Puritanism

=Puritanism=

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Introduction
 The Puritans were reformed Christians who felt that the Anglican Church did not go far enough in anti-Catholicism. Their goal was to "purify" the church by eliminating all Catholic influence. Many of them emigrated to places such as New England in order to find Commonwealth.

English Puritans criticized the religious attitudes and compromises made during Elizabeth the I reign. In order to make further changes, many became priests in local churches. The most change was seen through worship. When James I became king, they seized this opportunity to enable them to ask for changes to be made. However, he rejected most of their proposals. Repressive behavior towards the Puritans caused them to emigrate yet again. Those who stayed continued to try to change the Church, but were expelled from the Church of England in 1662 after the Act of Uniformity was created.

Those who emigrated to America were known as Pilgrims. As known most famously in American history, they were the ones who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620. They kept their views of a Christian society strong for more than 200 years. Some leaders during this time that helped keep the Puritan colony dominant were Richard Mather and John Cotton. Many Puritan leaders said that they had the duty, given to them by God, to direct national affairs, thus giving Puritans more control over society and politics as well. Congregationalism emerged due to Puritanism. They expanded the idea that a covenant should be taken in the churches.

Perhaps the theological history comes from the Lollards and John Wycliffe. It was William Tyndale that the Puritans committed to with theology and their ideals.

The Puritans had four major convictions:  The role of the Westminster Confession was a guide to Reformed theology. It marked the end of the Puritan's conflict. The Westminster Assembly  took place in 1643.
 * 1) Personal salvation was all from God[[image:WestminsterAssembly.jpg width="360" height="214" align="right" caption="Westminster Assembly"]]
 * 2) The Bible was the only guide to life
 * 3) Teachings of Scripture should reflect on the church
 * 4) Society was one unified whole

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Puritanism