The Puritan Legacy…The Puritan Legacy…

The Chosen Ones….The Chosen Ones…. A “City Upon a Hill”A “City Upon a Hill”

……..

They were a strict group of people, and They were a strict group of people, and their way was the their way was the onlyonly way. Ironically, way. Ironically, they themselves left England because they themselves left England because of persecution of their religious beliefs.of persecution of their religious beliefs.

John CalvinJohn Calvin(1509-1564)(1509-1564)Prominent leader of the Prominent leader of the ReformationReformationBorn in Noyon, FranceBorn in Noyon, FranceAlso known as Jean Also known as Jean Chauvin (in French)Chauvin (in French)John Calvin was an John Calvin was an angry critic of the angry critic of the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic ChurchDeveloped his own Developed his own beliefs at the University beliefs at the University of Paris, where he of Paris, where he studied Theologystudied TheologyFirst Protestant leader First Protestant leader to achieve to achieve independence from independence from church and statechurch and state

Calvinism Calvinism ““God’s sovereignty determines the will.”God’s sovereignty determines the will.”““Predestination as predetermination.”Predestination as predetermination.”““God desires only the salvation of the God desires only the salvation of the elect.”elect.”””God provides grace only to the elect.”God provides grace only to the elect.”““Christ died only for the elect.”Christ died only for the elect.”““God predetermines some for hell.”God predetermines some for hell.”““The elect are assured of their salvation.”The elect are assured of their salvation.”

Puritans liked this theology. It matched their beliefs and desire to purify the church

Puritans also wanted to focus on God, the Bible, and individual spirituality.

Calvinism emphasized hard work, frugal lifestyle, and rigid moral structure.

Puritans adopted Calvinism as a theology and its influence can also be seen in their lifestyle.

Calvinism’s Influence on Calvinism’s Influence on the Puritansthe Puritans

A A THEOCRACYTHEOCRACY RULED RULED EVERYTHINGEVERYTHING

A A theocracytheocracy is a type of is a type of government ruled solely by government ruled solely by the church. the church. THE BIBLE WAS THE BIBLE WAS

ABSOLUTE LAW.ABSOLUTE LAW.

Does our current American Does our current American democracy differ? Why?democracy differ? Why?

Take a look at the world…for some, Take a look at the world…for some, the church still holds much power.the church still holds much power.

Power of the Power of the churcheschurches

No separation of church and state No separation of church and state in Salem, Massachusetts…..in Salem, Massachusetts…..

Doctrine of the ElectDoctrine of the Elect

Only God’s chosen Only God’s chosen people would enter people would enter his kingdomhis kingdom It was believed that It was believed that

every person’s every person’s destiny was pre-destiny was pre-chosen for him or her chosen for him or her by God himself…but by God himself…but no one really knew no one really knew for sure who those for sure who those “elect” ones were “elect” ones were exactly. Supposedly, exactly. Supposedly, it would be obvious it would be obvious by one’s Godly by one’s Godly actions.actions.

Puritans believed in man’s “original Puritans believed in man’s “original sin.” Adam and Eve’s fall from sin.” Adam and Eve’s fall from

paradise affected every man’s soulparadise affected every man’s soul……

Recognize these archetypes??Recognize these archetypes??

GRACE: a gift of forgiveness from GRACE: a gift of forgiveness from God….GRACE cannot be earned.God….GRACE cannot be earned.

Predestination Predestination was the basis for was the basis for God’s GRACE…God’s GRACE…either one was either one was chosen or he was chosen or he was not….not….

So, what’s the relevance of the So, what’s the relevance of the fruit?fruit?

And, what about that nasty And, what about that nasty serpent?serpent?

The greatest Puritan The greatest Puritan fear?fear?

What was really at the root of What was really at the root of Salem’s troubles? Did the devil Salem’s troubles? Did the devil

really make ‘em do it?really make ‘em do it?

A VERY SCARY REALITY IN OUR A VERY SCARY REALITY IN OUR HISTORYHISTORY

Reasons For the Witch HuntsReasons For the Witch Hunts

Malleus Maleficarum (The Malleus Maleficarum (The Witch Hammer)Witch Hammer)– Written in 1487 by Heinrich Written in 1487 by Heinrich

Kramer and Jacob Sprenger Kramer and Jacob Sprenger it served as a guidebook for it served as a guidebook for inquisitors or people that inquisitors or people that searched for witches.searched for witches.

– The book was designed to The book was designed to aid the inquisitors in the aid the inquisitors in the identification, prosecution, identification, prosecution, and dispatching of witches.and dispatching of witches.

