Puritans, Baptists, and Quakers

Back in England, a number of Protestants were not satisfied with HenryCarl Henry (A.D. 1913–2003) was an American theologian and evangelical Christian. He was a key figure in the development of fundamentalist evangelical Christianity in America, advocating for involvement in the community rather than separating out from it. He also established numerous... more VIII’s middle way and wanted to purify the Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more of England of all residual Catholic practices, such as making the sign of the crossWas an agonizing method used by the Roman Empire to execute slaves, rebels and others major offender to the order of the empire. In fulfillment of prophecy, this was the means by which Christ was crucified. Even though some early... more, kneeling to receive the Eucharist more, the clergyconsists of the priest, ministers and pastors of Christian churches. In the medieval church this term referred to both regular priest who were monks subject to a rule (regula) of a monastic order and secular priest who were not monks... more wearing ornate vestments while officiating, and observing the Catholic liturgical calendar of holy days beyond Sunday. The Puritan ministers objected to any religious practice not required by scripture as an extravagance. Unmoved, the Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more of England followed the treatise The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity written by its theologian Richard HookerRichard Hooker (c. A.D. 1554–1600) Anglican theologian, author of the multivolume treatise The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, which defended the Elizabethan settlement from Puritan criticisms. more, which argued that the Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more had the right to decide its own practices on matters that are not required or forbidden by the Bible.

Many Puritan ministers and their followers refused to comply with the Church’s regulations, leading to persecution. These nonconformist congregations grew largely because their ministers were well-educated theologians who appealed to the devotional yearnings of their congregation. The Puritans criticized the laxity of Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more discipline and the worldliness found in the established state church and its clergyconsists of the priest, ministers and pastors of Christian churches. In the medieval church this term referred to both regular priest who were monks subject to a rule (regula) of a monastic order and secular priest who were not monks... more. Groups of Puritans fled to the Netherlands to escape the persecution, with some later seeking refuge in America where they hoped to establish an ideal community founded on true Christian principles.

Puritans emphasized the fundamental Reformed doctrineis derived from the Latin word for teaching, doctrina, and is an important aspect of Christianity more so than other world religions because Christianity focuses on the teachings and nature of Christ. more of regenerationComes from the Latin word meaning “born again,” and refers to the doctrine that people are born again into a new spiritual life in Christ when they are baptized, also known as baptismal regeneration, a belief shared by Roman Catholics,... more. This is the concept of God bestowing his graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more on an individual to change their heart. They believed that this was a real change that the individual recognized and that it needed to be demonstrated in  how they lived. They somewhat followed Augustine’s metaphor of God’s graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more transforming the believer over their life-long difficult pilgrimage to God. One could prepare their heart to receive God’s graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more if He chose them to be one of His electcomes from the Latin word “to choose” and is used to identify those chosen by God. In the Old Testament, the twelve tribes of Israel are the elect people of God; in many Protestant traditions the elect refers to those... more, but it was totally God’s choice. Once they experienced the gift of God’s graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more, they were bound by the covenant of graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more, which God continued to grant them through the scriptures and inspiring sermons. These regenerated individuals also covenanted with fellow Puritans to form and obey a Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more covenant. This theology created a level of anxiety within the community. Individuals felt the need to discover if they were among the electcomes from the Latin word “to choose” and is used to identify those chosen by God. In the Old Testament, the twelve tribes of Israel are the elect people of God; in many Protestant traditions the elect refers to those... more and to prove to others that they were indeed regenerated individuals worthy of participating in the full fellowship of the community.

