Puritanism

Puritanism

This religion profoundly affected every aspect of their lives- political organizations, attitudes, literature and dress.

They lived under a theocracy (a society in which the rules of the church were the basis of the law)

No dissent was allowed- those that did were whipped or tortured

Puritan beliefs

GOD-

Good Just but wrathfulBeyond man’s understandingOmnipotent ( all-powerful), and

omniscient (all-knowing)

MAN’S BASIC NATURE-

Originally GOOD, when first created and put in the Garden of Eden

But ever since the Original Sin of Adam and Eve, man’s basic nature as been EVIL (prone to sinfulness)

MAN’S WILL

Man’s will is not free The individual’s life and his destiny

beyond life are TOTALLY PREDESTINED BY GOD

Whatever happened to man that was evil was a result of his sinfulness

MAN’S DESTINY

Predestination- belief that all things are controlled beforehand by the will of God

Eternal damnation to Hell for nearly all

Salvation (heaven) for a very few “elected” by God to be spared

MAN’S KNOWLEDGE OF HIS DESTINY NONE The individual has no way of knowing

whether he is one of the great majority already predestined to Hell or whether he is one of the very few elected to be saved

One’s final destiny is NOT determined by his own “good works” or his own evil (you could not earn salvation)

However, it was assumed God probably predestined the elected ones to goodness in this life (rulers, ministers, governors, etc.)

It was thought that this state of Grace was accompanied by an inner consciousness of it, an intense feeling of “election and sure calling”

MAN’S DUTYMan’s duty is to glorify God

through “good works”

“Good works” meant industriousness, laboring hard and well at whatever it is that one does in life

Characteristics of Puritanism

The community was preoccupied with punishing and wiping out all evidences of sinfulness

Rules of morality and behavior were extremely strict No play on Sundays, relations between the sexes

were severely scrutinized, adultery was punishable by death

Pleasure as an aim in life was frowned on

A good life was one devoted to work, duty and service to God

Punishments for crimes were severe- petty theft could be punished by death; public whipping for unreligious remarks/disrespect for elders

Public punishment was a warning to deter others from straying from righteousness

Puritan Doctrine

Puritanism stressed: Intellect Simplicity Restraint Obedience to

established authority Pessimism (negative

feelings) Rigid order

Puritanism avoided Emotion Ornamentation Exuberance Individual freedom Optimism

Flexibility

Arthur Miller

Political Views Outspoken about human rights Interested in doctrines of

Communism 1947- investigated by the House-Un

American Activities Committee

Married & divorced Marilyn Monroe in 1956

Political views began to erode his fame and popularity

Denied being under Communist influence but refused to name others who had attended Communist inspired meetings

1957-was convicted of contempt of Congress

One year later- decision was reversed

The Salem Witch Trials

1692

20 people were executed as a

result of the witch trials Documents from these are the basis

for the play They tried the sinfulness of man

against the righteousness of God

The play was first produced in 1953, but only ran a few months because of controversial views

1958- reopened and was a great success

The Crucible a severe test

Allegory- persons and objects in the story represent meanings outside the story

The Crucible is an allegory of the McCarthy Era

Miller believed the paranoia about Communist infiltration was a reflection of the paranoia surrounding the Salem Witch trials

McCarthyism

Senator Joseph McCarthy was thought of as the worst senator in Washington

He needed something to keep his political boat from sinking.

He found that something in some obsolete documents of investigations of Communists in government jobs.

He named 205 people as members of a Communist spy ring

McCarthyism

His real evidence against these people was a bottle of bourbon in his briefcase

McCarthysim in 1950 meant a patriotic stand against Communism

Now it means a smear campaign of groundless accusations from which the accused cannot escape because professions of innocence become admissions of guilt

And only confessions are accepted.