A Calvinist sect that broke from the Church of England, the Puritans sought to deepen the divides from Catholicism and new Protestant churches. Persecuted in England for their radical beliefs, they travelled to Denmark and Sweden before finally embarking on a ship to North America where they had the promise of freedom to practice. The Puritan communities in New England resolved to create an ideal Christian colony as outlined by John Winthrop’s A Model of Christian Charity by centering their lives around the church, converting the neighboring Native Americans, and support the whole of the society they formed.
In John Winthrop’s famous sermon, the phrase pertaining to “a city on a hill” metamorphosed into a mission statement for the colonists …show more content…
The church educated children, both boys and girls, so they could read from the bible, it maintained the community by hosting gatherings and events; it served as a common theme. The church was the lifeblood of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. When people dared to stray from traditional customs, the Massachusetts General Court set down laws that the town might not be troubled any longer, the individual bringing wrath upon the whole (Massachusetts General Court 234, 236). Notably, the only churches allowed were those of the Puritans, even related religions, such as the Quakers being punished for the “hazard of soul” and “the scandal of [their] religion” (Massachusetts General Court 236). With the majority of people looking at them as they looked at the Quakers, the Puritans could not afford to be lax in matters of the eternal …show more content…
The decimation of the native populations by war and disease left the Puritans believing in their favor with God and their separation from others by faith and excellence. For example, in Mary Rowlandson’s time in captivity, any ill that befell her captors was God signalling his disfavor with them (Rowlandson). And while cordial upon arrival, relations soon became strained as the Puritans and other settlers took up more land and disrespected native beliefs due to their self-supposed superiority. Starting in the south of New England, Puritanical obstinance in the conversion of others and confidence in their own faith helped to create tensions leading to the Pequot War, and though mostly in the south, the ravages of the fighting coming north still had effect on the Puritans like the destruction and bondage of settlers. After these acts of war and the defeat of the Native American tribes, the Puritans relations became more condescending and uneasy with the nations than
In John Winthrop’s famous sermon, the phrase pertaining to “a city on a hill” metamorphosed into a mission statement for the colonists …show more content…
The church educated children, both boys and girls, so they could read from the bible, it maintained the community by hosting gatherings and events; it served as a common theme. The church was the lifeblood of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. When people dared to stray from traditional customs, the Massachusetts General Court set down laws that the town might not be troubled any longer, the individual bringing wrath upon the whole (Massachusetts General Court 234, 236). Notably, the only churches allowed were those of the Puritans, even related religions, such as the Quakers being punished for the “hazard of soul” and “the scandal of [their] religion” (Massachusetts General Court 236). With the majority of people looking at them as they looked at the Quakers, the Puritans could not afford to be lax in matters of the eternal …show more content…
The decimation of the native populations by war and disease left the Puritans believing in their favor with God and their separation from others by faith and excellence. For example, in Mary Rowlandson’s time in captivity, any ill that befell her captors was God signalling his disfavor with them (Rowlandson). And while cordial upon arrival, relations soon became strained as the Puritans and other settlers took up more land and disrespected native beliefs due to their self-supposed superiority. Starting in the south of New England, Puritanical obstinance in the conversion of others and confidence in their own faith helped to create tensions leading to the Pequot War, and though mostly in the south, the ravages of the fighting coming north still had effect on the Puritans like the destruction and bondage of settlers. After these acts of war and the defeat of the Native American tribes, the Puritans relations became more condescending and uneasy with the nations than