The Scarlet Letter
Background
Puritans: historical background
 “Puritans”: name given
to 16th century
Protestants within
Church of England.
 Name came from group’s
desire to “purify” the
Anglican church of any
hint of Roman
Catholicism.
 Wanted to return church
to practices of early
Christians as
demonstrated in the
Bible.
Historical background
 In 17th century, many
Puritans emigrated to the
New World seeking to
establish a holy
Commonwealth in New
England: to practice their
faith in a way that would
not draw persecution
from the national Church
of England (Anglican).
Historical background
 They did not come to New
World to found a
commonwealth based on
religious freedom.
 The “freedom” they sought
was to establish a
church/state whose laws
would be derived from
Biblical principles.
 Puritan “Founding Fathers”
came to the New World in
order to establish a
“Utopian” state; the “New
Jerusalem”; the “City on
the Hill”
Historical background
 In 1620 the
Pilgrims founded
Plymouth Colony
(via Holland) in
Massachusetts
 In 1630, Puritans
founded the
Massachusetts Bay
Colony in the first
major Puritan
migration to New
England.
Historical background
 The “New Jerusalem”
was built on the premise
of humankind’s
weakness and fallibility.
 Left to their own devices,
people would succumb to
Satan’s temptations
unless the whole
community stood as one
against the Tempter.
Historical background
 Thus, there were few
differences between
church and state laws;
offenses against church
were offenses against
state.
 Puritan Code:
 Waste no time
 Duty and responsibility
before pleasure
 Evil is evil, regardless of
circumstance
 Man is imperfect
 God has predestined
man’s salvation and grace
Puritanism
 Puritan beliefs
 The Scriptures provide
step-by-step instructions for
church conduct and
organization
 The Bible tells individuals
exactly how to behave
 Human beings are put on
earth to honor God and
follow the calling that God
has set forth for them
 Human nature is evil; only
God’s grace can save people
from eternal damnation
 The community has a
responsibility to punish
sinnners harshly for the
good of their eternal souls
Puritanism
 Forbidden:
 Music in church
 Drama
 Erotic poetry
 Swearing, idleness,
drunkenness
 Christmas and May Day
holidays (they added
three holiday
celebrations:
Thanksgiving, election
day, college
commencement)
Overview: Puritan Beliefs and Values

Grace, plainness, mission

Absolute sovereignty of God (many were Calvinists: predestination and
“election”: a few are “chosen” to be saved)

Total depravity of mankind

Salvation entirely from God (grace) as opposed to a person’s good works,
morality, intentions

Importance of personal religious experience

Education as the tool to understand and execute God’s will

Bible is indispensable guide to life; literal interpretation of Bible

Value of high moral conduct and hard work (link between Puritanism and
capitalism)

Union of church and state to form holy commonwealth

Duty to direct national affairs according to God’s will as revealed in the Bible

Simple worship services; “plain” style of preaching; emphasis on conversion.
Puritan Beliefs and Values
 Important contributions
 High value on education
(Puritans established
Harvard College; between
1630 and 1690, there
were as many university
graduates in New England
as there were in England).
 Foundation for political
revolution in New World
and England (contributed
to establishment of
English Parliament).
 Social vision with
distinctively Christian
character
 Value on community and
political service.