Later, the Puritan movement gained support during the English civil war between 1639 to 1653 and during the ProtestantContrary to popular belief, the term does not refer to protest against the Roman Catholic Church. The term original refers to a formal protest lodged by Lutheran princes against an unfavorable decision made by the imperial Diet of Speyer in... more Protectorate led by Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell (A.D. 1599–1658) was an intensely religious Puritan and political leader of England. He fought for Parliament in the English Civil War, where he quickly rose to prominence through military achievement. He subsequently became the despotic Lord Protector of... more which continued until Cromwell’s death in 1658. During this period, Parliament requested that Puritan theologians to compose the Westminster ConfessionIs a Reformed confession of faith composed by a group of Puritan theologians who met from 1643–1647 and which became the standard doctrinal expression of Presbyterian churches. more. This Puritan confessionthis word has several theological uses. 1) It refers to the act of confessing one’s sins, and particularly the confession of sins to a priest in the sacrament of Penance, that is often called “Confession;” 2) reciting a creed or... more of faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more laid out the Reformed belief in a covenant theologyis a major component of Reformed theology that is based on Calvin’s assertion that God entered into a covenant of works with Adam but after he fell he extended a covenant of grace to the elect with is the same... more holding that both the Old and New Testaments were expressions of the same covenant of graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more with humanity, as well as an earlier covenant of works that was broken by AdamAccording to Jewish, Christian and Muslim scriptures, Adam was the first human being created by God out of the dust of the earth as the last step of creation. All humans descended from Adam and his wife, Eve, after they... more. The membership in a congregation typically involved a covenant between all the members and the church. This concept of a covenant relationship with God infusedA term used in Catholic theology that is derived from the Latin word for “poured in” referring to the grace (love) of God that he pours into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (see Romans 5:5). This term is used... more the Puritan traditionThis word comes from a Latin term meaning “to hand down,” that originally referred to the teaching of the apostles as handed down in the churches they founded, which led to these churches gaining authority of other locations due to... more and was reflected in the Mayflower Compact and the Massachusetts Bay Company’s charter. Reformed theologians later expanded this covenant worldview to also include an eternal covenant between God the Father and God the Son.

Puritan congregations typically adopted the PresbyterianA religion controlled at the local level by an assembly of elders or selected representatives. See polity and presbyters. Mainstream of English Puritanism in the 17th century were Presbyterians who sought to revive the original form of church government based... more style of governance by a regional council of ministers and elders. However, some congregations rejected the “parishIs a local geographical and administrative unit in the Catholic Church overseen by a parish priest under the direction of the diocese’s bishop. Some Protestant religions retained parishes in their organizations). more principle,” by where individuals automatically belonged to their local parishIs a local geographical and administrative unit in the Catholic Church overseen by a parish priest under the direction of the diocese’s bishop. Some Protestant religions retained parishes in their organizations). more church in favor of a voluntary congregation of covenanted believers which was autonomously governed by a local council of elders. This style of governance was referred to as “congregationalismCongregationalism religions is where each congregation governs itself. more,” which was adopted by various splinter groups.1

In 1609, JohnJohn (c. A.D. 6–100) was a Jewish fisherman, chosen by Jesus to be one of his 12 Apostles, and appears to have developed an especially close bond with Jesus. John outlived the other Apostles and heavily influenced early Christian thinkers... more Smyth, the pastor of a Puritan separatist congregation that had fled to Amsterdam, became acquainted with an Anabaptist group in the city and admired their practice of only baptizing adult believers after they had made a confessionthis word has several theological uses. 1) It refers to the act of confessing one’s sins, and particularly the confession of sins to a priest in the sacrament of Penance, that is often called “Confession;” 2) reciting a creed or... more of faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more. The BaptistThe first English Baptist congregation is created (A.D. 1609) out of a Puritan Separatist congregation that is meeting in exile in the Netherlands. This tradition grew out of the English Puritan Separatist movement in the 17th century and later spread... more traditionThis word comes from a Latin term meaning “to hand down,” that originally referred to the teaching of the apostles as handed down in the churches they founded, which led to these churches gaining authority of other locations due to... more grew out of this encounter and was built on the separatist congregational movement in England. Because each BaptistThe first English Baptist congregation is created (A.D. 1609) out of a Puritan Separatist congregation that is meeting in exile in the Netherlands. This tradition grew out of the English Puritan Separatist movement in the 17th century and later spread... more congregation is independent, there are a variety of beliefs generally based on Calvin’s theology. However, “One can identify four constants: rejection of infant baptismFrom a Greek word meaning “to immerse;” and is an initiatory ritual washing whereby one becomes a member of the Christian community. It involves various symbolic meanings including, cleansing, the death and resurrection of Christ, and a sinners death and... more, commitment to a congregational autonomyA term that literally means to give yourself the law. This idea was central to Kant’s moral theory that reason gives itself the moral law. more, regenerate church membership, and the Bible as the sole authority.” 2

