The Puritan Movement

Notes for 9/26/11

Puritan started as a pejorative term "Precisemen" and "Precisions” a sect that wished to keep the Church of

England “pure” from the Catholic church Escaped to America, and saw it as a fresh start

or “Utopia”

Puritan movement called for:

a greater commitment to Christ stricter personal codes of behavior God’s supreme authority over ALL

human affairs Calvinism: Followers of John Calvin

believed in Predestination over free will.

Therefore, you could not choose God – he chose you!

Men and Women in the

Puritan church Women were not permitted to speak in

church after 1636 (although they were allowed to engage in religious discussions outside of it, in various women-only meetings).

Men & Women sat on opposite sides of the church

Women always wore head coverings in church

Women’s names were replaced with “Goody” + husband’s last name

Marriage A sacred promise between a

man and a woman for the purpose of:1. Mutual help & comfort2. Children “increase of

mankind”3. Prevent “fornication” or

“adultery” (These two are courting according to Puritan moral code by conversing through long "speaking tubes" and almost certainly no touching or kissing before the ceremony!

Public Humiliation