The Puritan Movement

Although the Puritan society has become synonymous with strictness and death, its society and ideals have influenced culture throughout history. The origins of Puritanism can be traced back to the Protestant reformation and their separation from the church of England. The Puritans believed that the Church of England needed to be purified, that the church leaders had too much power and that it should be more evenly distributed throughout the church body. In the 1560s due to their beliefs, the Protestant reformers collectively become known as Puritans for their belief in the necessity for the purification of the church. These reformers soon left for the Americas to build what many described as "a city on the hill."*cite?

The Puritan society had three key ideas that identify the period. These three ideals are original sin, supremacy of the bible, and …show more content…
The appearance of these ideals is no surprise however, before the Protestant reformation Christian imagery seemed almost necessary for any civic buildings. This usage of art was meant to foster a greater sense of God's presence and a feeling of closeness to divinity. Michelangelo elevates this feeling in his chapel frescos. Take a walk through the chapel and you will see that his frescos depict the biblical time span of Genesis through the time of …show more content…
The first book published by the Puritans in the Americas was a book of hymns, known as the Bay Psalm Book. This book was a prominent aspect of the Puritan community and was used in both religious meetings and personal worship. Puritan ideals are not limited to the song found within the Bay Psalm Book however, the key beliefs of the Puritans can be found in song lyrics today. A popular Christian band Casting Crowns express these ideas in the song "Who am