Baptists rejected infant baptismFrom a Greek word meaning “to immerse;” and is an initiatory ritual washing whereby one becomes a member of the Christian community. It involves various symbolic meanings including, cleansing, the death and resurrection of Christ, and a sinners death and... more because they believed it was not scriptural, and they also rejected the Catholic sacramental belief that it saves or is the means of regenerating the individual. Instead, they believed that baptismFrom a Greek word meaning “to immerse;” and is an initiatory ritual washing whereby one becomes a member of the Christian community. It involves various symbolic meanings including, cleansing, the death and resurrection of Christ, and a sinners death and... more was a symbol that represented Christ’s work of redemption and our cleansing by uniting us to his death, burial, and resurrectionThe doctrine that Jesus’ spiritual essence was reunited with his physical body and that other humans will likewise live again with their spirit or soul reunited with their material body. This term does not refer to the doctrine of the... more. Baptism serves as a sign that the convert is confessing their acceptance of this gospel message and wants to be publicly identified with ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more and his community. Consequently, one needs to be old enough to believe. Additionally, following the Biblical example, full immersion is required for this symbol and sign to be recognized.

The autonomyA term that literally means to give yourself the law. This idea was central to Kant’s moral theory that reason gives itself the moral law. more of each congregation is important to Baptists, leading to some theological variations. Most Baptists follow Zwingli’s teaching that the Eucharist more is a memorial symbol while others follow Calvin’s approach of the spiritual presence of the Lord in the bread and wine. Seventeenth-century Particular Baptists accepted Calvin’s double predestinationis a view of predestination that God not only predestines some individuals to go to heaven but that he also predestines others to go to hell. This concept was arguably originated by Calvin but there are traces of this idea... more so strongly that they would not make an offer of graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more in their sermons and even limited missionary efforts because ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more did not die for reprobates who were predestined to hell. In the nineteenth century, some Southern Baptists known as Landmark Baptists took their separatist doctrineis derived from the Latin word for teaching, doctrina, and is an important aspect of Christianity more so than other world religions because Christianity focuses on the teachings and nature of Christ. more to the point of a closed communionis derived from the Latin term communio, which basically means to have in common. Words such as “partaking,” “sharing,” or “fellowship” are often translations of this root term. Partaking of the Eucharist is often referred to as the sacrament of... more which excluded other Christians, even Baptists, who were not part of their congregation. They also contended there was a secret, unbroken chain of BaptistThe first English Baptist congregation is created (A.D. 1609) out of a Puritan Separatist congregation that is meeting in exile in the Netherlands. This tradition grew out of the English Puritan Separatist movement in the 17th century and later spread... more congregations going all the way back to the original apostolic church in the New Testament. Their commitment to congregational autonomyA term that literally means to give yourself the law. This idea was central to Kant’s moral theory that reason gives itself the moral law. more was expressed in their ardent support of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. This attitude fit hand in glove with the American commitment to democracy, which partially explains why it flourished there.

