"A puritan is a person who pours righteous indignation into the
wrong things." - Gilbert K. Chesterton "The puritan through life's
sweet garden goes to pluck the thorn and cast away the rose." -
Kenneth Hare "The puritan hated bear baiting, not because it gave
pain to the bear, but because it gave pleasure to the spectators."
- Thomas B. MacaulayGilbert K. ChestertonKenneth HareThomas B.
Macaulay "Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere,
may be happy." - H. L. Mencken "What the Puritans gave the world
was not thought, but action." - Wendell Phillips H. L.
MenckenWendell Phillips
Slide 4
The Puritans were a group of people who felt the Church of
England and her priests had become corrupt and worked towards
religious, moral and societal reforms. The writings and ideas of
John Calvin, a leader in the Reformation, gave rise to the
Protestant movement and were very important to the Christian
revolt.
Slide 5
The Puritans believed that The Church of England had gone away
from God and become a product of political struggles and man-made
doctrines. They felt the church served its own needs and not the
spiritual needs of its people. The Puritans were one branch of
dissenters who decided that the Church of England was beyond help
and the people needed to start over with a new way of worshiping
God. Escaping persecution from church leadership and the King, the
Puritans came to America.
Slide 6
After a 65-day journey, the Pilgrims sighted Cape Cod on
November 19. Unable to reach the land they had contracted for, they
anchored (November 21) at the site of Provincetown. Because they
had no legal right to settle in the region, they drew up the
Mayflower Compact, creating their own government.
Slide 7
The settlers soon discovered Plymouth Harbor, on the western
side of Cape Cod Bay and made their historic landing on December
21; the main body of settlers followed on December 26. Mayflower in
Plymouth Harbor
Slide 8
Puritans believed in an emphasis on private study of the
BibleBible They also had a desire to see education and
enlightenment for the masses (especially so they could read the
Bible for themselves) They wanted simplicity in worship, the
exclusion of fancy robes, images, candles, etc. They did not
celebrate traditional holidays. They believed the Sabbath was still
required for Christians, although they believe the Sabbath had been
changed to Sunday from Saturday.Sabbath
Slide 9
The Puritans believed that the Bible was God's true law, and
that it provided a plan for living. Any member of the church could
have a direct relationship with God. The Church of England felt
that access to God was only possible within the confines of "church
authority". In other words if you didnt follow all steps set up by
the church, you wouldnt be able to speak with God.
Slide 10
Puritans stripped away the traditional trappings and
formalities of Christianity which had been slowly building
throughout the previous 1500 years. Some examples of this were gold
threaded robes for priests, elaborately decorated churches, stained
glass windows, and having to go through saints and priests to get
to God. Theirs was an attempt to "purify" the church and their own
lives. Oldest Puritan Church in New England
Slide 11
Most of the Puritans settled in New England. Their numbers rose
from 17,800 in 1640 to 106,000 in 1700.
Slide 12
Religious prejudice was the foremost principle of their
society. This meant that if a person didnt follow the Puritan
beliefs, they could be driven. If you didnt believe in the Puritan
Way it was the HIGH WAY! This included community laws and customs.
Since God was at the forefront of their minds, He was to motivate
all of their actions.
Slide 13
Each church congregation was to be individually responsible to
God, as was each person. The New Testament was their model and
their devotion so great that it was how they set up their entire
society. People of opposing theological views were asked to leave
the community or to be converted. Jailer's house and pillory There
were many punishments for disobeying puritan laws.
Slide 14
Puritans believed that God had already chosen who would be in
heaven or hell, and each believer had no way of knowing which group
they were in. However, those who were wealthy were obviously
blessed by God and were in good standing with Him. The Protestant
work ethic was the belief that hard work was an honor to God which
would lead to a prosperous reward.
Slide 15
Any deviations from the normal way of Puritan life met with
strict disapproval and discipline. Since the church elders were
also political leaders, any church infraction was also a social
one. There was no margin for error.
Slide 16
The devil was behind every evil deed. Constant watch needed to
be kept in order to stay away from his clutches. Words of hell fire
and brimstone flowed from the mouths of eloquent ministers as they
warned of the persuasiveness of the devil's power. View Marta S.
Gufstasson's map Taken in a place with no name (See more photos or
videos here)more photos or videos here
Slide 17
Their interpretation of scriptures was a harsh one. God could
forgive anything, but man could forgive only by seeing a change in
behavior. Actions spoke louder than words, so actions had to be
constantly controlled.
Slide 18
The sermons of Jonathan Edwards, a Puritan minister, show that
delivery of these sermons became an art form. They were elegant,
well formed renditions of scriptures... with a healthy dose of fear
woven throughout the fabric of the literary construction.
Slide 19
Great pains were taken to warn their children of the dangers of
the world. For the first time in history, free schooling was
offered for all children. Reading of the Bible was necessary to
living a pious and religious life. Children aged 6-8 attended a
"Dame school" where the teacher, who was usually a widow, taught
reading. Teaching "Ciphering" (math) and writing were low on the
schools agenda.
Slide 20
Puritans formed the first formal school in 1635, called the
Roxbury Latin School. Four years later, the first American College
was established; Harvard in Cambridge. The education of the next
generation was important to further "purify" the church and perfect
social living. Harvard in Cambridge. Roxbury Latin School.
Slide 21
In 1638, the first printing press arrived. By 1700, Boston
became the second largest publishing center of the English Empire.
The Puritans were the first to write books for children, and to
discuss the difficulties in communicating with them.
Slide 22
New England Primer Used to teach children the alphabet and
their religious lessons.
Slide 23
Slide 24
At a time when other Americans were busy blazing trails through
the forests, the Puritans were busy advancing our country
intellectually. Religion provided a stimulus for scientific
thought. Of those Americans who were admitted into the scientific
"Royal Society of London," the vast majority were New England
Puritans.
Slide 25
Puritans are often associated with the Salem Witch trials and
burning of both men and women at the stake.
Slide 26
Links to some Puritan music and songs Links to some Puritan
music and songs http://www.motherbedford.com/Music01.htm Adams And
Liberty
Slide 27
Puritans did much to firmly establish a presence on American
soil. Bound together, they established a community that maintained
a healthy economy, established a school system, and kept an
efficient eye on political concerns. The moral character of England
and America were shaped in part by the words and actions of this
strong group of Christian believers called the Puritans.
http://www.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/puritans. html
http://www.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/puritans. html
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