The Puritans

Religion in the Colonies Religion was very important to the colonists in America, many whom had left Europe for religious freedom. Colonists generally REFUSED to accept any views that disagreed with their own. Tolerance was not a word in their vocabulary! Colonists lived their entire lives concerned with being free of “sin”, because they believed a life of sin led to eternal damnation (hell).

Who Were the Puritans? The Puritans arrived in America 10 years after the Pilgrims. Seeking comfort and reassurance in the Bible, they imagined themselves like the ancient Jews, who were liberated by God from oppression and chosen by God to fulfill a special role in human history. They wanted to establish a new, pure Christian following in America. The believed if they honored their obligations to God, they would be blessed; if they failed, they would be punished.

Puritan Beliefs The Puritans were strict Calvinists, or followers of the reformer John Calvin. Calvin taught that God was all-powerful and supreme. Human beings were depraved sinners. God had chosen a few people, "the elect," for salvation. The rest of humanity was condemned to eternal damnation. Puritans lived in a constant state of spiritual anxiety, searching for signs of God's approval or anger…

What did Puritans consider Sin? Puritans were very strict in their beliefs about sin. Of course crime was forbidden, but what we consider acceptable today, Puritans saw as serious, hell bound acts: Profane Language Adultery (Sex outside of marriage/ or infidelity was punishable by whipping or death) Suggestive Dancing For women, bare arms or showing too much skin Not attending Church on a regular basis

The Devil Made Me Do It

Belief in the Devil & Witches During the time of the Puritans, even scientists, scholars and other educated individuals believed in witchcraft. They believed that the devil constantly influenced everyday life. Without modern medical doctors and psychiatrists to help understand what was going on, mentally ill people or people who “sinned” were considered possessed by the devil. Because of this, there was a widespread belief in witchcraft, which resulted in the hanging of hundreds, mostly women.

Salem Witch Trials In a town called Salem, young girls began behaving in strange ways. They began to bite themselves, claim they were seeing strange creatures, and interrupting Church services with screaming fits. The girls claimed that people in their own community were witches working with the devil and had cast spells on them. Because of this, 20 people were executed and more than 300 had been accused of “working with the devil.” Today, no one can pin point exactly why the girls did what they did.

Quick Write: Your Views on Sin A sin is defined as “breaking God’s Law”. But depending on the culture and religion, the concept of sin varies from individual to individual. In one paragraph (4 sentences or more): Compare and contrast your idea of sin with the Puritans. What do you personally see as sin in our society? Do you believe that sin exists? If so, what offenses should or shouldn’t be considered “sinful”? Explain your thoughts.