Like other Puritans, Baptists follow Calvin’s doctrineis derived from the Latin word for teaching, doctrina, and is an important aspect of Christianity more so than other world religions because Christianity focuses on the teachings and nature of Christ. more of regenerationComes from the Latin word meaning “born again,” and refers to the doctrine that people are born again into a new spiritual life in Christ when they are baptized, also known as baptismal regeneration, a belief shared by Roman Catholics,... more, which holds that God implants the principle of a new life in ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more in the human soul. This changes the disposition of the individual, making them holy when the first exercise of this new disposition is secured. This is often referred to colloquially as being “born again.” Membership in the church consists of those individuals who have been saved, or born again.

Like most other Protestants, Baptists believe in an inerrant Bible as the sole authority in the church.

The Quakers(A.D. 1650) The Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers, form in England based on the preaching of George Fox. more arose out of the Puritan traditionThis word comes from a Latin term meaning “to hand down,” that originally referred to the teaching of the apostles as handed down in the churches they founded, which led to these churches gaining authority of other locations due to... more in the seventeenth century. Their distinguishing belief is a message of radical immediacy that was taught by one of their founders, George FoxGeorge Fox (A.D. Jul 1624–13 Jan 1691) Founder of the Religious Society of Friends, more commonly known as Quakers. more. They believed that the Holy Spirit spoke to the heart of believers in their day just as it did in the scriptures. This inner light of the spirit is available to all believers and does not need to be grounded in scripture. Accordingly, their worship service did not include a liturgy more or a sermon. Instead, the congregation sat silently until one of them was moved upon by the Spirit to speak and share a message, long or short, with those in attendance. This belief in universal revelationThe divine disclosure to humans of future events, God’s will or his nature. more was also expressed in their strong egalitarian beliefs and pacifist position.2

The original group of Puritans who settled in Massachusetts were separatists who had despaired that the Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more of England would ever reform itself to their satisfactionComes from a Latin term meaning “to do enough” and is associated with the idea of making up for some wrong or paying a debt owed to someone. It specifically refers to one of the four parts of the Roman... more. Numerous more moderate groups followed but all shared the vision of establishing an ideal Christian community in  America.

In 1629, they formally organized their colony by forming the Massachusetts Bay Company. The shareholders of this joint-stock corporation consisted of the male members of these Puritan groups called freemen. They elected a governor and other officers every year. As people joined the colony or matured in age, they needed to prove they were saved in order to join the freemen who were the only ones entitled to vote. Over time, this became more and more difficult as the existing voters were hesitant to dilute their power, creating discontent in the growing colony.

Roger Williams(A.D. 1950–Present) Rowan Williams is an Anglican Bishop and theologian from Wales who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012. He worked to keep the unity of the faith in confronting disputes of issues like female ordination... more tapped into this discontent with his sermons disputing the right of Church leaders to impose Puritan lawIs a fundamental concept of Luthernism and is contrasted by Luther with the Gospel. For Luther, the law consists of God’s commands regarding how one should live which no one can fully obey. Consequently, the law functions to condemn and... more on everyone in the community, even those who were not converted members of the congregation. He reasoned that according to their belief that graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more alone saved the individual and works had nothing to do with it, the Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more had no right to tell people what to do. The leaders, however, held that their covenant was not limited to just the electcomes from the Latin word “to choose” and is used to identify those chosen by God. In the Old Testament, the twelve tribes of Israel are the elect people of God; in many Protestant traditions the elect refers to those... more but incorporated the aspect of a social covenant as well, thereby subjecting everyone in the community to their rules. Williams(A.D. 1950–Present) Rowan Williams is an Anglican Bishop and theologian from Wales who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012. He worked to keep the unity of the faith in confronting disputes of issues like female ordination... more simply took their logic to its ultimate conclusion, which did not sit well with leaders trying to establish a perfect Christian society.

They banished Roger Williams(A.D. 1950–Present) Rowan Williams is an Anglican Bishop and theologian from Wales who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012. He worked to keep the unity of the faith in confronting disputes of issues like female ordination... more in 1635, and he fled to Rhode Island, where he established the first BaptistThe first English Baptist congregation is created (A.D. 1609) out of a Puritan Separatist congregation that is meeting in exile in the Netherlands. This tradition grew out of the English Puritan Separatist movement in the 17th century and later spread... more church on American soil. He later declared no church on the earth really practiced true Christianity, partially because none of them had authority from God.

