2.2 Puritan Theology and its Influence on Colonial Writing
4 min read•august 6, 2024
Puritan theology shaped colonial writing in profound ways. Calvinism's core beliefs, like and , influenced how Puritans viewed themselves and their place in the world. This mindset seeped into their literature, affecting both content and style.
Puritan authors used techniques like and to convey religious truths. Their writing reflected the characteristics of Puritan communities - theocratic, , and morally strict. Key figures like left lasting impacts on American literature and identity.
Calvinist Theology
Core Beliefs of Calvinism
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Calvinism emphasizes the sovereignty of God and the idea that salvation is predetermined by God's will alone, not by human actions or decisions
Predestination asserts that God has already chosen who will be saved (the elect) and who will be damned before the creation of the world
views God's relationship with humanity as a series of covenants, including the covenant of works (God's agreement with Adam) and the covenant of grace (God's offer of salvation through Christ)
refers to the belief that all humans are born sinful due to Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden, which corrupted human nature and necessitates God's grace for salvation
Implications for Puritan Beliefs and Practices
Puritans believed in the total depravity of human beings, meaning that without God's grace, humans are incapable of choosing to follow God or do good
The concept of meant that Puritans believed God had already chosen the elect for salvation, and nothing could change this divine decision
suggests that Christ's sacrifice on the cross was sufficient to save only the elect, not all of humanity
implies that those chosen by God for salvation cannot resist His call and will inevitably come to faith
means that once a person is truly saved, they cannot lose their salvation, as God will preserve them in faith until the end
Literary Techniques
Typology in Puritan Literature
Typology is an interpretive method that sees people, events, and symbols in the Old Testament as foreshadowing or prefiguring their fulfillment in the New Testament and Christian history
Puritans often used typology to draw connections between biblical figures and contemporary events or individuals (e.g., comparing the Puritan journey to America with the Israelites' exodus from Egypt)
Typological readings of scripture and history allowed Puritans to see their experiences as part of a divine plan and to find spiritual significance in everyday life
Plain Style Writing
Puritan writers often employed a plain style of writing, characterized by clear, direct language and an emphasis on conveying religious truth rather than displaying artistic flourish
The plain style reflected Puritan values of simplicity, humility, and the importance of spiritual substance over worldly embellishment
Puritan authors believed that a straightforward writing style would make their message more accessible to readers and prevent misinterpretation or distraction from the core religious content
Examples of plain style writing can be found in the works of John Winthrop, , and , among others
Puritan Society
Characteristics of Puritan Communities
Puritanism was a religious reform movement that sought to "purify" the Church of England from remaining Roman Catholic influences and to establish a society based on strict adherence to biblical principles
Puritan communities were often structured as theocracies, where religious leaders held significant political power and the laws were based on their interpretation of scripture
Puritans emphasized the importance of education, as they believed that individuals needed to be able to read and interpret the Bible for themselves
Puritan society was characterized by a strong work ethic, , and a focus on community welfare over individual desires
Key Figures and Concepts
John Winthrop, a prominent Puritan leader and the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, played a crucial role in shaping the religious and political foundations of Puritan New England
In his sermon "A Model of Christian Charity," Winthrop used the phrase "city upon a hill" to describe the Puritan community's role as an example of godliness to the world, emphasizing the importance of collective responsibility and moral purity
The concept of a "city upon a hill" became a lasting symbol of and the idea that the United States has a special mission to serve as a model of virtue and democracy for other nations to follow
Other notable Puritan figures include William Bradford, the governor of Plymouth Colony and author of "Of Plymouth Plantation," and , a minister and prolific writer who played a significant role in the