Religion in Colonial America Essay - 1520 Words

Religion was the foundation of the early Colonial American Puritan writings. Many of the early settlements were comprised of men and women who fled Europe in the face of persecution to come to a new land and worship according to their own will. Their beliefs were stalwartly rooted in the fact that God should be involved with all facets of their lives and constantly worshiped. These Puritans writings focused on their religious foundations related to their exodus from Europe and religions role in their life on the new continent. Their literature helped to proselytize the message of God and focused on hard work and strict adherence to religious principles, thus avoiding eternal damnation. These main themes are evident in the writings of†¦show more content†¦(Winthrop, 2008) This passage shows how Christ set the example for all to follow by giving his life for us and that if these people coming to the world would follow Christ’s pattern, they in turn could be an example to others one day. John Winthrop was a true leader who understood that the difficulties the new world would present could be overcome through Christian Charity. As such he was able to organize a community based on religious convictions that would motivate people to work as one to succeed. Cotton Mathers 1663-1728 Cotton Mather was remembered as one of the most influential Puritan ministers of his time. Mather set the moral tone in the colonies and led the charge for 2nd and 3rd generation Puritans to get back to the theological roots of Puritanism that were held by the earlier generation settlers. From an early age much was expected of Mather. He was the son of Increase Mather who had achieved much success as a minister and the President of Harvard. Although Mather didnâ€⠄¢t follow in his father’s footsteps as a political leader, or by becoming the president of Harvard, Mather was known for his knack for recording history. By the end of his life he had contributed more than 400 pieces of work on various subjects (Walker,Show MoreRelatedThe Impact of Religion on the Development of Colonial America1030 Words   |  5 PagesCompare the ways in which religion shaped the development of colonial society (to 1740) in TWO of the following regions: New England Chesapeake Middle Atlantic The Impact of Religion on the Development of Colonial America During the seventeenth century, colonial America was welcoming many newcomers, several from England. Quantities of these newcomers were seeking land for economic purposes as others were longing for religious toleration. Many of the English colonists settled inRead MoreShaping Colonial America Essay887 Words   |  4 PagesMany different things affected the shaping of colonial America in the new world. Factors such as colonialism, geography, and religion affected the way North America was formed and dictated how other people look at colonial America. 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