Malleus Maleficarum was originally written in Latin and translates to The Witch Hammer.

The Church’s RoleThe Church’s Role

The Inquisition, which began around The Inquisition, which began around 1230, was a movement by the church 1230, was a movement by the church to find and punish heretics, or people to find and punish heretics, or people who believed in a religion other than who believed in a religion other than Christianity.Christianity.

The nonreligious and church courts The nonreligious and church courts joined together to prosecute the non-joined together to prosecute the non-Christians, also known as witches.Christians, also known as witches.

The ReformationThe ReformationSeveral churches Several churches preached from Malleus preached from Malleus Maleficarum.Maleficarum.

The witches were taken to The witches were taken to trial and if they did not trial and if they did not confess at first, they were confess at first, they were tortured until they did.tortured until they did.

Churches believed these Churches believed these non-Christians worshipped non-Christians worshipped the devil.the devil.

This represents what a typical witch trail might have looked like.

Plagues and DiseasesPlagues and Diseases

Witches were blamed for multiple plagues Witches were blamed for multiple plagues and diseases.and diseases.– Bubonic Plague- the disease that killed one-third Bubonic Plague- the disease that killed one-third

of Europe from rats was blamed on witchesof Europe from rats was blamed on witches

– Ergot poisoning- witches were blamed for this Ergot poisoning- witches were blamed for this also. Ergot poisoning comes from a fungus on also. Ergot poisoning comes from a fungus on bread and causes hallucinations, uncontrollable bread and causes hallucinations, uncontrollable spasms, and stillborn children.spasms, and stillborn children.

– Insanity- Yep, witches were blamed for spreading Insanity- Yep, witches were blamed for spreading insanity too.insanity too.

Who Was Accused?Who Was Accused?

About 75%-80% of all accused witches were About 75%-80% of all accused witches were women.women.Other commonly accused people consisted Other commonly accused people consisted of: -those who were mentally insaneof: -those who were mentally insane– Old women and widows – especially those who Old women and widows – especially those who

used natural herbs for curing sicknessesused natural herbs for curing sicknesses– Those whose bodies were laden with several Those whose bodies were laden with several

birthmarks, moles, and skin diseasesbirthmarks, moles, and skin diseases– People speaking out against the churchPeople speaking out against the church

Close to 600,000 Europeans were killed Close to 600,000 Europeans were killed during the witch hunts in the 1500’s and during the witch hunts in the 1500’s and 1600’s. Nearly all were wrongly accused.1600’s. Nearly all were wrongly accused.

Witch TrialsWitch Trials

Trials for witches during the time of the Inquisition Trials for witches during the time of the Inquisition through the 1600’s were very different from trials of through the 1600’s were very different from trials of today.today.

Witches were guilty until they could prove themselves Witches were guilty until they could prove themselves innocent.innocent.

Criminals and even children under ten years old were Criminals and even children under ten years old were allowed to testify against an accused witch.allowed to testify against an accused witch.

Any friend or person in defense of the witch was Any friend or person in defense of the witch was considered a witch also.considered a witch also.

Torture was often used to get the witch to confess or Torture was often used to get the witch to confess or give names of other witches.give names of other witches.

Types of TortureTypes of Torture

Torture was used mainly to get witches to Torture was used mainly to get witches to confess.confess.

It was also used to get witches to tell the It was also used to get witches to tell the names of other witches.names of other witches.

Torture was even used to punish witches.Torture was even used to punish witches.

Some witches were tortured until they died.Some witches were tortured until they died.

If they didn’t die during torture the witches If they didn’t die during torture the witches were imprisoned or executed.were imprisoned or executed.

The Garotte & TumbscrewsThe Garotte & TumbscrewsThe picture at the left is a person being tortured using the garotte.

The top right picture is an example of thumbscrews. The lower right picture shows the collar and spike used with the garotte.

The Rack and The Rack and Iron MaidenIron Maiden

The picture at the right is the iron maiden. It was not meant to kill the witch right away, but to cause lots of pain.

The bottom picture is the rack. The witches’ wrists were tied at one end and ankles at another. The wheel was turned and the witches’ joint were pulled until they were dislocated.

The StrappadoThe Strappado

Notice position of the Notice position of the armsarms

The Cradle

The Pear of Anguish

Judas’s Cradle

Thumbscrews Cleansing of the Soul

Cat’s Paw

Gibbet

According to Biblical law, witch According to Biblical law, witch hunting was LEGAL!hunting was LEGAL!

