What Are The Beliefs Of The Puritans And Native Americans

Looking for Guidance: From the Perspective of the Puritans and the Native Americans People have always looked at the vastness of the Earth and the universe and have wondered from where it all came, including where mankind itself originated. Many people of the past have attributed their creation to supernatural powers, such as higher spirits or a god, and have recorded their coming into existence in a story. In the case of the Puritans, their creation myth is found in Genesis, while on the other hand, the Native Americans recount their creation in multiple tales. Two of these Native American stories are “The Earth on Turtle’s Back” coming from the Onondaga tribe and “When Grizzlies Walked Upright” coming from the Modoc. As well as giving an
With Puritans, this feeling of dependence can first be seen in Genesis and then later with voyage to America, retold in Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford. In Genesis, the Puritan belief that events happened because of the will of God is very apparent, particularly with the usage of the phrase “and it was so,” said frequently as God was creating the universe (Genesis 1:9-12); it depicts a god whose will created the universe and nothing could dispute his authority. Bradford, too, exemplifies this belief of God’s omnipotence in his Of Plymouth Plantation, where everything that went well on the Puritans’ voyage to America was attributed to God; for instance, upon landing “they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven who had delivered them over the vast and furious ocean” (Bradford 3). The Puritans immediately give credit to their god, rather than considering that their own efforts may have played a role in a good outcome. Contrasting the Puritans who turn to God are the Native Americans, who turned to nature when in need; the Onondaga creation story reflects the need they have for the earth and nature. When the Sky Spirit falls from the sky, she cannot survive on her own, which is noticed by all the animals. She needed earth to survive, and more importantly, the animals to help her. Hence, the Onondaga and other Native Americans look at nature and the animals
Puritan values can be seen explicitly coming from God and being controlled by him as well, in both Genesis and John Winthrop’s “A Model of Christian Charity.” When Adam and Eve are in the Garden of Eden in Genesis, they are explicitly commanded by God, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it” (Genesis 2:17); only when the two do eat from it do they gain knowledge of what is morally correct, and so from the beginning of Puritan history, God has played a role in controlling morals. In “A Model of Christian Charity” as well, Winthrop outlines the moral code for the Puritan settlers coming to America, with rules such treating other with justice and mercy; according to Winthrop, such rules are from God and need to be obeyed to avoid a “shipwreck” for their new colony (Winthrop 6). With the risk of God ruining the colony unless they act as God has said, it is again apparent the control God has over the moral conduct of Puritans. However, unlike the Puritans, who need God to outline their conduct, the Onondaga in their creation story, turn to nature for their principles, particularly their animals. Their creation story emphasizes the helping nature of the animals, such as the swans that catch the Sky Spirit, the turtle who hold the earth and that the myth is named after, and the muskrat, who is explicitly extolled for her determination, despite her lacking strength.