Summary:
Most Puritans believe that God was the only way to heaven and that his grace could not be earned. They believe that a select few were chosen at birth to go to Heaven. These select few could live their lives however they contented, yet still being allowed to go to Heaven. God would determine each individual's destiny and no man could influence or change his providence.
Puritanism...The Ambiguous Religion
The Puritan religion is no exception to the fact that life is full of contradictions. In the minds of the Puritan people they are God's "chosen" people. This belief was pulled from a scripture in the Bible. They assumed themselves as better or above the average man. After much research and trial an error there were many inconsistencies found in the puritan religion.
Many of the Puritan's beliefs are valid, while others would strike today's society as outrageous. Most Puritans believe that God was the only way to heaven and that his grace could not be earned. They believed that a select few were chosen at birth to go to Heaven. These select few could live their lives however they contented, yet still being allowed to go to Heaven. God would determine each individual's destiny and no man could influence or change his providence. Man will either receive redemption or condemnation, regardless of how "good" or "bad" the individual lived their life.
This religion could easily be compared to the failures of Communism. In that no matter how hard a person worked, how devoted to church they were, or how pious a person was, there was no way into Heaven. The only way in was by being a "chosen" one. Some of the Puritan's other contemptible beliefs include the degradation of one's self, the utter and total dependence on divine grace for salvation, and the wrath of an angry God. A non forgiving God was worshipped by the Puritan people. He was greatly feared by the people who tried feverishly to make themselves worthy of his grace in his eyes.
Although the Puritan people knew that they chosen few were the only ones going to Heaven, they still strove to be good people. Their live style was a very plain, containing strict prayer and a physical and social submission to serve their Lord. They felt that they should be valued above others because they were representatives of God. The people thought of themselves as forgiving and compassionate people. They believed that no matter what an individual did they could gain forgiveness as long as they admitted their wrong. This seems to be one of the very few partially valid beliefs that these people had. I believe this to a certain extent. I do not think that you can go commit murder and just admit that you did it and be forgiven. For minor things I think that this can be put into effect.
There were three major writers that focused on the Puritan era. These writers were; Jonathan Edwards, Anne Bradstreet, and Edward Taylor. These writers were all of either Puritan descent or actual Puritans. Although they were all Puritans their beliefs were very diverse.
Edwards was a Puritan reverends son, growing up with the Puritan beliefs. He matured into a reverend himself, but his beliefs were altered from Puritanism to Christianity. He tried to influence his congregation to convert to Christianity and was successful before being voted out of the church and sworn to silence.
Bradstreet was brought up in a family with very strong Puritan beliefs. She was the "apple of her father's eye", and he influenced her religious beliefs greatly. She believed in God but she had a hard time with it. She could not believe in the great miracles, since she had never seen one with her own eyes. She in due course saw one and became a spiritually strong Puritan.
Taylor was a Puritan, but he left his home and sailed to England because he didn't want to sign the oath of loyalty. He took exile over pledging himself to be a Puritan forever. He wanted to survey the different religions.
All three of these very diverse writers were Puritans, but as you can see their beliefs were very different, thus making their literary works seem poles apart. Their views of the beliefs and traditions are what make each one of their works so different and out of the ordinary.
Even though these writers made Puritanism out to be a compelling religion, it was replaced by Christianity. These two religions contrast greatly. Christianity has much more valid beliefs in the minds of people today. The beliefs of the Puritans have become almost nonexistent today. The Church of England still abide by some of them today, but the number is very meager.
Christianity has become the most practiced religion in the world. Once people began hearing the beliefs that the Christian people had, many of them started converting to Christianity. Many religions lost many believers to Christianity as it became a more fashionable religion.
Myself being a Christian, I cannot imagine any other religion appealing to people. That is just my personal preference though. I just think that the beliefs that Christians have are so valid and easy to live by. They allow you to live your life, maybe not as the Puritans were allowed to live it, but in a way that if you are truly a Christian then you have all the freedom that you need. All the "bad" things will not appeal to you. All humans are born sinners, but I believe that you have the power to control your sin.
In conclusion, I think that Puritanism was a religion that was almost impossible for human beings to live by. They had no way of knowing whether they were going to be condemned or redeemed when they were laid to rest. Not knowing would make your life miserable and make you not want to believe. With Christianity you are guaranteed a place in Heaven as long as you commit and accept God as your Savior and Lord. You are not chosen at birth, each and every person is given the chance to go to Heaven. Your destiny rests in your hands as well as God's with Christianity. In my opinion that is what made Puritanism fail as a religion.
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