Puritanism
Religion affected the way Plimouth Plantation developed socially and politically. It affected the way the colonists interacted with each other and other groups. It also shaped the way they created their government. The religion of the colonists, Christianity, bound them together but also forced other religious groups out. The main reason for the colonists to make the pigrimage to their new homes in Plimouth Plantation was to escape religious prosecution.They believed Plimouth Plantation was their "New Jerusalem" and were passionate about being the chosen ones by God to follow a holy lifestyle. During the adversities of trying to create new lives, Puritanism remained a constant source of strength throughout their journey. They believed that God would allow guide them to build the right community.
Because of this strong dependence of religion, upon arrival at Plimouth rock Puritanism became an even stronger force among the Pilgrims. Many Puritans desired a unified and purified church which led many people to feel forced to become Puritans. The natives that occupied that region slowly became subject to missionaries trying to "civilize" them and convert them to Christianity.
Some Pilgrims became "Separatists." These people believed that they no longer wanted to be a part of the Anglican Church and created their own branch of religion and start their own church. In a sense, these Separatists strived to model a heavenly community that God expected from them, and in order to do this they felt that they needed to separate themselves from other forms of religion. They believed that the Anglican Church had nothing to offer them and in order to follow in the path of God they must create their own religion.
Pilgrims can be classified into two groups:
-Saints: these people are Separatists who strived to create their new religion
-Strangers: these people are non-Separatists who, in addition to escaping religious prosecution, also came for economic reasons, these people joined the church upon arrival of the new land
This separation created controversy within the colony, but can be interpreted as a sort of survival mechanism. There was also tension between ministers and the pilgrims. Also, Pilgrims were unwelcoming to Quakers and Baptists. This is because of their belief that originates in England. Pilgrims saw Baptist beliefs as a threat to their new community. Pilgrims had even bigger issues with the Quakers because they were not allowed in many English colonies in England. They behaved in ways that the Pilgrims did not condone. Quakers were "fanatic" and "unbridled" in showing their contempt for social order. This effected the demographics of Plimouth because only a select group of people that were willing to live under the desired rules were apart of the community. In William Bradford's accounts of the journey he writes that they have established the community "for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith" (Bradford in pilgrimhall.org).
As they continued to develop their community, the Native American community grew smaller and smaller due to deforestation and over-hunting. However, the Pilgrims saw this as a sign from God to continue on in colonization.
Religion was the basis of the social and political structure in Plimouth Plantation. Religion effected the way the colonist chose to rain their lives.
Religion affected the way Plimouth Plantation developed socially and politically. It affected the way the colonists interacted with each other and other groups. It also shaped the way they created their government. The religion of the colonists, Christianity, bound them together but also forced other religious groups out. The main reason for the colonists to make the pigrimage to their new homes in Plimouth Plantation was to escape religious prosecution.They believed Plimouth Plantation was their "New Jerusalem" and were passionate about being the chosen ones by God to follow a holy lifestyle. During the adversities of trying to create new lives, Puritanism remained a constant source of strength throughout their journey. They believed that God would allow guide them to build the right community.
Because of this strong dependence of religion, upon arrival at Plimouth rock Puritanism became an even stronger force among the Pilgrims. Many Puritans desired a unified and purified church which led many people to feel forced to become Puritans. The natives that occupied that region slowly became subject to missionaries trying to "civilize" them and convert them to Christianity.
Some Pilgrims became "Separatists." These people believed that they no longer wanted to be a part of the Anglican Church and created their own branch of religion and start their own church. In a sense, these Separatists strived to model a heavenly community that God expected from them, and in order to do this they felt that they needed to separate themselves from other forms of religion. They believed that the Anglican Church had nothing to offer them and in order to follow in the path of God they must create their own religion.
Pilgrims can be classified into two groups:
-Saints: these people are Separatists who strived to create their new religion
-Strangers: these people are non-Separatists who, in addition to escaping religious prosecution, also came for economic reasons, these people joined the church upon arrival of the new land
This separation created controversy within the colony, but can be interpreted as a sort of survival mechanism. There was also tension between ministers and the pilgrims. Also, Pilgrims were unwelcoming to Quakers and Baptists. This is because of their belief that originates in England. Pilgrims saw Baptist beliefs as a threat to their new community. Pilgrims had even bigger issues with the Quakers because they were not allowed in many English colonies in England. They behaved in ways that the Pilgrims did not condone. Quakers were "fanatic" and "unbridled" in showing their contempt for social order. This effected the demographics of Plimouth because only a select group of people that were willing to live under the desired rules were apart of the community. In William Bradford's accounts of the journey he writes that they have established the community "for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith" (Bradford in pilgrimhall.org).
As they continued to develop their community, the Native American community grew smaller and smaller due to deforestation and over-hunting. However, the Pilgrims saw this as a sign from God to continue on in colonization.
Religion was the basis of the social and political structure in Plimouth Plantation. Religion effected the way the colonist chose to rain their lives.