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What were the Puritans views on sex and morality? How do they compare to American values of today?

What were the Puritans views on sex and morality ? How do they compare to American values of today

Puritan is described as one who lives in accordance with Protestant precepts , especially one who regards pleasure or luxury as sinful

It is said that a widely known Puritan by the name of John Calvin (1509-1564 ) was cheerless and had a viciously malevolent theology based on unhealthy ascetic , he had ulcers , tuberculosis , and migraine headaches and considered life of little value and God as a harsh tyrant . Calvin set up a brutal political theocracy . No

dancing , fancy clothes , and jewelry were allowed . He was in favor of death penalty for adultery Even legitimate love was stringently regulated . Solemn weddings with no revelry were the beliefs that he preached to others . The Calvin marriage had two functions (1 ) to produce offspring (2 ) to eliminate incontinence

Another Puritan believer who was famous during his times was John Knox He had Blue Laws of the 1650s , and was against Sunday amusements smoking , drinking , gambling , fancy clothing . He also promoted public whippings , scarlet letters , execution for adulterers , and the Salem "witch " executions . Stern puritan traits were often only expressions that masked moods of mischief and romance . Sex outside of marriage was attacked . Puritans greatly enjoyed sex inside marriage and propagated the concept of the virtue of virginity

16th Century Puritans tried to combine the ideals of love with the normality of sex into marriage . They also valued money more than leisure , and success more than culture

After the 17th century . the Puritans as a political entity largely disappeared , but Puritan attitudes and ethics continued to exert an influence on American society . They made a virtue of qualities that made for economic success - self-reliance , frugality , industry , and energy - and through them influenced modern social and economic life . For the Puritans , a person by nature was wholly sinful and could achieve good only by severe and unremitting discipline . Hard work was considered a religious duty and emphasis was laid on constant self-examination and self-discipline . Profanation of the Sabbath day , blasphemy , fornication drunkenness , playing games of chance , and participation in theatrical performances were penal offenses

It was the notion that Puritans were strict , formal , quick to judge and always on the lookout for anything mischievous . Anything too ostentatious , pretentious or blatant was immediately a source of discipline for the Puritans

On this note , before making a comparison between the two , we must first ask , what is morality ? Morality is concerned with the distinction between good and evil or right and wrong . It is the perceived guidelines of a standard of how we live our life , how we act , how we think about things and the protocol of how things work around us

This first example of immorality may be considered by many as one that does not have anything to do with morality , but if you give it more then cursory thought , you would most likely consider it a morality issue

Luxury things are one of the most prevalent...

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