However, William’s banishment did not put an end to his ideas, referred to as antinomianismBroad discontent with members of the clergy, particularly leading up to and during the Reformation due to clerical privileges and abuses. more. A popular midwife named Anne HutchinsonAnne Hutchinson (A.D. 1591–1643) was a Puritan from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. She was a charismatic spiritual advisor whose strong views on the issue of grace versus works led to her being tried, convicted, and banished from the colony. more held midweek meetings in her home to discuss religion. She went so far as to say Christians did not need to obey every point of the lawIs a fundamental concept of Luthernism and is contrasted by Luther with the Gospel. For Luther, the law consists of God’s commands regarding how one should live which no one can fully obey. Consequently, the law functions to condemn and... more to be sure of salvation. They put her on trial in 1637 where she defended herself extremely well, frustrating the court and the prosecutors. She likewise simply took their theology to its logical conclusions. However, the tables turned when she claimed she was receiving direct communication from the Holy Spirit, which, in the court’s opinion, undermined the authority of the Bible. She was likewise banished.

Williams(A.D. 1950–Present) Rowan Williams is an Anglican Bishop and theologian from Wales who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012. He worked to keep the unity of the faith in confronting disputes of issues like female ordination... more and HutchinsonAnne Hutchinson (A.D. 1591–1643) was a Puritan from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. She was a charismatic spiritual advisor whose strong views on the issue of grace versus works led to her being tried, convicted, and banished from the colony. more disrupted the balance between graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more and works. In Christianity, it seems people can’t really follow logic too far to its ultimate conclusion. People have to live with paradox and mystery … The Puritans had to make their terrifying vision of a wrathful, arbitrary God workable. In practice, they rationalized God. They made God just and logical with their ideas of the covenant. The heretics who outraged them most, who brought out the Puritans’ most savage inhumanity, were those who violated this delicate set of compromises.3

Devotees of the various Christian traditions often point to irrational doctrines of another denomination in an effort to bolster the veracity of their position on that particular issue. Those accusing others regarding one tenet are likewise attached on another point of doctrineis derived from the Latin word for teaching, doctrina, and is an important aspect of Christianity more so than other world religions because Christianity focuses on the teachings and nature of Christ. more. This is because Western Christianity is largely based on paradoxes.

When mystery was introduced to Christianity with the NiceneRefers to the Trinitarian theology accepted by the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 that is the foundation of the “Nicene Creed” that was actually formulated at the Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381, that is accepted as orthodox theology... more Creed, irrational propositions began to be inserted into Christian theology creating tension as individuals and different traditions struggled to make sense of the evolving orthodoxy. Professor Molly Worthen described this conundrum when she said:

Christian theology is based on a set of paradoxes: God is a Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but still one; God is all-knowing and all-powerful, yet somehow he is not to blame for sinIs violation to God’s Law, and implicitly includes disobedience to God’s the command to love God and one’s neighbor. See mortal sin, original sin. more or all the bad things in the world; Christ is both human and divine at the same time; you are saved through faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more, but you also have to live right too; God knows everything that will happen to us and foreordained it, and yet, somehow, we still have free will. Over the centuries theologians have worked very hard to keep these opposing ideas in balance and not let orthodoxy teeter too far in one direction or the other.

Across the expanse of Christian history, almost all the people who have been labeled heretics let this delicate equilibrium slide too far in one direction or another.4

To support this proposition, Professor Worthen referred to the early Christians who were subsequently labeled as heretics in the fourth century because they believed that God the Father was separate from and superior to the Son and Holy Spirit.

The story of Christianity is an epic of an ever-evolving religion with many forks, turns and offshoots.

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