Influence of Puritans on American Society

[Riprorin]

When the United States first came into being, most people had never even heard the word individualism . "Our fathers only knew about egoism," said Tocqueville, who helped coin the term to capture the new way of life in the fledgling nation. Europe, where caste systems determined so much of one's fate, had never had much practical use for individualism. Born of the Protestant Reformation, the ethos was carried across the Atlantic by the Puritans, who believed that each person received marching orders directly from God. In their new society, the reformers decided, people would interact as equals, and God would reward the just. Their reasoning appealed to other groups landing in the New World, and over time, says Harvard political scientist Samuel Huntington, "The Puritan legacy became the American essence."

The first American individualists were thoroughly steeped in a one-for-all mentality on the assumption that all moral persons would devote themselves to the good of the group. Just before landing in Salem Harbor, John Winthrop, the soon-to-be governor of Massachusetts, reminded parishioners: "We must . . . make others' conditions our own . . . always having before our eyes our community as members of the same body." And even as Thomas Jefferson wrote of the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness, he pictured a nation of independent yeomen who, after tending their land all day, would gladly participate in community meetings.

Those Rugged Individuals

 

[Red Dawn]

Yep the Mass Bay Colony was a real hoot. Those Stocks made for great entertaiment!

 

[Riprorin]

The notion of individualism which was borne of the Protestant Reformation and brought to America by the Puritans has shaped American society:

"No ideal may be held more sacred in America, or be more coveted by others, than the principle of individual freedom. Given the chance to pursue the heart's desires, our utopian vision claims, each of us has the ability--and the right--to make our dreams come true. This extraordinary individualism has prevailed as the core doctrine of the New World through four centuries, bringing with it an unrelenting pressure to prove one's self. The self-made man has been America's durable icon, whether personified by the prairie homesteader or the high-tech entrepreneur."

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Riprorin
The notion of individualism which was borne of the Protestant Reformation and brought to America by the Puritans has shaped American society:

"No ideal may be held more sacred in America, or be more coveted by others, than the principle of individual freedom. Given the chance to pursue the heart's desires, our utopian vision claims, each of us has the ability--and the right--to make our dreams come true. This extraordinary individualism has prevailed as the core doctrine of the New World through four centuries, bringing with it an unrelenting pressure to prove one's self. The self-made man has been America's durable icon, whether personified by the prairie homesteader or the high-tech entrepreneur."

What they said and what they did were often two different things. If you didn't go to church (of their denomintion) you were ostracized, nobody would do business with you and often you were ran out of town. So much for individualism.

 

[jackschmittusa]

The first American individualists were thoroughly steeped in a one-for-all mentality on the assumption that all moral persons would devote themselves to the good of the group. Just before landing in Salem Harbor, John Winthrop, the soon-to-be governor of Massachusetts, reminded parishioners: "We must . . . make others' conditions our own . . . always having before our eyes our community as members of the same body."

Kind of sounds like a socialist commune to me.

 

[GrGr]

Riporin, can you think of any drawbacks with the Puritan influence or has it been a purely good thing?

 

[Vadatajs]

Puritans and other calvanists are a cancer on our planet. They believe in predetermination; that some souls are born saved, and others will never be. The way this insanity manifests itself is they consider their good fortune in life (ie profit), to be a sign that they have been saved. The poor share no such fortune, and are thus condemmed to hell.

We can still see remnants of this philosophy today. The president (and many other wealthy) believe the poor are poor because of a moral failing. This is partly true, there is a moral failing involved, but not on the part of the poor, but on the part of the weathy, who despite the teachings of Jesus, continue to preach and act to the contrary.

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: GrGr
Riporin, can you think of any drawbacks with the Puritan influence or has it been a purely good thing?

There are pros and cons to everything to every worldly institution, but on balance, the Puritan influence has been a good thing.

 

[Vadatajs]

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: GrGr
Riporin, can you think of any drawbacks with the Puritan influence or has it been a purely good thing?

There are pros and cons to everything to every worldly institution, but on balance, the Puritan influence has been a good thing.

So providing ecclesiastical justification for social darwinism, and the inevitable inequity is a good thing? They believe you're poor because god made you poor, and are thus morally inferior.

Nice answer (dodge) by the way. You seem to have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Vadatajs

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: GrGr
Riporin, can you think of any drawbacks with the Puritan influence or has it been a purely good thing?

There are pros and cons to everything to every worldly institution, but on balance, the Puritan influence has been a good thing.

So providing ecclesiastical justification for social darwinism, and the inevitable inequity is a good thing? They believe you're poor because god made you poor, and are thus morally inferior.

Nice answer (dodge) by the way. You seem to have no idea what you're talking about.

Is anyone surprised?




