Puritan Basics
Who were the Puritans trying to “purify” or reform?
The Church of England
What day of the week was most important to Puritans?
Sunday
What was the name for a religious speech meant to warn or inspire people?
A sermon
What could happen if you missed church or didn’t show proper respect for the Sabbath?
You could be fined or punished
Who wrote “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God?"
Jonathan Edwards
What book guided almost every part of Puritan life?
The Bible
What did Puritans do instead of attending plays or dances for fun?
Read the Bible or attend sermons
What emotion did Puritan preachers often use to get people’s attention?
Fear
What famous event in 1692 showed Puritan fear of the Devil’s work?
The Salem Witch Trials
In what year and where was the sermon delivered?
1741 in Enfield, Connecticut
True or False: Puritans believed in having fun and celebrating holidays like Christmas.
False
What was school mainly for in Puritan society?
Learning to read the Bible
What did Puritans believe about human nature?
People are naturally sinful and must seek God’s grace
What was one reason Puritans feared witches?
They believed witches made pacts with the Devil
What was the main goal of Edwards’s sermon?
To persuade sinners to repent and seek salvation
What was the main reason Puritans came to the New World?
Religious freedom / to practice their faith freely
What did Puritans believe about hard work and success?
It showed you were one of God’s chosen or “elect”
In “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” what is God often compared to holding sinners over Hell?
A person holding a spider over a fire
Why did Puritans keep such strict rules for everyone?
They believed it kept the community pure and close to God
What message of hope does Edwards offer to the audience?
Anyone who truly repents and accepts God’s grace can be saved
What word describes the Puritan belief that God already knows who will go to Heaven or Hell?
Predestination
What was the typical punishment for breaking community or religious rules?
Public shaming, fines, or harsh punishment
What type of government did Puritans have where religion ruled the laws?
Theocracy
What did Puritans call anyone who challenged church teachings?
A heretic
What movement was this sermon part of that aimed to revive religion in the colonies?
The Great Awakening