Puritans were a group of English Protestants who's influence reached its peak during the 16th and 17th centuries. The faith was founded by Protestant clergy members who had fled to continental Europe during the reign of Roman Catholic Queen Mary I, also known as "Bloody Mary" for her brutal crackdown on Protestant Christians. These clergy members returned to England after the ascension of Elizabeth I and formed Puritanism as an activist movement within the Church of England.
Puritanism is, by definition, identifying with the belief that the English Reformation did not go far enough in separating the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church. Central to Puritan beliefs is the avocation of greater "purity" of worship and doctrine, as well as piety. They desired complete conformity to the teachings of the bible, and their concern over moral purity was nigh obsessive. Above all, a Puritan believed that man existed only for the glory of god, and that his only concern was to do god's will.
Puritans first arrived on American soil in force during the Puritan migration to New England from 1625 to 1640. This migration was the end result of a long period of religious conflict between the Church of England and the conservative Puritans.
The migration began soon after Charles I dissolved in Parliament 1629, partially in response to the Puritan opposition within it. This left Puritans without political influence in a hostile religious environment, and was shortly followed by the first fleet of ships leaving for New England in 1930. These Puritans sought to create a intensely religious and thoroughly righteous community that would serve as an example for all of Europe. The migration would continue until Parliament was reconvened in 1640.
If we consider the play "The Crucible" to be accurate, then we find that myths played an important part in the lives of Puritans living in the 1600's. Demonic forces, for example, were considered very real threats to the average Puritan. The amount of accused individuals who were condemned on the basis of Abigail William's act indicates a firm belief in these supernatural forces.
The play also reveals another Puritan myth; dancing and other impure forms of revelry were considered to be unchristian, even satanic. Tituba was accused numerous times of having encouraged Betty and Abigail to dance in the woods, which was nearly likened to consorting with the devil. The myth that dancing encourages satanic influence on one's soul likely stems from the Puritans' desire for godly devotion. Distractions from God like dancing are shunned, and in combination with their enthusiasm for purity and conformity, the forbidden act of dancing could easily be extended to an act against God.
I agree that the puritan people must have had a real fear of satanic acts and witchcraft because of the hysteria that followed the statement that there were witches in Salem. Since the puritans had such a strong belief in god they most likely had an equally strong belief in the Devil. I believe that because God and religion were the center of the puritan lifestyle witchcraft would have been the scariest thing for a puritan to encounter because it threatened the core of the communities values.
Witchcraft not only threatened the core of the community's values, the Puritans also believed it threatened their chance at eternal life in Heaven, which is the most crucial thing to them. They believed that the "witches" had given their souls to the Devil and these women were capable to take others down with them. They also were worried if some people of the community were associated with the Devil that God may condemn the entire community as unholy and evil.
In addition to the all of the lovely information that DisplayName has given, the Puritans also believed that walking with God was the only way to live a good life. Everything was black and white; you were either with God or conspiring with the devil. This is shown when Danforth says "You are with this court or against it, there is no road in between". If the characters in the play were truly Puritan, then why would they believe Abigail and her friends when they began accusing people of witchcraft? According to this principle, they could have been lying because they and had already sided with the devil once, and there is, apparently, no middle road. You are either with the devil or with God. Although the people of the court thought that they were being righteous by condemning the "witches", other Puritans may have seen them as believing people who were with the devil.
The Puritans definitely did have a 'black and white' mindset. Even with an unlimited amount of defense, the accused were always looked at as guilty because they were believed to have conspired with the devil. Because the Puritans were always expected to be truthful (and it seems as though no-one had ever told a lie before in this society), anyone who had been accused HAD to be guilty in the eyes of the judges.
Puritans were a group of English Protestants who's influence reached its peak during the 16th and 17th centuries. The faith was founded by Protestant clergy members who had fled to continental Europe during the reign of Roman Catholic Queen Mary I, also known as "Bloody Mary" for her brutal crackdown on Protestant Christians. These clergy members returned to England after the ascension of Elizabeth I and formed Puritanism as an activist movement within the Church of England.
ReplyDeletePuritanism is, by definition, identifying with the belief that the English Reformation did not go far enough in separating the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church. Central to Puritan beliefs is the avocation of greater "purity" of worship and doctrine, as well as piety. They desired complete conformity to the teachings of the bible, and their concern over moral purity was nigh obsessive. Above all, a Puritan believed that man existed only for the glory of god, and that his only concern was to do god's will.
Puritans first arrived on American soil in force during the Puritan migration to New England from 1625 to 1640. This migration was the end result of a long period of religious conflict between the Church of England and the conservative Puritans.
The migration began soon after Charles I dissolved in Parliament 1629, partially in response to the Puritan opposition within it. This left Puritans without political influence in a hostile religious environment, and was shortly followed by the first fleet of ships leaving for New England in 1930. These Puritans sought to create a intensely religious and thoroughly righteous community that would serve as an example for all of Europe. The migration would continue until Parliament was reconvened in 1640.
If we consider the play "The Crucible" to be accurate, then we find that myths played an important part in the lives of Puritans living in the 1600's. Demonic forces, for example, were considered very real threats to the average Puritan. The amount of accused individuals who were condemned on the basis of Abigail William's act indicates a firm belief in these supernatural forces.
The play also reveals another Puritan myth; dancing and other impure forms of revelry were considered to be unchristian, even satanic. Tituba was accused numerous times of having encouraged Betty and Abigail to dance in the woods, which was nearly likened to consorting with the devil. The myth that dancing encourages satanic influence on one's soul likely stems from the Puritans' desire for godly devotion. Distractions from God like dancing are shunned, and in combination with their enthusiasm for purity and conformity, the forbidden act of dancing could easily be extended to an act against God.
I agree that the puritan people must have had a real fear of satanic acts and witchcraft because of the hysteria that followed the statement that there were witches in Salem. Since the puritans had such a strong belief in god they most likely had an equally strong belief in the Devil. I believe that because God and religion were the center of the puritan lifestyle witchcraft would have been the scariest thing for a puritan to encounter because it threatened the core of the communities values.
DeleteWitchcraft not only threatened the core of the community's values, the Puritans also believed it threatened their chance at eternal life in Heaven, which is the most crucial thing to them. They believed that the "witches" had given their souls to the Devil and these women were capable to take others down with them. They also were worried if some people of the community were associated with the Devil that God may condemn the entire community as unholy and evil.
DeleteIn addition to the all of the lovely information that DisplayName has given, the Puritans also believed that walking with God was the only way to live a good life. Everything was black and white; you were either with God or conspiring with the devil. This is shown when Danforth says "You are with this court or against it, there is no road in between". If the characters in the play were truly Puritan, then why would they believe Abigail and her friends when they began accusing people of witchcraft? According to this principle, they could have been lying because they and had already sided with the devil once, and there is, apparently, no middle road. You are either with the devil or with God. Although the people of the court thought that they were being righteous by condemning the "witches", other Puritans may have seen them as believing people who were with the devil.
ReplyDeleteThe Puritans definitely did have a 'black and white' mindset. Even with an unlimited amount of defense, the accused were always looked at as guilty because they were believed to have conspired with the devil. Because the Puritans were always expected to be truthful (and it seems as though no-one had ever told a lie before in this society), anyone who had been accused HAD to be guilty in the eyes of the judges.
Delete