General Introduction to the church
History of the Church is seen to encounter many challenges. The early church had its roots on cemented on strict and stringently followed biblical beliefs. With time, evolution and civilization began to encroach the church values and systems. The church initially, did not believe in earthly riches, entertainment, politics, and honor. The acceptance of such in the church consequently brew divides in the church, and people started accepting and interpreting the Bible in different ways. Hence, congregation members began to cocoon in line and cohorts of what they believed was right. As declared by Jesus, “no one can serve two masters” (Matt. 6:24 New International Version). The beginning of the church divide hence came (Lössl, 2009).
The Puritan movement
The Puritans refer to a religious movement that arose in the 16th and the 17th century with an objective to reform and purify the Church of England. From the puritan’s argument, the Roman Catholic church still had its roots and doctrines deeply embedded within the Church of England (Reeves, 2015). The Puritan recognition and effects took dimension in the 17th century culminating from their view of life about morals, religious earnestness, and biblically directed ways of life other than the predominant practiced liturgical vestiges and the doctrinal component values from the Catholic church. Additionally, the Puritan belief system was against any form of practice that perpetuated episcopal authority (Heimert, 1985). Puritanism exemplified an attempt to reform the Church of England. From the perspective of a chosen people by God and the promise of a new land to materialize the former, Puritanism instilled a legacy of American development and advancement. This movement is evidenced by the advent of the American Revolution, Manifest Destiny, and the emergence of the United States as a global superpower.
Key figures to the movement
The movement was led mainly by the dissenting clergymen and leaders who in their interpretation saw the many anomalies with the system of the church that was in play. Also, other believers in the conventional Church of England congregation joined the movement. Additionally, lively young speakers mostly with some theology background who also found the church teachings to be inadequate and liturgical became members of the Puritan movement. Individual and group sensitization by members to other people become rampant. Their teachings aimed to attack the predominant already established controversial church ministry. The then Catholic queen and king Edward V1 started exiling and sentencing Puritan members and clergy. The move by the authority garnered more awareness for the Puritans. The more they were suppressed, the more they gained strength and numbers. They were even caricatured as hypocrites and lascivious purveyors of religious doctrines. The key people and what they were going through highly promoted the movement (Haller, 1955).
Philosophy and thinking of the movement
The Puritans solely believed that the Bible is the manual and guiding principle. They felt that the church was an exemplification of a monarchy and the only possible to get connected to God the Father was through strict and unshaken believing and following the church authority as stipulated by the Bible. Additionally, they believed that each one of them was directly responsible to God and collectively too (PPEA, 2006). They emphasized togetherness and love for each other as Jesus Christ stipulates (John 13:34-35 New International Version). The Puritan preached and advocated for a clean and holistic life for the entire nation. As a consequence of their bid, which was contrary to the laws enforced by the monarchy, civil war against the crown ensued, culminating to many reforms and activities. As such, dissenting clergymen and Puritan congregational members were either sent to their deaths or exile. Some of them in an attempt to escape prosecution by the king took off to America where they established colonies and ways of life adhering to their belief system (Heimert, 1985). They settled in different places with some camping at Massachusetts Bay. Here they established themselves and built churches. The population grew steadily. Smaller settlements began to develop around Massachusetts which would later become Maine and Connecticut among other towns.
Interplay between religion and American experience
With the Puritan believers settling in American, they could now practice pure religion free of any interference by the Roman Catholic teachings and doctrines. The modernity in the new settlement allowed them to stabilize and increasingly cement their faith. Consequently, the Puritans went on to directly influence various aspects of the areas in America that they settled. On the socio-historical point, the Puritans impacted elements of the society such as education. Puritans were literate in every sense. They had a zeal for education right from England to the new England (Conforti, 2001). They believed that the Bible was Gods way of communicating to man hence, ought to be read and understood by everyone as it was necessary for one to lead piety life. The new immigrants had the objective of continuing the school system but also, integrate religious classes into it (Kang, 2009).
Therefore, Puritans set up public schools which were free for all children. The first was in 1635 called Roxbury Latin School. In 1639, the first ever American college called Harvard College was set up. Additionally, they also introduced liberal arts as part of the education, owing to their philosophy that every truth is associated with God. Therefore, it should be learned. The school campaign against illiteracy and to teach people on the principles of Christian living and faith stirred a significant impact on the socio-historical face of the country. Education in the United states of America has since then been on the rise on improvements in quality and structure as the initial proponents had planned. Today, the former Harvard College is now known as Harvard law school, popularly known to produce some of the best lawyers and business students in the globe, courtesy of the visionary Puritans and their manifest destiny belief in their new land (Kang, 2009).
