John brought over 1, other Puritans to the colony Massachusetts Bay and they traveled in more than 15 ships. Winthrop was the leader of that colony until Puritans believed that everyone should have the ability to study the Bible. It was compulsory for all parents to teach all their children how to read. For every town with 50 families or more, a school was built.
These schools remained open all year long and there was not even a summer vacation. Due to their emphasis on education, the Puritans built the first institution in the England. They are the people that built the elite University of Harvard in the year In the year , William Penn was granted permission to start a colony by the English king. He was a member of the Quakers which was a well-known religious group that was being mistreated in England due to their beliefs.
They believed that everyone is equal and every person is good. They did not encourage any form of violence and they even refused to carry weapons or even engage in fights with anyone. They believed that every problem can and should be solved peacefully. When in Pennsylvania, Quakers practiced religious freedom for everyone. People were free to believe what they wanted and talk to God in their own way. People from all over Europe poured into their communities in search for religious freedom.
To a Quaker, to be religious, your actions had to show it. They treated people with honesty, they helped the poor, they worked for and upheld women rights and also they fought for the rights of the Native Americans.
Puritans viewed humanity as being hopelessly sinful while Quakers believed that God lives inside everybody. Puritans believed that most people were destined for eternal damnation while some were chosen by God for salvation.
The chosen few went through a process of conversion by testifying and exercising holy behavior. Puritans had a strong belief in baptism and Holy Communion while Quakers did not put emphasis to any sacrament because they believed that all acts are sacred if they are committed to God.
Puritans had long services in which a minister would explain sections of the Bible and pointing out sins of those present. Quakers held meetings instead of church services.
Puritans had a rigid system where only men were allowed to vote for church leaders and anyone wanted to leave the Puritan community had to be granted permission by the local church or risk losing all their property. With the help of the native Wampanoag people, the Pilgrims learned to fish and farm their new lands, resulting in the famous feast of Thanksgiving attended by natives and new arrivals in The Puritans were members of a religious reform movement that arose within the Church of England in the late 16th century.
So who, then, were the Puritans? While the Separatists believed that the only way to live according to Biblical precepts was to leave the Church of England entirely, the Puritans thought they could reform the church from within. The biggest difference between the Separatists and the Puritans is that the Puritans believed they could live out the congregational way in their local churches without abandoning the larger Church of England. We have to completely separate ourselves and have this congregational community separate from the state church.
Meanwhile, the Puritans stay wealthy. The Puritans ultimately decided to journey to the New World, too, but not for the same reasons as the Separatists. The Puritans, who already had some money, saw a favorable investment opportunity by owning land in America. And somewhat paradoxically, the Puritans also believed that by being far away from England, they could create the ideal English church.
When the Puritans settled the Massachusetts Bay Colony in , they arrived in 17 ships carrying more than 1, passengers. They came with money and resources and divinely ordained arrogance. Just 10 years later, the Massachusetts Bay Colony was a Puritan stronghold of 20,, while humble Plymouth was home to just 2, Pilgrims.
Plymouth was fully swallowed up by Mass Bay just a few decades later. They believed that everyone was equal and therefore they practised gender equality and also welcomed Native Americans and their beliefs.
One could follow their own beliefs and yet be a Quaker is what made the Quakers better than the Puritans. The Quakers were kind and peace-loving people. At one point Quakers meant friends and it has remained that way throughout the years. The Quakers had also abandoned going to churches and had their church services in silent meeting places. Even to date, there are seen to religious turmoil in many parts of the world giving rise to the formation of many religious groups propagating their way.
Two such groups were the Puritans and Quakers. The Puritans were a diverse group, present throughout the 16 th , 17 th and 18 th century and believed that one needs to abide by the scriptures to be freed from their sins. Only then would they be receiving the blessing from their God. The two groups can be clearly distinguished by the fact that while the Puritans found it a necessity to have their church services in the church, the Quakers had theirs in silent meeting places.
0コメント