August Martin H.S.
* The puritans believed that the bible was god’s true law. They believed that secular goveners are accountable to god to protect and reward virtue, including “true religion” and to punish wrongdoers. * Their values were both individual and corporate conformity to the teaching of the bible, with moral purity pursued both down to the smallest detail as well as ecclesiastical. * The puritans defined truth in the ways of god’s true laws. They often said “Let god be true, and every man a liar. * They had an optimistic view of life. The religious unity strengthen the community. In a foreign land surrounded with the hardships, their spiritual bond made them sympathetic to each others needs. * They believed in hard work. The chief aims of work were to glorify god, to develop your gifts, and help others in need. They interpreted worldly success as a sign of gods favor. * Religious exclusitivity was the foremost principle of their society. Puritans were mainly concerned with religious manner, rather than politics or social matter. * The church was their authority. The established church of the day described access to god as monastic and possible only with the confines of the church authority. * Their view of education was to read the bible, Reading of the bible was necessary. Religiously motivated, they were exceptional in their time for their interest the education of their children. The education of the next generation was important to further purify the church and perfect social living. * The puritans believe man inherently good. They believed that man existed for the glory of god; that his first concern in life was to do gods will and to receive future happiness.
Question #2: For the puritans reading was meant to be done by everyone. The image of god and religion is presented in the New England Primer (alphabet), it tells about the bible/god and the rules you must follow....