Religion immensely influenced laws that were adhered to out of fear for the punishment faced if …show more content…
John Winthrop stated that, “a family is a little commonwealth and a commonwealth is a great family.” Once a woman married, coverture took place and were expected to obey their husbands, but obedience to Christ came first. Religion also influenced the Puritan society by molding their intolerance of different beliefs, usually found among “defiant women.” Puritan ministers would banish people from the colony deemed contradictory to their religion and lifestyle. Anne Hutchinson, a religious radical and critic of the Puritan ministers, was banished for holding meetings at her home and, according to the ministers, infringing on the fifth commandment and the rule of “Corinthians.” Evidently, religion influenced societal views and laws as well as conceiving punishments for those who acted opposingly, therefore forming