Religion in the Life of the Puritans

Religion in the Life of the Puritans

The Puritans were a people of high moral standards and strong religious beliefs. Religion encompassed every aspect of their lives and offered a base at which they could lay the foundations of a new society. Puritans left the Church of England and many fled to America in order to maintain their English identity. Because Puritan beliefs of religious expression, strong work ethic, and education were deeply established before the arrival to America, the colonists allowed for unchallenged and successful political, economic, and social growth. The Puritan’s main objective of the move to America was to take part in religious freedom and establish their own Theocracy. They did not believe in the separation of church and state and were not tolerant of other religions. Puritans wished to express their beliefs and “purify” the Church of Catholic influence. The belief in “Grace” gave a sense of spiritual freedom or “soul liberty.” Perhaps the Puritan idea of liberty laid the base for the growth of American government and the principle of freedom for the future. To promote political stability, a legal code was put into action that called for representative government and religious freedom of conscience. A “Bible Commonwealth” was to be established which would serve as a model to all mankind. Because religion served as the center for all aspects of life, the Bible was used as a legal guide and power was placed in the members of the church. Puritans were highly patriarchal, an idea derived from English custom. A strong conviction in literacy paved way for a set of laws that included the education of children. The Old Deluder Law stated that “Learning may not be buried in the graves of our forefathers in Church and Commonwealth”. They did not want their English identity to diminish and therefore became major supporters of public schools. A series of laws sustained a system of community schools and quickly gained ground in Massachusetts. Widespread and common Puritan beliefs resulted in great donations towards colleges and other institutions of learning. Common Puritan beliefs not only paved way for progress in government, but also in economic life. A strong work ethic in the Puritan community was a huge catalyst for economic growth. A unique aspect of Puritan life was that wealth was not determined by organization of production, but rather a system of value that came from Puritan viewpoints and East Anglian tradition. The economy was highly egalitarian. There were not many families who were exceptionally rich, nor exceptionally poor. They believed in working for what they had , but land was to be distributed relatively equally. This idea was also derived from East Anglia, which was highly egalitarian in economics, especially land distribution. A hard working middle class multiplied in Puritan communities and offered a steady system of goods .Like East Anglia’s commercial economy, the Puritan economic system suited literacy more than that of any part in British America, which was also true socially. Puritans based their entire life around the Bible, and therefore felt a strong need for a literate and educated community. High literacy rates were present among Puritans before the move to America. Puritans feared the loss of identity in America and therefore called for higher levels of schooling, even more than that of England. The Church was the focal point in the lives of the Puritans and the spiritual focus was very widespread among their colonies. Their great support of education resulted in exceptionally high intellectual achievement; higher than that of any part of British America. Education was enhanced by light sport which allowed the mind to rest and community to flourish. A belief in modest and restrained recreational activity was the method to obtain “refreshment of the spirit.” Games were played with a sense of purpose and organization that embodied Puritan ideals. The mix of Puritan customs with English tradition gave way to new games known as town ball and round ball. They are known today as football and baseball, which demonstrates the long lasting legacy of Puritan social habits in America. Puritan communities in early America were places of considerable growth and development. They paved the way for many ideals that Americans hold including education, religious freedom, and even modern sport. Religion was certainly the core of all facets in Puritan life and influenced components in their politics, economics, and social interaction that are still underlying features in American society today.