Puritans Pros And Cons Essay

Puritans were known as strict and devout in their faith. Because of this, they would be shocked if they lived in our world today. Not only would today’s inventions, and new technology astound them, but many of the things we not only allow but accept and even promote, would appall them. Puritans are classified by their unique religious beliefs. “The end is to improve our lives...from the common corruptions of this evil world, to serve the Lord and work out our salvation under the power and purity of His holy ordinances” (Winthrop, 85). As the name implies, Puritans wanted to purify christianity from the way it had been in England. Because the world can, and does sometimes feel antireligious, especially to those who are highly zealous, modern

Puritans would congregate together into a community of like minded individuals. The town would be a largely homogenous population, and defection and outside immigration would be looked down upon. In spite of the national separation of Church and State, their local government would heavily influenced by the church. “Likewise community of perils calls for extraordinary liberality, and so doth community in some special service for Church” (Winthrop, 78).
The school system would not use the standards that America now requires for its students, but would likely be private, and the curriculum would be heavy with Puritan teachings. They would not even think of going to public school, as they would feel that they are above even other christians. To them, tolerating, let alone accepting many modern teachings, especially those regarding science and evolution, could be be a grievous sin in blasphemy and possibly even heresy. It was and would be their common belief that they are those “...who were god’s visible people, and who lived under the means of grace.” (Edwards, 194). Conversely, we would likely consider them heretics at best, and radicals at worst, as our nation and world is currently in a state where such strong convictions of faith are often viewed with unease, and in some cases fear.
Because of their pride, they would think the tolerance we have of nonbelievers, and even other religions is detestable, and this would likely lead to them be painted as bigots by much of society.

Their local economy would rely strongly on agriculture and much of their food and produce would be grown and sold locally. Even though everyone would have different roles and responsibilities, all citizens would likely have very similar standards of living, as their devotion to God inspires them to help each other so that they may all be of a capacity to worship Him more fully and ably. “...we must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities, for the supply of other’s necessities” (Winthrop, 85). Keeping in line with this belief, it is likely that many Puritans would lean toward socialism, but due to their extreme stances on how one is to behave in order to please God, they would also likely vote conservative, as the party has a history of being more morally strict, and of strongly influenced by and populated with

christians.
The sale of excess production to, and trade with, the rest of the country would be encouraged by the local government to a point, but the contact would be very limited, and there would be a general stigma about acquiring too much material wealth, lest they risk becoming gluttonous, or proud of their new possessions.

This fear would develop largely out of their acute awareness of one of their denominations earliest leaders writings on the original Puritan settlement of Plymouth, “For now as their stocks increased, and the increase vendible, there was no longer any holding them together” (Bradford, 74). They would hold the belief that “to embrace this present world and prosecute our carnal intentions, seeking great things for ourselves and our posterity, the Lord will surely break out in wrath against us” (Winthrop, 86)

This town would want to be seen by the world as an example for the world to see. Puritans are a “knit together” (Winthrop, 86) people, and they would be very reluctant to associate with people outside of their town. They still want to share their successes, but not through missionary work, but through leading by example. “We shall be as a city upon hill” (Winthrop, 86). The example this city would set be one of loving god and loving each other. They care for their own as if they were all related, and love god even

moreso.
As you may expect, many of the beliefs of our country would not align with the beliefs of the Puritans. Another prominent leader from their history, preacher Jonathan Edwards, gave a sermon entitled “Sinners in The Hands of an Angry God” in which he accused a majority of his congregation of being unconverted, and should he, or any of his most stringent followers see the state of religion in the world, as well as the state of the world in general, they would likely isolate themselves in disgrace at the human race. In his personal narrative, Edwards wrote that “as my convictions and affections wore off; and I entirely lost all those affections and delights, and left off secret prayer, at least as to any constant performance of it,” that he “returned like a dog to his vomit, and went on in ways of sin.” (Edwards, 170-171) Considering that he felt so strongly about his own religious shortcomings and human imperfections, imagine how he, or his followers would feel in a world where people disavow god entirely, and do foolish things that are a detriment to their own health, and degrade society. In toto, pilgrimage truly is the Puritan path, and their strong and unique ideals would drive them to create a community in which they could constantly work to please God in what ways they deem fit.