😉

 

[Kipper]

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Originally posted by: GrGr
Riporin, can you think of any drawbacks with the Puritan influence or has it been a purely good thing?

There are pros and cons to everything to every worldly institution, but on balance, the Puritan influence has been a good thing.

Cons:

1.) Decency laws & censorship
2.) Exaggerated phobias of the human body and/or sex
3.) Puritan work ethic and eventual worship of money and material objects as a direct result of predestination belief (read: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Max Weber)
4.) Socially Darwinistic thinking (if you don't do well in the world, it's your fault - nevermind the fact that the cards could be stacked against you - bad education, bad neighborhood, bad role models, racism, sexism, etc.)
5.) Legal moralism and governmental paternalism
6.) A prison system which is designed not to rehabilitate crimminals but bend them to fit the law - providing excessive punishments for 'moral' crimes. Nevermind the fact that the LAWS might be bad (i.e. drug offenders)

Puritanical effects on America are significant and widespread, although the religious connotations are dead - they continue to (unforutnately) live on and thrive in this modern world.

 

[kage69]

There are pros and cons to everything to every worldly institution, but on balance, the Puritan influence has been a good thing.

:thumbsdown:

 

[imported_KirbsAw]

Originally posted by: MadCowDisease

Cons:

1.) Decency laws & censorship
2.) Exaggerated phobias of the human body and/or sex
3.) Puritan work ethic and eventual worship of money and material objects as a direct result of predestination belief (read: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Max Weber)
4.) Socially Darwinistic thinking (if you don't do well in the world, it's your fault - nevermind the fact that the cards could be stacked against you - bad education, bad neighborhood, bad role models, racism, sexism, etc.)
5.) Legal moralism and governmental paternalism
6.) A prison system which is designed not to rehabilitate crimminals but bend them to fit the law - providing excessive punishments for 'moral' crimes. Nevermind the fact that the LAWS might be bad (i.e. drug offenders)

Puritanical effects on America are significant and widespread, although the religious connotations are dead - they continue to (unforutnately) live on and thrive in this modern world.

Nice list :thumbsup:

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: KirbsAw

Originally posted by: MadCowDisease

Cons:

1.) Decency laws & censorship
2.) Exaggerated phobias of the human body and/or sex
3.) Puritan work ethic and eventual worship of money and material objects as a direct result of predestination belief (read: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Max Weber)
4.) Socially Darwinistic thinking (if you don't do well in the world, it's your fault - nevermind the fact that the cards could be stacked against you - bad education, bad neighborhood, bad role models, racism, sexism, etc.)
5.) Legal moralism and governmental paternalism
6.) A prison system which is designed not to rehabilitate crimminals but bend them to fit the law - providing excessive punishments for 'moral' crimes. Nevermind the fact that the LAWS might be bad (i.e. drug offenders)

Puritanical effects on America are significant and widespread, although the religious connotations are dead - they continue to (unforutnately) live on and thrive in this modern world.

Nice list :thumbsup:

Yup, but I'd somewhat disagree with #4. At the time of their arrival, the Work Hard be Rewarded ideal would have been very true. There was plenty of "Free" land available and anyone who applied their energy to working as much land as possible could succeed quite handsomely. Education, Wealth, and other factors had little influence on the outcome.

As Society changed though, so did/does the effectiveness of the Work Ethic especially as a sign of Moral Living. There is no longer "Free" land, in fact for most people there is No Land at all. Other than Water and Air, Money is an essential just to survive, unlike the case for those Puritans so many years ago whose main focus in Life initially was growing/hunting Food for survival. In this Age people require someone to provide a Job, it is as essential as Air or Water and not always something readily available to all that need it. That is also why programs such as Welfare have become part of Successful Societies.

So, #4 made a lot of sense back then, cause it worked, but as time has progressed it has simply become only part of what leads to "Success".

 

[RabidMongoose]

All of the prudes left Europe a long time ago and came here. That's why the US is so conservative and prudish and hates Janet Jackson while people in Europe run around naked in wild orgies.

 

[CaptnKirk]

And to think that they wrote all those 'cons', as you call them -
by the flickering light from a witch burning at the stake.

 

[chrisms]

Intersting read

 

[Mean MrMustard]

Originally posted by: Riprorin
The notion of individualism which was borne of the Protestant Reformation and brought to America by the Puritans has shaped American society:

"No ideal may be held more sacred in America, or be more coveted by others, than the principle of individual freedom. Given the chance to pursue the heart's desires, our utopian vision claims, each of us has the ability--and the right--to make our dreams come true. This extraordinary individualism has prevailed as the core doctrine of the New World through four centuries, bringing with it an unrelenting pressure to prove one's self. The self-made man has been America's durable icon, whether personified by the prairie homesteader or the high-tech entrepreneur."

So this country isn't based on freedom?

Well, unless we all agree, right?