What do you already know about the Puritans? What do you already know about the Puritans? Who are they? Where do they come from? Why Who are they? Where do they come from? Why did they leave? What did they believe in ? How did they leave? What did they believe in ? How did they write?did they write?

Journal Topic for Monday, October 5Journal Topic for Monday, October 5thth::

The PuritansThe Puritans

English 11English 11

Mr. BradleyMr. Bradley

Who were the Puritans?Who were the Puritans?

Branch of Protestant churchBranch of Protestant church Began in 16Began in 16thth & 17 & 17thth centuries centuries Preferred to be called “the godly”Preferred to be called “the godly” Attempted to “purify” Church of Attempted to “purify” Church of

EnglandEngland Encouraged free enterprise and Encouraged free enterprise and

emerging capitalist economyemerging capitalist economy Wanted to strip the church of Catholic Wanted to strip the church of Catholic

influencesinfluences

Two Types of Puritans:Two Types of Puritans:Separatists Separatists

Held irreconcilable Held irreconcilable differences with the differences with the Church of England; they Church of England; they thought the church was thought the church was corrupt and that they must corrupt and that they must distance themselves from distance themselves from itit

Were persecuted under Were persecuted under various monarchies in various monarchies in EnglandEngland

First fled from England to First fled from England to HollandHolland

Later, came to found the Later, came to found the Plymouth Colony in Plymouth Colony in America in 1620America in 1620

Non-SeparatistsNon-Separatists Held less extreme views of Held less extreme views of

the Church of Englandthe Church of England Believed in church reformBelieved in church reform Came to America in 1630Came to America in 1630 Massachusetts Bay ColonyMassachusetts Bay Colony

Doctrine of Election / Doctrine of Election / Predestination:Predestination:

Man is innately sinfulMan is innately sinful Original SinOriginal Sin

Only those who are Only those who are chosen by God (the chosen by God (the elect) are savedelect) are saved

The grace of Christ The grace of Christ allows the chosen the allows the chosen the strength to follow the strength to follow the will of Godwill of God

The chosen will follow The chosen will follow the path of the path of righteousnessrighteousness

Predestination Predestination continued…continued…

• No one knew who No one knew who was or was not was or was not savedsaved

• Must have Must have conversion conversion experienceexperience

• God’s grace given God’s grace given to chosento chosen

• Grace shown Grace shown through Godly through Godly behaviorbehavior

• Self-reflection to Self-reflection to determine who had determine who had this behaviorthis behavior

As a result of their belief in As a result of their belief in predestination, Puritans:predestination, Puritans:

Were always looking Were always looking for signsfor signs

Scrutinized daily Scrutinized daily events events

Thought there was Thought there was always a reason for always a reason for everythingeverything

Felt that God’s hand Felt that God’s hand was in everything, no was in everything, no matter how matter how insignificantinsignificant

Puritan Beliefs & Values:Puritan Beliefs & Values:

Literal interpretation of the BibleLiteral interpretation of the Bible Explicit readings vs church Explicit readings vs church

doctrinesdoctrines No excesses in worshipNo excesses in worship

Simple, so they can concentrate on GodSimple, so they can concentrate on God Constant struggle between God & Constant struggle between God &

SatanSatan God rewards the good & punishes God rewards the good & punishes

the wickedthe wicked

Education & Work Ethic:Education & Work Ethic: Virtuous, self-examined Virtuous, self-examined

lifelife Strict disciplineStrict discipline Strong work ethicStrong work ethic Virtues would lead to economic Virtues would lead to economic

successsuccess Valued educationValued education

Founded Harvard College in Founded Harvard College in 1636 to train ministers1636 to train ministers

Get children away from Get children away from evils of Englandevils of England

No gamesNo games Women less capableWomen less capable

Eve was the first sinnerEve was the first sinner Literature for pleasure Literature for pleasure

highly censoredhighly censored

Puritan Literature & Puritan Literature & Writings:Writings:

Very little writing for pleasure or entertainmentVery little writing for pleasure or entertainment

Fiction considered frivolous & possibly immoralFiction considered frivolous & possibly immoral

Historical documents, personal journals, Historical documents, personal journals, religious poetry & tractsreligious poetry & tracts

Plain StylePlain Style ClarityClarity AccessibilityAccessibility StraightforwardnessStraightforwardness Lack of ornamentationLack of ornamentation

Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards

1703-17581703-1758 Fire and brimstone Fire and brimstone

imagery.imagery. Helped bring about the Helped bring about the

Great Awakening.Great Awakening. Tyrannical pastor - Tyrannical pastor -

extreme and strict - extreme and strict - humans “lowly sinners.”humans “lowly sinners.”

The last “Puritan”The last “Puritan”