Puritan New England

Puritan 1capitalized : a member of a 16th and 17th century Protestant group in England and New England opposing as unscriptural the ceremonial worship and the prelacy of the Church of England

2: one who practices or preaches a more rigorous or professedly purer moral code than that which prevails

The Beginning

1560 Protestant sought to “purify” Church of

England Holland New World 1620 Mayflower Compact

Tenets (Basic Beliefs)

personal, inner experience neither church nor government all are sinners Jesus Christ came to save, but who

is “elect” “inner arrival” reborn

TULIP

total depravity unconditional election limited atonement irresistable grace perseverance of the saints

Ideals

self-reliance industry temperance simplicity education

Bible

essential daily living direction, not force read on one’s own

Government by Contract

covenant enter freely into government rather than

by force inherent problems 1692 - Salem

Universities

originally for training of Puritan ministers Harvard 1636 William and Mary 1693 Yale 1701 Princeton 1746 women mid 20th c Oberlin College 1833

Puritan Writers - Function

transform a mysterious God make God relevant glorify God

Writing - Style

Protestant purposeful reflected character and scope of

reading public

Writing - Common Themes

idealism - religious and political pragmatism - practical and

purposeful

Age of Reason - Enlightenment Newton - God as a clockmaker Puritans - intimate and mysterious Age of Reason - born in practicality