CRITIQUE ME
THE QUESTION WAS: In the 17th century, New England Puritans tried to create a model society. What were their aspirations and to what extent were those aspirations fulfilled during the 17th century?
OKAY! i know this is one of my worst papers ever, so that is why i ask for the critique...but please don't tell me to start over cause...no.
In the seventeenth century, primarily post-1620, Puritans
migrated to New England to create an ideal religious culture. They were a goal-oriented group of people, and their aspirations were fulfilled to varying degrees. They sought to create an exemplary religious society, to honor God in everything they did, and to banish religious dissenters.
To create an idyllic religious society, also known as a city on a hill, was a common purpose for the Puritan immigrants. These Puritans did not want to allow common people, who may or may not be destined for eternity in hell, to be permitted in church with the visible saints (who were also known as the elect). Therefore, the elect, those who had confessions of faith and were believed to be destined for heaven, were the only people granted membership to the church. Although as generations passed, this religious zealousness seemed to deteriorate. So, in ____ the halfway covenant was passed, allowing those who were not visible saints to enjoy a partial membership of the church. Also, Jeremiads, angry sermons intended to scare people into the old God-fearing ways, emerged in an attempt to increase the number of confessions of faith.
An additional goal of the Puritans was to honor God in everything they did. Contrary to popular belief, this does connote that they denied themselves simple pleasures. It simply means that none of these pleasures were allowed to interfere with God and the worshipping of Him. The government was even considered a non-democracy because although the representatives were indeed elected by their peers, they felt that their service was to God’s law and not to their equals. Religion also influenced the economic goals of the New England Puritans. The main emphasis was, in the start of the colony, to work for the good of the whole, not for the individual. However, this was later ---------
Thirdly, the Puritans aspired to rid their colonies of dissenters. Some of this was through banishing. Two such examples of banished dissenters are Roger Williams, who later founded the first Baptist Church in America, and also Anne Hutchinson, a Quaker who believed in antinomianism (that the truly saved need not live a holy life). Both of these exiles later found homes in liberal Rhode Island. However, banishment was not the only way the Puritans cleaned their colonies of religious rebels. The now-famous witch trials were also intended for this use. In 1692 alone, when witch trials had reached a fever pitch, 20 people who were deemed witches were killed.
In summary, the Puritans who settled in New England in the seventeenth century were aspiring to do many great things with their settlement. They wished to create a model religious society, to respect God in every aspect of their lives, and to exile religious dissenters. Although these goals were not one hundred percent achieved, especially as generations passed, the ideals of the Puritans were fulfilled to a gratifying extent that would have proved impossible in England.
OKAY! i know this is one of my worst papers ever, so that is why i ask for the critique...but please don't tell me to start over cause...no.
In the seventeenth century, primarily post-1620, Puritans
migrated to New England to create an ideal religious culture. They were a goal-oriented group of people, and their aspirations were fulfilled to varying degrees. They sought to create an exemplary religious society, to honor God in everything they did, and to banish religious dissenters.
To create an idyllic religious society, also known as a city on a hill, was a common purpose for the Puritan immigrants. These Puritans did not want to allow common people, who may or may not be destined for eternity in hell, to be permitted in church with the visible saints (who were also known as the elect). Therefore, the elect, those who had confessions of faith and were believed to be destined for heaven, were the only people granted membership to the church. Although as generations passed, this religious zealousness seemed to deteriorate. So, in ____ the halfway covenant was passed, allowing those who were not visible saints to enjoy a partial membership of the church. Also, Jeremiads, angry sermons intended to scare people into the old God-fearing ways, emerged in an attempt to increase the number of confessions of faith.
An additional goal of the Puritans was to honor God in everything they did. Contrary to popular belief, this does connote that they denied themselves simple pleasures. It simply means that none of these pleasures were allowed to interfere with God and the worshipping of Him. The government was even considered a non-democracy because although the representatives were indeed elected by their peers, they felt that their service was to God’s law and not to their equals. Religion also influenced the economic goals of the New England Puritans. The main emphasis was, in the start of the colony, to work for the good of the whole, not for the individual. However, this was later ---------
Thirdly, the Puritans aspired to rid their colonies of dissenters. Some of this was through banishing. Two such examples of banished dissenters are Roger Williams, who later founded the first Baptist Church in America, and also Anne Hutchinson, a Quaker who believed in antinomianism (that the truly saved need not live a holy life). Both of these exiles later found homes in liberal Rhode Island. However, banishment was not the only way the Puritans cleaned their colonies of religious rebels. The now-famous witch trials were also intended for this use. In 1692 alone, when witch trials had reached a fever pitch, 20 people who were deemed witches were killed.
In summary, the Puritans who settled in New England in the seventeenth century were aspiring to do many great things with their settlement. They wished to create a model religious society, to respect God in every aspect of their lives, and to exile religious dissenters. Although these goals were not one hundred percent achieved, especially as generations passed, the ideals of the Puritans were fulfilled to a gratifying extent that would have proved impossible in England.