I ran across the following statement in a homework assignment for my American Literature course in which puritanism was defined. I guess I didn't realize that there was much of a difference between the two. Is this accurate? Are there any resources that I could look to for personal education on this matter? Thanks for any comments.
Quote
The Puritans believed in predestination, but not like the Calvinists. The Calvinists believed that there were a set number of saved souls, and their salvation was determined before they were even conceived. The Puritans believed that any number of people could be saved, but that only God could determine who was or wasn’t saved. Humans could not presume to determine whether or not a person was “good enough” for God’s salvation. Thus, all members of the community had an obligation to live as good of a life as possible, to better meet God’s standards for salvation. Once a person had been saved, God’s grace would be reflected in their every moment. Thus the person who had good fortune and success was believed to reflect God’s pleasure. Failure to live up to God’s standards brought God’s displeasure and punishment. Thus bad fortune and failure were justified punishment for failing to live up to God’s standards.
Oh, and to digress just for the sake of digression...I'm enjoying a very fine glass of peach ale from our local brewery. Very good stuff <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/cheers2.gif" alt="" />...just thought I'd mention it. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
tj "-that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection..."
Hi there - I don't have time to comment on every detail of the quote. Nevertheless, I can say this much: what a bunch of bunk! That is so wrong it is off-the-chart wrong. Most of the people we think of as "Puritans" were Calvinists. Both "Calvinists" and "Puritans" believed there is a set number of people who will be saved, and that their salvation was decreed before the foundation of the world. Additionally, both believed that they must have a high regard for God's law and live - as far as they are able - according to it. Living according to God's law, however, only demonstrated they possessed genuine faith and were, therefore, of the elect. Etc.
That said, it is a popular lie to suggest that Puritans believed that financial success demonstrated that a person was elect, whereas financial troubles proved the opposite. Despite what your textbook suggests in the last sentence or two of the quote, that is nonsense, too.
I'm sure somebody else will probably give you some substantive evidence to justify some of the claims I've made. Nevertheless, the quote is all wrong.
I can't remember where it was, but I once read a text that said the same kind of things as the one you quoted. It is unfortunate these "scholars" are so off the mark. They probably can't tolerate reading the truths taught by the Puritan and Calvinist theologians long enough to do anything but misrepresent them.
Hope that helps. John P.
Last edited by jmp; Sun Mar 13, 20051:16 AM.
"He that hath light thoughts of sin, never had great thoughts of God." ...John Owen
That said, it is a popular lie to suggest that Puritans believed that financial success demonstrated that a person was elect, whereas financial troubles proved the opposite. Despite what your textbook suggests in the last sentence or two of the quote, that is nonsense, too.
...yea, it's pretty evident that the statement from the text is whack! (sounds like they're confusing the false prosperity gospel with Puritanism/Calvinism), but as for the other "differences" such as their views on election, I just don't know enough. Thanks for the comments though.
tj "-that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection..."
Here's a link to a site that has a lot of great information on Puritans (and just about everything else that matters). It's been a favorite website of mine for years now. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
This is a great site. I used to visit other sections of it often a few years ago as it was very helpful to me in discovering the truth about the charismatic movement. Thanks
tj "-that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection..."
That said, it is a popular lie to suggest that Puritans believed that financial success demonstrated that a person was elect, whereas financial troubles proved the opposite. Despite what your textbook suggests in the last sentence or two of the quote, that is nonsense, too.
A lie with a history. It's essentially a corrupted version of Max Weber's thesis in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.
Kyle
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.