In the political arena, puritans ensured that they influenced the democratic development processes such as the 1776 declaration of independence which highly borrowed on the foundations of the Puritan belief system. The baseline was referenced on the very same system used by the Puritans, the socio-political structure. The ecclesiastical identity of the Puritans which was based on family and community and structural governance of the towns, rules and regulations and rights, uplifted to compose part of the declaration of independence and the bill of rights since they were highly ethical, sound and with biblical inclinations. The conservative systems used by the Puritans of transferring the same governance system to new towns formed an excellent laboratory to political and democratic protocols which ensued up to the current American political and constitutional processes (Kang, 2009).
Moreover, the Puritans believed in hard work and thrift significantly fueled the American spirit of economic growth. They had a work ethics and diligence belief that everyone must work if they wanted to eat and develop in life. Creation of wealth was made to Happen only if one works for it and severe punishment offered to those who went contrary. The doctrine was implanted in the minds of people since no one wanted to remain poor. The ideology developed the American spirit of risk-taking which advanced individual economic prowess and collectively as a nation. The trend has trickled to the modern day America and the citizens and amassed the country super financial muscle. (Kang, 2009).
Puritans and the American religious faith
Theologically, the study on Puritan legacy proves to be vital to American faith in several aspects. First, their belief and zeal to walk in the correct path and belief in God are impeccable. They portray a great desire to keep the word of God holy to an extent of trying to bring reforms in the church to change unbiblical practices. American religious faith gets insight on maintaining and fighting to keep the word of God and obey the laws stipulated in the Bible (Psalm 1:1-3 NIV). The stern belief serves to consolidate the American faith and the laws of God. Moreover, the Bible continues to teach that the word of God should not be altered “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." (Deuteronomy 12:32 New International Version).
Additionally, the Puritans have a big love for the community and not just individual. They believe that everyone deserves a chance to know God and be saved hence they introduced religion in schools to teach the young children to read and understand the Bible and the Christian teachings. For the American faith, the value system is key to ensuring that everyone gets the good news of salvation (2 Timothy 4:2 KING JAMES VERSION (KJV))
Correlation between the Puritan legacy and the contemporary American religious experience.
In the modern American religious experience in the US, religion has undergone drastic changes. The clergy and congregation have redefined religion from a range of different inter-denominational and inter-religious and multicultural paradigms and perspectives. Over time, religious beliefs and churches have changed and diversified as a result of civilization, evolution, and modernization. There are remarkable and yet notable changes from what was originally crafted (Kosmin, 2011). Even though religious inclinations have changed, there still are features that cannot change. Some aspects of religion regarding Christianity regardless of denominations will never change. For instance, the overall goodwill of the church, the biblical issues, respect for God among others. The Puritans believed in God and the Christian teaching. Hence, these aspects have remained true and functional.
However, the Puritan legacy on the teachings and doctrines of Christian believes have been changing over time. There is much difference with the current American religious experience. Differences arise in concepts such as episcopal systems which differ from church to church unlike with Puritan legacy which was universal, fellowship and order of services; the puritan way was simple and direct with one session and singing of Psalm acapella with no music instruments (Kosmin, 2011). Today, it is the formalized and structured worship styles and order of services accompanied with sophisticated musical instruments.
As much as there exist the differences and similarities between the Puritan legacy and the contemporary American religious experience, some areas remain constant such as the Christian values and the Bible, which is the most important feature. Also, the teaching of religion in school has been maintained so the Puritan legacy still holds amidst the many reforms and modernization.
Conclusion
Moving to America by the Puritans proved to be instrumental in the development and advancement of various aspects in the United States. Many revolutionary ideas and processes have been attributed to the Puritan movement. Such entail integration of religion in school systems, enhancement of Christian values such as hard work which has led to the economic growth of the country. Additionally, the adoption of the ecclesiastical identity that culminated into sound political and judicial system up to date, the realization of the advent of the American Revolution, Manifest Destiny, and the emergence of the United States as a global superpower.
References
Conforti, J. A. (2001). Imagining New England: explorations of regional identity from the pilgrims to the mid-twentieth century. Unity of North Carolina Press.
Haller, W. (1955). Liberty and reformation in the puritan revolution (Vol. 47). Columbia University.
Heimert, A., & Delbanco, A. (1985). The Puritans in America: A narrative anthology. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.
Kang, N. (2009). Puritanism and Its Impact upon American Values. Review of European Studies, 1(2), 148.
Kosmin, B. (2011). One nation under God: Religion in contemporary American society. Three Rivers Press.
Lössl, J. (2009). The early Church: Christianity in late antiquity. London: T & T Clark.
PPEA. (2006). Puritans and Puritanism in Europe and America: 1. Santa Barbara, Calif. [u.a.: ABC-Clio.
Reeves, R. (2015, June 2). How to train a cat to operate a light switch [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPLP1T1RA_A
