The Puritans The Puritans

Praise God we’re not one of them!Praise God we’re not one of them!

Time LineTime Line

1492

Columbus comes to the New World

1775-1776

Revolutionary War begins

1608

Jamestown founded in

Virginia

1620

Pilgrims arrive in Mass.

1692

Salem Witch Trials

1720

Great Awakening

1629

Winthrop charters the Massachusetts Bay Company

Who were these crazy people?!

Who were these crazy people?!

Puritans: Groups of religious separatists who wanted to purify the church of England

Why did they migrate to Why did they migrate to America?America?Religious persecution in EuropeReligious persecution in EuropeLack of jobs and opportunityLack of jobs and opportunityPolitical repression – King James IPolitical repression – King James IDesire for controlDesire for control

Puritans: Groups of religious separatists who wanted to purify the church of England

Why did they migrate to Why did they migrate to America?America?Religious persecution in EuropeReligious persecution in EuropeLack of jobs and opportunityLack of jobs and opportunityPolitical repression – King James IPolitical repression – King James IDesire for controlDesire for control

Sovereignty of GodSovereignty of God

God is the Master of the Universe.

God is infinite, omnipotent, just, and mysterious.

Man is finite and basically evil.

Life. Is. God.

God is the Master of the Universe.

God is infinite, omnipotent, just, and mysterious.

Man is finite and basically evil.

Life. Is. God.

Puritan Religious Beliefs

Puritan Religious Beliefs

most people damned for all most people damned for all eternityeternity

mercy sent to save particular mercy sent to save particular or “chosen” onesor “chosen” ones

How do you know if you’re How do you know if you’re chosen?chosen?feel the grace via intense feel the grace via intense

emotionsemotionsinner grace reflected in outward inner grace reflected in outward

behavior behavior

most people damned for all most people damned for all eternityeternity

mercy sent to save particular mercy sent to save particular or “chosen” onesor “chosen” ones

How do you know if you’re How do you know if you’re chosen?chosen?feel the grace via intense feel the grace via intense

emotionsemotionsinner grace reflected in outward inner grace reflected in outward

behavior behavior

Worshipping God Worshipping God

Individual experienceIndividual experience - Each - Each worshipper experiences God worshipper experiences God individually and directly through individually and directly through faith, prayer, and study. faith, prayer, and study.

Direct presence of GodDirect presence of God - God’s - God’s hand was present in every hand was present in every human event, and he rewarded human event, and he rewarded good and punished evil.good and punished evil.

State of Sin – State of Sin – Man was Man was inherently evil and could only inherently evil and could only improve through strict, self-improve through strict, self-discipline and religious discipline and religious communion.communion.

Individual experienceIndividual experience - Each - Each worshipper experiences God worshipper experiences God individually and directly through individually and directly through faith, prayer, and study. faith, prayer, and study.

Direct presence of GodDirect presence of God - God’s - God’s hand was present in every hand was present in every human event, and he rewarded human event, and he rewarded good and punished evil.good and punished evil.

State of Sin – State of Sin – Man was Man was inherently evil and could only inherently evil and could only improve through strict, self-improve through strict, self-discipline and religious discipline and religious communion.communion.

PredestinationPredestinationSome humans are anointed by

God before birth to be “eligible” to go to heaven.

No one knows whether or not he or she is anointed, so all must work hard to achieve their predestination.

If one is good and works hard, he or she may go to heaven, but there is no free will. You can’t choose.

Bottom line: Puritans are FREAKED they might burn in hell!

Some humans are anointed by God before birth to be “eligible” to go to heaven.

No one knows whether or not he or she is anointed, so all must work hard to achieve their predestination.

If one is good and works hard, he or she may go to heaven, but there is no free will. You can’t choose.

Bottom line: Puritans are FREAKED they might burn in hell!

Individual experience - Each worshipper experiences God individually and directly through faith, prayer, and study.

Direct presence of God - God’s hand was present in every human event, and he rewarded good and punished evil.

State of Sin – Man was inherently evil and could only improve through strict, self-discipline and religious communion

No separation of church and state – Laws required church attendance, and criminalized immorality such as drinking, swearing, and idleness.

Intolerance – The strictness of Puritan religion did not allow recognition of other religions

Individual experience - Each worshipper experiences God individually and directly through faith, prayer, and study.

Direct presence of God - God’s hand was present in every human event, and he rewarded good and punished evil.

State of Sin – Man was inherently evil and could only improve through strict, self-discipline and religious communion

No separation of church and state – Laws required church attendance, and criminalized immorality such as drinking, swearing, and idleness.

Intolerance – The strictness of Puritan religion did not allow recognition of other religions

ProvidenceProvidence

God actively comes to Earth and makes things happen in order to reward or punish humans.

For example, if Jonny falls off his bike, God’s spirit literally pushed him off.

God actively comes to Earth and makes things happen in order to reward or punish humans.

For example, if Jonny falls off his bike, God’s spirit literally pushed him off.

Human DepravityHuman Depravity

Humans are not born innocent, but full of lustful, perverse, depraved, sick, sinful urges.

