Puritanism and Puritans

Puritanism, a Protestant Sect that appeared in Britain in the late period of the European Reformation. "Puritans" comes from the Latin word Purus, which means cleanliness. 65438+ 1960 began to be used, referring to reformists who demanded the removal of Catholic remnants from the national church. Mainly influenced by Calvinism in doctrine. The pioneers of Puritanism came into being in the late period of Mary I's rule, and they were exiled in the Protestant groups in the European continent. Puritanism arose in the period of Elizabeth I.

The history of Puritanism

Puritanism came into being in the second half of16th century. After Henry VIII left the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church became a tool to maintain the rule of the king headed by the king, and the church remained decadent.

/kloc-In the late 6th century, some devout believers in the church demanded that the residual factors of Catholicism in the state religion be removed. Their opinions are called "Puritanism" and they are called Puritans. They demanded that the New Testament be the only standard in their faith, not the authority that the church or the so-called traditional system should follow as believers. In particular, they stressed that the church must be a real religion, with the conditions shown in the Bible, a real church without shelter. Puritanism is a broad and uncertain name, including many different groups and factions. But they have one thing in common, that is, they put forward new doctrines, rituals and organizational principles different from those of the Anglican Church.

/kloc-at the end of 0/6, there were two main groups of Puritans, the Presbyterian church and the non-partisan group. The former represents the interests of the bourgeoisie and the upper class in new noble and advocates the establishment of a Presbyterian organization subordinate to the state. The representative is T. Cartwright; The latter represents the interests of the middle class and new noble, holding that each parish should be independent and opposed to the principle of the national church. The representative figure is R. Brown.

/kloc-at the end of 0/6, the Puritanism movement was suppressed and turned into a low tide, but it rose again during the Stuart dynasty. Puritans not only criticized the bishop's government in religious meetings and church activities, but also actively carried out propaganda and agitation against monarchy inside and outside the parliament, which made full ideological and public opinion preparations for the British bourgeois revolution. The leaders of the British bourgeois revolution were all Puritans. From 1640 to 1648, the Presbyterian church once controlled the political power and tried its best to compromise with the king. 1649 after the founding of the Republic of China, the independents headed by O. Cromwell seized power and turned to suppress the radical movements of the affirmative and the Nuggets. /kloc-in the second half of the 0/7th century, Puritanism has split into many sects. As a political group, Puritanism basically no longer exists.

1688 after the glorious revolution, the parliament passed the Tolerance Law, allowing Protestants who do not believe in the state religion to set up their own churches. However, there were still some restrictions on the Puritans holding public office, and the regime was completely open to the Puritans until 1828.

Puritans were persecuted repeatedly for opposing the religious autocracy and economic oppression of the royal family, so some people fled to North America to take refuge. During the restoration of Stuart dynasty, many Puritans were forced to go to America.

The main beliefs of Puritanism

Puritans only recognized the Bible as the only authority of faith, and emphasized that all believers, whether civilians or kings, were equal before God. They believe in J. Calvin's fatalism of "God disposes, man proposes". It advocates the establishment of a democratic and harmonious church without hierarchy and opposes the autocratic power of kings and bishops. They accepted the teachings of Calvinism, demanded the abolition of bishops and idolatry, reduced religious festivals, advocated frugality and forbearance, and opposed extravagance and indulgence. Since 1970s, it has left the Anglican Church, established an independent church, and elected elders to manage religious affairs. They praise the accumulation of worldly wealth and advocate the enterprising spirit of thrift and diligence. These views reflect the wishes and will of the emerging bourgeoisie.

The main influence of Puritanism

Puritanism played an important role in the establishment of British North American colonies, and also had a far-reaching impact on politics, economy, ideology, culture and religion in Britain and America after the17th century.