Below is a detailed article that talks all about Puritanism, its origins, and its effect on the English Society. Let us learn more.
What is Puritanism?
Puritanism is an awakening that came into the English class in the late 16th and 17th centuries. It is a reform movement taken over by the people that sought to ‘purify’ the Church of England of its Catholicism inspired by Roman popery. It was a change that people brought into their own lives with moral principles and religious earnestness rather than ritualism. These principles guided the entire way of life of the Puritans.
The Puritanism reform movement eventually resulted in the civil war in England and more importantly led to the formation of Christian colonies in America. They dictated the working and ideal way of life in these colonies. Puritanism promoted an intense religious experience of living which was rather new among the English Society.
Who were the Puritans?
Puritans were people that followed this basic religious way of life more willingly than any other. Puritans were more about building a direct relationship with God rather than following church norms. According to them, it was what led to their salvation and not the church in itself. They were said to be led by the ‘Holy Spirit’ to preach the Gospel.
What did the Puritans believe?
The Puritans believed in building a relationship with God. It was the only way to achieve salvation, which is the ultimate gift of life. The instrument of Salvation was fostered with the act of preaching to others and living a godly life. They opposed idolizing the Pope and the entire Roman Catholic body as a whole.
New England puritanism owed its religious roots to the Bible. Their worship circled around the Bible, it was a simple service. Musical instruments were forbidden and psalms were sung by the people.
According to New England Puritans, witchcraft was an act practiced by women in those times that made a pact with the devil to gain supernatural powers. Such activities included human sacrifice and sacrifice of blood which was highly opposed and frowned upon by the Puritans.
Puritanism – Why did the puritans leave England?
The Puritans consisted of all classes of people and what united them was their belief and not their titles or ancestry as it was in Europe. This led to the gathering together and building meaningful conversations that evoked them they were better off in another community of themselves rather than the English. This resulted in many of them being persecuted and deprived of their titles and their jobs in many cases.
The Puritan leader John Winthrop came from a wealthy class of the English gentry became the governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. There were many from the wealthy class that joined him not for freedom but to practice a religion of their choice without interference. The Puritans saw themselves reenacting the story of Exodus and sought comfort in the Bible and in God.
Puritan New England
The Puritans determined it best to move away from England into a place where they could practice their religion without any interference. They established their New world in America in a colony called Plymouth. The white English male citizens had a strong maritime economy and a disciplined work ethic. They were all characterized by their quality of equality and justice.
Plymouth was the first Puritan colony and New England was the second. It was occupied in the second half of the 17th century by Chesapeake tobacco colonies. There were many progressive-minded men and women in the 1580s that had been calling for change that joined Puritanism in a wave.
Why did the Puritans go to America?
The Puritans realized how corrupt the Ecclesiastical courts were. Many believed that they defied the civil authorities of the State. In 1630, they set sail in a group for America, a land known to them due to many English Maritime sailors. During the sail, they were often taught about their covenant with God by their leader John Winthrop.
Puritanism vs The Church of England
The Church of England was founded by Henry VIII where the monarch is the Head of the church as well as the State. Puritans came out of the Church of England opposing their ideologies as they were found to be similar to those of the Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church promoted their own teachings that were out of those from the Bible. The Puritans based their life completely on the teachings of the Bible and none over the leadership of any pope.
Puritanism was founded by John Winthrop, a wealthy man of English gentry and not a monarch as the Church of England was founded by.
