The Puritans may seem pretty strict, but they are not bad guys. They just have big dreams. Ever heard of the 'City on a Hill?' No? Well, maybe their dreams were a little too big, then.
The 'City on a Hill' was the former Roman Catholic belief that one day, there would be a community full of perfect Christians who all accepted God. A Utopia, if you will. The only problem (besides never suceeding)? Some of their beliefs are a little spooky. For example, they believed women were considered to be very sinful, and that sin was a feminine thing- they punished innocent women because of this!
Then there were the Pilgrims. They wanted religious freedom, not dictatorship. They left Europe for this reason, and they did not want the Puritans to get in their way. You can probably see a rivalry brewing. By now, I hope you are rooting for the Pilgrims. That's a good thing, too, because thanks to them, Americans are free to practice any religion they wish- or none at all, for that matter.
So the next time you grab some turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes for a little holiday fun, remember the struggle and success that the Pilgrims experienced to give you the life you have today.
The 'City on a Hill' was the former Roman Catholic belief that one day, there would be a community full of perfect Christians who all accepted God. A Utopia, if you will. The only problem (besides never suceeding)? Some of their beliefs are a little spooky. For example, they believed women were considered to be very sinful, and that sin was a feminine thing- they punished innocent women because of this!
Then there were the Pilgrims. They wanted religious freedom, not dictatorship. They left Europe for this reason, and they did not want the Puritans to get in their way. You can probably see a rivalry brewing. By now, I hope you are rooting for the Pilgrims. That's a good thing, too, because thanks to them, Americans are free to practice any religion they wish- or none at all, for that matter.
So the next time you grab some turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes for a little holiday fun, remember the struggle and success that the Pilgrims experienced to give you the life you have today.