The work of humans is to overcome that depravity in order to become eligible for heaven.

Bottom Line: You must be “good enough” to get to heaven.

Humans are not born innocent, but full of lustful, perverse, depraved, sick, sinful urges.

The work of humans is to overcome that depravity in order to become eligible for heaven.

Bottom Line: You must be “good enough” to get to heaven.

Government: Theocracy

Government: Theocracy

No laws were needed because the Bible dictated behavior.

Government and church were one.

No separation of church No separation of church and stateand state – Laws required – Laws required church attendance, and church attendance, and criminalized immorality such criminalized immorality such as drinking, swearing, and as drinking, swearing, and idleness.idleness.

No laws were needed because the Bible dictated behavior.

Government and church were one.

No separation of church No separation of church and stateand state – Laws required – Laws required church attendance, and church attendance, and criminalized immorality such criminalized immorality such as drinking, swearing, and as drinking, swearing, and idleness.idleness.

Plainness & Simplicity

Plainness & Simplicity

Puritans were not allowed to dance, read, laugh, or partake in other idle entertainment.

All dress and architecture was simple, with no adornment.

Puritans were not allowed to dance, read, laugh, or partake in other idle entertainment.

All dress and architecture was simple, with no adornment.

ValuesValues

Industriousness – Belief in honest labor and using the time allotted by God

Temperance – Avoid sins such as alcohol, gambling, dancing, and extramarital sex

Simplicity – Live a moderate life so as not to be tempted by earthly things

Education – Free, popular education was needed to teach people to read the Bible

Point: These qualities of their religion also allowed them to be successful as a colony (in contrast to Virginia and its “gentlemen”)

Industriousness – Belief in honest labor and using the time allotted by God

Temperance – Avoid sins such as alcohol, gambling, dancing, and extramarital sex

Simplicity – Live a moderate life so as not to be tempted by earthly things

Education – Free, popular education was needed to teach people to read the Bible

Point: These qualities of their religion also allowed them to be successful as a colony (in contrast to Virginia and its “gentlemen”)

Puritan CelebritiesPuritan Celebrities

William Bradford

“Of Plymouth Plantation”

Jonathan Edwards

“Sinners in the

Hands of an Angry

God”

John Winthrop

“City upon a Hill”

GOD

ContributionsContributions

Within six years of arrival, they establish Harvard in 1636.

The Bay Colony required all youth to attend school.

first newspaper was published in Boston

Within six years of arrival, they establish Harvard in 1636.

The Bay Colony required all youth to attend school.

first newspaper was published in Boston

Salem Witch TrialsSalem Witch Trials

Salem, Massachusetts1690-1691girls start dabbling in magic, and

soon they begin having seizures lesions appear on their skin; it

seems like they’re being choked by invisible hands

girls are asked to “out” the women who are practicing witchcraft on them, causing these things to happen

Salem, Massachusetts1690-1691girls start dabbling in magic, and

soon they begin having seizures lesions appear on their skin; it

seems like they’re being choked by invisible hands

girls are asked to “out” the women who are practicing witchcraft on them, causing these things to happen

Mass FearMass Fear

girls accuse a slave woman and other unpopular villagers of being witches

Within 10 months, 150 villagers were accused of witchcraft.

One way to avoid death was to confess and “out” others who were witches too.

girls accuse a slave woman and other unpopular villagers of being witches

Within 10 months, 150 villagers were accused of witchcraft.

One way to avoid death was to confess and “out” others who were witches too.

Personal VengeancePersonal Vengeance

People begin accusing others of witchcraft for personal vengeance, especially neighbors with quarrels over land ownership.

Stats show that the “witches” were mostly unmarried women between 40 & 60.

People begin accusing others of witchcraft for personal vengeance, especially neighbors with quarrels over land ownership.

Stats show that the “witches” were mostly unmarried women between 40 & 60.

The ResultsThe Results

In all, 19 people were hanged and one man was pressed to death.

Knowing what you do about Puritan lifestyle and customs,

why do you think this was fertile ground for a witch hunt?

In all, 19 people were hanged and one man was pressed to death.

Knowing what you do about Puritan lifestyle and customs,

why do you think this was fertile ground for a witch hunt?

The Puritans aren’t the only crazies.

The Puritans aren’t the only crazies.

What other examples of modern day “witch hunts” can you think of? What causes these occurrences? How, as a society or world, can we prevent them? Should we?

What other examples of modern day “witch hunts” can you think of? What causes these occurrences? How, as a society or world, can we prevent them? Should we?

Possible ReasonsPossible Reasonsmass hysteria, shared delusionrestrictive forms of governmentnew economic pressures leading

to bitterness, aggression, and paranoia

strict society, repressionfear of non-conformists

(unmarried women who would come into their fathers’ inheritances, thereby threatening male power)

mass hysteria, shared delusionrestrictive forms of governmentnew economic pressures leading

to bitterness, aggression, and paranoia

strict society, repressionfear of non-conformists

(unmarried women who would come into their fathers’ inheritances, thereby threatening male power)

A Trip to SalemA Trip to Salem

Salem Witch MuseumSalem Witch Museum