Religious Differences In Colonial America Essay Research

Religious Differences In Colonial America Essay, Research Paper

Religious differences in colonial America were apparent and inevitable toward creating a diverse society. Differences in religion, and way of life, and the lasting effects of these helped to shape The United States. Branches of the Puritan and Quaker faiths were the trailblazers for American diversity.

Most of the first religions to begin the colonization of the America.s were not just common Protestants. They had not only broken ties with the Catholic Church, but now were severed from the Anglican Church of England. Faiths such as Puritan (which also had many branches) and Quaker were the front runners for American colonization. (2)

Quakers espoused that the Church of England violated the spirit of Christianity as much as the Catholic Church. They were fueled to reform because of the new European Renaissance feeling, which called for the literal translation of the bible, and not having a sole person lead the church, such as a king, or a pope. They said that people could worship god directly, without having to go through a clergy member. They believed in frugality, and in dressing and living extremely plainly. The tithes paid by the members of the Anglican and Catholic churches, to them seemed to be excessive, and unnecessary for worshipping god. They refused to attend regular services for church, and were persecuted with fines and confiscation of property by English authorities. This forced them to leave England for a more tolerant society.

The Puritans, also former Anglicans, wished to purify the Church. They were more devout than the Quakers, in that they believed in clergy, and in formality, but they didn.t like some of the ceremony that was adopted by the Church of England, that was similar to that of the Catholic Church.

They were more for the literal interpretation of the scripture than a clergy member interpreting it for them. These people weren.t nobility, but simply the working men and women of England, many of which came from Cambridge University. They came to be regarded as gloomy fanatics because they didn.t believe in societies simple pleasures, such as gaming and card playing. These acts were frowned upon by them. It was said that they objected to bear baiting, which was a game that required the slaughtering of a bear, not because of the humanity issue, but because of the pleasure the spectators got from watching it. Puritans included several religions that branched from them, such as Presbyterians, Separatists and Congregationalists. Another, more radical group of Puritans was the Anabaptists who believed that true religion was solely for adults, and that baptism included the entire immersion of the body in holy water. They also believed in the strict accordance of church and state. (5)

When the first religious pilgrims came to the new world in 1620, to Plymouth, Massachusetts on the Mayflower, it began a wave of such trips. America still had a forming tolerance level, and government, therefore it still had plenty of time to be shaped by these initial settlers. They brought along their new ideas on religion and government. England, because they controlled these colonies, began to realize that toleration was needed. They then passed the Toleration Act in 1689, which said that religious diversity was allowed. This, however did not help the feeling of prejudice in England, forcing even more people out.

One group that was still persecuted was the Quakers. Lead by William Penn (the Pennsylvania namesake) they journeyed to America. When they set up their colony here, even Native Americans, and Catholics were welcome, and friends with the Quakers. Their formal name was actually the Religious Society of Friends. This helped to instill this feeling of friendship into American societal beliefs.

Puritans, and Separatists had been leaving England for years, and were not as tolerable as their Quaker counterparts. The Puritans, who were based mainly in Massachusetts, believed that their religious convictions were the only right way. They were not tolerant of other ways of thinking. Church and state were one, and clergy members lead the colonies. People were very conformed, and did not associate with the other colonies, religious or otherwise. They rarely met for any reason other than church, and were not known for having leisure time. This strong diversity between the colonies, surprisingly did not create too much controversy but rather made America more tolerant in the long run. There was even a colonial toleration act, called the Maryland Toleration Act passed in 1649, that was ahead of the British one, because of the need for it in the colonies more than in England. (3)

The governments of the new colonies in America were quite differing. The Quakers, lead by William Penn, set up a democratic form of government in which everyone had rights that were protected. Good relations were made with the Native Americans. This included many peace treaties. The most famous of which was signed on June 23, 1683, on the banks of the Delaware River, and stated that the colonists and Indians would “live in love as long as the sun gave light.” This was a revolutionary idea of this time of aristocracy and sovereignty. Quakers were well known for being very tolerable, and respectful of most lifestyles. The only exception to this was them not being very empath