Puritans and the Amish: Are they similar, or not?

The Puritans played an instrumental role in shaping today’s culture, and can be compared to the present day Amish. It all began around the 1500’s in England where people started to question their way of life and demand change. This created an extensive variety of religions that then spread across the world. As time progressed, and the world developed, these religions weaved in and out of each other, creating what we have today. Although the Puritans and the Amish share some beliefs, there are numerous differences that define them as their own religions.

The Puritans first originated in England during the 1500’s, and faced numerous conflicts throughout their time. These began with their efforts to change the Church of England. This turned out to be one of their greatest challenges as they faced a substantial amount of opposition. The term they were known for, "Puritan”, came from their goal of purifying the church and restoring it to how it is described in the Bible (“Puritans” World Book). During this time of reform, there were Puritans with more radical views such as removing bishops and replacing the Episcopal with a new Presbyterian system. At the same time, there was also a group of independents with even stronger radical views. These independents later broke off from the Puritans and became known as the Baptists. A man named John White led the main sending of Puritans to Massachusetts and the main expansion of the Puritans religion (Melton 52; 58). Due to this push for the religion, the Puritans had a strong influence on the social, political, and religious aspects in both America and England. Today, the term Puritans has come to mean strictness in moral or religious matters (“Puritans” World Book).

The Amish stem f...

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... The Puritans branched off from the Church of England, established themselves as their own religion, and then grew to be their own religion with their specific ways of life. The Amish are believed to have stemmed off of the Anabaptists and are mainly found in the northern United States. In conclusion, the Amish and the Puritans do have some beliefs and ways of life that overlap with one another, but still manage to maintain their independence as distinct, separate religions.

Works Cited

”The Amish; History, Beliefs, Practices, Conflicts, Etc.” Religious Tolerance. n.p., n.d.,

Web. 20 January 2014

Melton, J Gordon. The American Religions Collections. Woodbridge, CT: Primary

Source Media. 2007. Print. 52-58

“Puritans”. World Book. n.d., World Book, Inc. 8 January 2013. Web.

Seitz, Ruth Hoover., and Blair Seitz. Amish Ways. Harrisburg, PA: RB, 1991 Print. 5-12