Text D    The  Legacy  of  Puritans   

1.    During the early 1600’s, a period called the Reformation saw changes in the way Europeans looked at religion. The Catholic Church split apart and many new Christian organizations called Protestants（新教）were formed. In England, a protestant religion called the Anglicans（英国国教）became the dominant force in social and political life. Some people in England, however, viewed religion differently. As a result, a new protestant religion called Puritans evolved. The ruling Anglican church disapproved of Puritan beliefs and persecuted the Puritans. Though Puritans did gain control of England for a short time (Oliver Cromwell), many fled England and came to the New World ( America ) to escape religious persecution（迫害）. So the early settlers in New England were Puritans.

2.    Puritans believed that all men were born sinners, this was known as the idea of “original sin.”  For the Puritans, the only way to be saved was by the grace（恩典） of God. Puritans also believed in “predestination（得救预定论）”. The Bible, according to the Puritans, was the direct word of God. Because of this, the Bible was seen as an infallible（绝对可靠的） guide to all aspects of life including political, social and economic matters.

3.    The Puritans believed that man must follow the Bible exactly and live a holy life. Since everything is treated to glorify God, Puritans immersed（专注）themselves in their work and made great contribution to art, sculpture, poetry, drama, economy, science, technology, etc. But their life style was so simple that it was austere（苦行的） in the eyes of people today. Even home furnishings were simply made of wood. The result of this lifestyle of hardwork was a community that was wealthy and industrious. Since God was an all knowing and powerful force, the Puritans saw their wealth as a gift from God. The Puritans sought to stamp out anything that might interfere in the word of God. Puritans made their ideals realized in this new world.

4.     The long term impacts of Puritanism are felt throughout America because they were amongst the first settlers and spread their ideas and values throughout the land. The Puritan work ethic became a staple（主题）of American idealism. Likewise this nation remains a Protestant country with a legacy of conservatism（保守主义）. The Puritans lasted only a century or a little longer, but their ideals remain.

 

 

Questions for Discussion or Reflection

1. Can you briefly summarize the fundamental beliefs of the Puritans?

2. Why did many Puritans sail to this New World?

3. What is your understanding of "Puritanism"?  Do you see any value of "Puritanism" in this money-oriented world?