Morning Thoughts 4 -Puritans

Maybe it’s time to talk about the Puritans and the Pilgrims.

So a long time ago –back when British kings weren’t as popular or good looking as Prince William –there was this guy named King James. He was a jerk. Because the Catholic Church had become corrupted and Martin Luther had posted his 95 Complaints about it, there were many different Christian denominations popping up at the time. One was the Puritan religion. King James liked to pick on the Puritans. The Puritan didn’t appreciate this, so they decided to leave. Some decided to go to a magical place across the sea where people could practice whatever religion they wanted as well as track down as many beavers as they could catch to make money selling furs. The other group of people went to Holland. But both groups of Puritans kept in touch.

Marcus Bartholem the 3^rd, September 19^th, 1679

Dear cousin, how are the Americas? I hear Columbus was quite fond of them. And you call yourselves Pilgrims now… fancy. How are the Native Americans? I hear they are really tall and excel at growing corn.

My family is still in Holland. Learning how to speak the local language is a challenge… Because it’s Holland. And Grandpa and the kids are all doing back-breaking physical labor to pay for food and shelter… an it’s Holland… and we aren’t fitting in as well as we hoped… and the teenage boys and young men are going to bars late at night and hanging out with young girls-no doubt to talk about the wondrous and inspirational life of our Savior… and it’s Holland…

Well hope to visit you soon… really soon… Do you have a house built yet? Just wondering…

Sincerely, Jonathan Ludwigeth

Shortly after, the Puritans decided to move to America. Once there they became acquainted with many other religious groups.

There were the Quakers –who were known for their shake and quake tendencies when the Holy Spirit would descend upon them. Then there were the witches –although most of them depleted in number after they were found guilty of it. There were also the Baptists, Anglicans, Evangelicals, Jews, Catholics (who were particularly popular at the time), New Lights, and Old Lights… It was a party.

10:57 am September 19, 2011