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.
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