Religion affect of colonies

The Effect of Religion Upon the Colonies

Religion was hugely important to early colonists . In many cases it was the driving force that took them so far from home . According to early documents , collected by S .G .Goodrich , in 1606 for instance a ship was fitted out under the command of Captain Weymouth to explore the area we now know as Massachusetts . He found a beautiful and fertile area , and rather than being concerned with its uses for trade said rather that he saw it as "a public good and promulgating God 's

holy Church

Hooker , a minister from Boston , together with hundreds of his followers founded the `plantation ' now known as Connecticut . They declared themselves to be free from all authority save that of the Divine

The Library of Congress exhibition `Religion and the Founding of the American Colonies ' of 1998 referred to people who had crossed the Atlantic in to be able to practice their religion freely . They claim that it was religious people who rose up against British rule in 1776 , and that most statesmen of the time felt that religion was indispensable to the setting up of a republic . The majority of those who came to New Jersey , Maryland and Virginia came because of their religious convictions . Although there were commercial considerations the main reason for the setting up of the various colonies was in to establish `plantations of religion

Virginia was led by entrepreneurs , rather than clergy , but even they saw themselves as `Militant protestants ' who would work hard to promote the kingdom of God

They came because in Europe the authorities sought to have religious conformity and those who did not fit into the approved pattern were persecuted

In 1675 the west part of Jersey was sold to a Quaker , William Byllinge Charles II owed Admiral Penn , father of William , a huge debt . He settled this by a grant of land and in 1682 Penn and a large number of `Friends arrived to settle . Penn here made his famous treaty with the native people "as long as water flows and the sun shines and grass grows

The Amish , a strict Anabaptist group , many of whom still live in Pennsylvania , arrived as part of William Penn 's religious experiment They were originally Mennonites , one of the oldest religious groups in the area , followers of Simon Mennon , a Dutch reformed pastor . One feature of their faith is that ministers are chosen by the congregation their willingness for the role taken for granted and they are rarely educated men . This valuing of a man 's spirit , rather than his education is an important factor in American religious life for many people

The founders of the various colonies believed that all people in authority are ultimately responsible to God , according to the 13th chapter of Romans . In 1556 John Ponet had written `A Short Treatise on Political Power . This Calvinistic document was the basis upon which many Americans , including President John Adams , founded their attitude to...