Puritan Beliefs

Definition

Puritan beliefs refer to the religious ideals and practices of a group of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to purify the Church of England from what they saw as corrupt practices. These beliefs emphasized the importance of a personal relationship with God, strict moral conduct, and a focus on scripture, which heavily influenced early American society and literature, including the works of women poets like Anne Bradstreet.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Puritans believed in predestination, meaning that God had already chosen who would be saved or damned, which created a sense of urgency in leading a pious life.
2. Their strict moral codes discouraged many forms of entertainment, viewing them as distractions from spiritual duties.
3. Puritan literature often reflected their values, focusing on themes such as grace, sin, and redemption, with poetry serving as a means to express their personal struggles with faith.
4. Women in Puritan society were expected to uphold moral standards and support their families' spiritual lives, making their voices in poetry significant for expressing both personal and communal experiences.
5. Anne Bradstreet's works exemplified Puritan beliefs by intertwining her personal experiences with her religious faith, often reflecting the tension between earthly life and spiritual aspirations.

Review Questions

• How did Puritan beliefs influence the themes present in Anne Bradstreet's poetry?
  • Puritan beliefs deeply influenced Anne Bradstreet's poetry through themes of grace, redemption, and the tension between the earthly and spiritual realms. Her works often reflect her struggle with personal doubts and societal expectations as a woman in a strict religious community. By embedding her experiences within Puritan ideals, she created a bridge between her identity as a poet and her commitment to faith.
• Analyze how the concept of predestination shaped the behavior and societal norms within Puritan communities.
  • The concept of predestination significantly shaped behavior and societal norms in Puritan communities by instilling a belief that one's actions were indicative of their spiritual state. This led to a rigorous moral code aimed at demonstrating one's 'elect' status through piety and good works. As individuals sought assurance of their salvation, this created a culture focused on introspection, discipline, and communal accountability.
• Evaluate the role of women in Puritan society and how their contributions, particularly in poetry, reflect broader Puritan beliefs.
  • Women in Puritan society played a crucial role as moral educators within the family unit while also contributing to spiritual life through their writing. Their poetry often mirrored broader Puritan beliefs by addressing themes like faith, suffering, and the pursuit of virtue. By expressing their inner thoughts and struggles through verse, women like Anne Bradstreet not only challenged gender norms but also enriched Puritan literature, illustrating how personal experiences intersected with collective religious values.

Related terms

Theocracy: A form of government in which a religious institution is the source of authority, often seen in Puritan settlements where church leaders held significant power.

Original Sin: The Christian doctrine that all humans inherit a sinful nature due to the Fall of Adam and Eve, shaping Puritan views on morality and human behavior.

Covenant Theology: A theological framework used by Puritans that emphasizes the agreement between God and his people, which shaped their understanding of salvation and community responsibility.