revealed Himself through the
  Bible
• Puritans escape from religious persecution had
  biblical roots
• Genesis and Exodus
• Kingdom of God in the New World

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Calvinism

• John Calvin was a law student in Paris who
  believed Lutheran theology
• Emphasized the power of God over sinful and
  corrupt humanity
• Man exists for God
• God is unknowable
• One must be content with Gods choice

• The Trinity
• Father Chose a people (Elect)
• Son Died for those chosen
• Holy Ghost makes Christs death effective by
  bringing the Elect to faith and repentance
• TULIP

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TULIP

• Total Depravity original sin as cast upon
  humanity by Adam and Eve
• man is bound to his evil nature..no free will
• Need regeneration from God
• Unconditional Elect God saves those He wishes
• Predestination/Predetermination/The
  Elect/Selective Salvation
• Fate determined upon foundation of world by
  Godman cannot choose or change
• Limited Atonement Jesus died for the chosen
  (Elect) only..not for everyone

• Irresistable Grace Gods grace is freely
  given..it cannot be earned or denied
• Conversion time in life when feel Gods
  grace..feel profound sense of inner assurance.
• Believe that those chosen are accomplished in
  society. That God uses them as tools for His
  message on earth
• Perseverence of the Saints The Elect of God have
  full power to interpret the will of God and to
  live uprightly
• Manifest Destiny
• Set a shining example of Gods will and grace
• Typology

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The Way of Life

• Government
• Covenant between God and humanity
• Mayflower Compact
• Made by those early settlers in the New World
• Belief that Elect should exert greater influence

• Three Areas of Integrated Puritan Life
• Family
• Church
• State

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Literature

• The function of Puritan writing
• Transform the mysteries of God
• Make God more relevant to universe and life
  itself
• Glorify God
• Puritan writing greatly influenced American
  literature and imagination
• Held the concept that each individuals life as a
  journey to salvation and connected to biblical
  events
• Writing used to explore inner/outer lives for
  works of God

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Literary Style

• Plain Style
• References to Bible
• Reflected character and scope of the reading
  public
• Some elaborate imagery, prose, complex
  metaphorbut meaning is always clear

• Types
• Poetry
• Sermon
• Journal

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Fault and Decay

• Forces undermining Puritanism
• Ones natural desire to do good
• Anti Original Sin
• Resentment of power of few over many
• Rejection of Elect
• Change in economic conditions
• Growth of farms and towns
• Presence of Frontier
• Signaled optimism and self reliance
• Theocracy lacked flexibility
• Growth of rationality
• Use mind, not Bible to know God
• Immigrants brought cosmopolitan thinking

• Puritans demise
• Decay of godliness
• Manifestations of pride (wealth)
• Violations of the Sabbath
• Business/social morality decrease
• Decay of family government

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The Legacy

• Americas need for moral justification for
  private, public, governmental areas.
• Americas Quest for freedompersonal,
  professional, economic, etc
• Puritan Work Ethic
• Elegaic Verse
• City Upon the Hill Manifest Destiny concept

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