Leviticus 20:27Leviticus 20:27- A - A man also or woman man also or woman that hath a familiar that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely wizard, shall surely be put to death: they be put to death: they shall stone them shall stone them with stones: their with stones: their blood shall be upon blood shall be upon themthem

Exodus 22:18Exodus 22:18““Thou Thou shalt not shalt not suffer a suffer a witch to witch to live.”live.”

What does it mean to What does it mean to be…be…

FANATICAL?FANATICAL?

PARANOID?PARANOID?

HYSTERICALHYSTERICAL??

HYSTERIA, HYSTERIA!HYSTERIA, HYSTERIA!

A CRUCIBLE IS………A CRUCIBLE IS………

A SEVERE TEST OF A SEVERE TEST OF SOME KINDSOME KINDWhat really was the What really was the test in Salem, Mass. test in Salem, Mass. In 1692? Let’s find In 1692? Let’s find out.out.

Joseph McCarthy and the National Joseph McCarthy and the National Red Scare in AmericaRed Scare in America

The The Red ScareRed Scare Continues ContinuesAfter WWII, Americans After WWII, Americans

fear of communism was fear of communism was spreading. McCarthy warned spreading. McCarthy warned that the US was losing the that the US was losing the ongoing power struggle with ongoing power struggle with the Soviet Union. The the Soviet Union. The soviets were a communist soviets were a communist nation, and fear that they nation, and fear that they would take over and impose would take over and impose their communist beliefs on their communist beliefs on the US is what really scared the US is what really scared the people. McCarthy did the people. McCarthy did nothing to help, and said it nothing to help, and said it was going to happen, and that was going to happen, and that traitors within the US traitors within the US Government were aiding in the Government were aiding in the spread of communism.spread of communism.

– During the Salem Witch Hunts, During the Salem Witch Hunts, ordinary people were accused of ordinary people were accused of being witches and practicing being witches and practicing sorcery. Many were killed and sorcery. Many were killed and tortured, without any real tortured, without any real evidence to back up the evidence to back up the accusations. Joseph McCarthy accusations. Joseph McCarthy accusing government officials as accusing government officials as being communists is basically the being communists is basically the same idea, just without the major same idea, just without the major consequences such as death and consequences such as death and torture. McCarthy is your torture. McCarthy is your average idiot accusing people of average idiot accusing people of being communist just out of hisbeing communist just out of his own fear.own fear.

Witch Trials of the Witch Trials of the 1950s?1950s?

““Are you now, or have you Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of ever been, a member of the communist party?”the communist party?”

Beliefs on CommunismBeliefs on Communism

CommunismCommunism

AtheismAtheism

Un-AmericanismUn-Americanism

Labor UnionsLabor Unions

Academic FreedomAcademic Freedom

All links to McCarthy’s philosophyAll links to McCarthy’s philosophy

Event That Caused Miller to Write Event That Caused Miller to Write The The CrucibleCrucible

In the early 1950s national leaders saw a In the early 1950s national leaders saw a threat of communist domination in the United threat of communist domination in the United States. Senator Joseph McCarthy pursued States. Senator Joseph McCarthy pursued communists whom he thought were a threat to communists whom he thought were a threat to the American way of life. Public figures were the American way of life. Public figures were accused of conspiring to overthrow the accused of conspiring to overthrow the government. Miller and some of his theater government. Miller and some of his theater associates became targets for persecution. associates became targets for persecution. This made Miller write This made Miller write The Crucible.The Crucible.

The Play’s Legacy….The Play’s Legacy….

Miller reveals that “life is not worth living when lies must be Miller reveals that “life is not worth living when lies must be told to one’s self and one’s friends to preserve it” in told to one’s self and one’s friends to preserve it” in The The Crucible.Crucible.

Early reviewers often denounced the play and only saw it as a Early reviewers often denounced the play and only saw it as a symbol for the McCarthy hearings on communism. That view symbol for the McCarthy hearings on communism. That view changed as the play became more popular.changed as the play became more popular.

““For a play that was often dismissed as a political tract for the For a play that was often dismissed as a political tract for the times, times, The CrucibleThe Crucible has survived uncommonly well. –Robert has survived uncommonly well. –Robert A. FerresA. Ferres

The work remains “a powerful indictment of bigotry, narrow-The work remains “a powerful indictment of bigotry, narrow-mindedness, hypocrisy, and violation of due process of law, mindedness, hypocrisy, and violation of due process of law, from whatever source these evils spring. –Phillip G. Hillfrom whatever source these evils spring. –Phillip G. Hill